The Haunting of Fall Manor(Completed)

Chapter 16

   Looking around, Tes sees no sign of the Manor kids and starts feeling herself getting nervous.
   The Manor becomes so silent that even a drop of pin can be heard.
Tes suddenly hears a hysterical laughter which echoes all around the Manor.
She recognises that laughter, it's Mabel's mother's!
   "How nice of you to join us again Tes" was the voice Tes heard as she looked up and caught sight of Mrs Manor standing on the staircase.
   Her phantom appearance was the definition of horror itself. The fright it gave Tes almost  made her jump out of her skin.
  She shuddered and step backwards as Mrs Manor kept staring at her with a wicked grin.
Mrs Manor then glides downstairs, the scorched hem of her dress trailing behind her.
   
   Suddenly Tes hears a creek.
She looks forward and sees the library door opened a little as Mabel pokes her head out, beckoning Tes to quickly join her inside there.
"Hurry Tes!"

    Tes sprint across the huge living room but Mrs Manor is too fast!
  She streaks towards the center of the room, like a fiery comet blocking Tes' part!
    Mrs Rose Manor grabs hold of Tes with a clawed hand and Tes could feel her skin blistering at her touch.
      Tes tries to run but Mrs Manor tightens her grip on Tes' hand.
Tes let out a scream as the pain in her arm intensifies.
Suddenly there is a flash of red again and Mabel appears next to Tes.
She stretches forward her arm and Mrs Manor is suddenly thrown backwards by an immense force.
  Mabel grabs hold of Tes' arm and they both sprint across the parlour into the library, Mabel slamming the door behind Tes.

  "Who is that woman Mabel?"Noah asks with fear written all over his face.

"She keeps on saying .."Noah is suddenly interrupted by an angry Anabel.
 
"Our mother! She keeps on shouting she's our mother!"

"Mabel what's going on?!"Anabel asks, terror and anger all over her face.

   Mabel adverts her gaze from her siblings and faces Tes.
"Why did you open that door?! Why did you do it! Tell me!!"she orders.

  "I am sorry Mabel please hear me out. I can.."Tes pleaded but Mabel cuts her short.

  "I told you to stay out of it! Didn't I?! I told you that door doesn't concerns you! Why couldn't you listen!?
  Tes could feel the intensity of Mabel's anger as Mabel glared at her, her glaring felt like a stab of ice.

  "Mabel I was tricked, your mother.."Tes began but Mabel cut her short again.

  "She is not and can never be my mother!"
Tes nodded and continued her explanation.
 
  "Well Mrs Manor, she tricked me! She possessed me. She always somehow kept on talking to me whenever I was alone, trying to convince me to open the door. She made me believe you had something to do with my brother's death. I don't know how she did but she possessed me and controlled all my actions"Tes said as she started crying.

  "That's because she's a witch! This is why I didn't want you to go near that door! She must have felt a human presence in the house and you gave her the chance to use you when you started doubting my intentions"

Mabel sighed and held Tes' hand.
"Why didn't you just listen to me?"

Tes hugged her and cried uncontrollably. She felt it was all her fault.
  Mabel hugged her and patted her hair.
  "I'll make everything right Mabel"Tes said as she pulled away from Mabel, cleaning her face.

  "Mabel what is going on?!"Anabel asked gripping hold of Mabel's hand.

  "You have to them Mabel"Tes said facing Mabel.

"I can't...I...I...just can't"Mabel stuttered.
  She went over to a chair and sat down, burying her face in her hands.
  Suddenly the library door shudders as something slams against it,the woods splintering at the hinges.
   There's a terrified look on everybody's face.
    "These secrets are what's keeping you trapped, you have to tell them the truth and break the curse"Tes said trying to convince Mabel.
   As the library door starts to give in, Tes walks towards Mabel and holds her hand with fierce determination.
  "Please"Tes pleaded once more.

"Tell us the truth Mabel!"Anabel cried instantly.
   Mabel looks at everyone, her eyes filling with tears as her mother rages outside.
She stands up and takes hold of both Anabel and Noah hands, looking them straight in the eye.
She could see the innocence and fear in their eyes, it wasn't her wish for them to experience this day but the truth can never be kept secret for too long.
 
   Mabel sighs heavily and holds their hands tightly but with a soft touch.
   "I've been keeping a dark secret from you both...and...and..."Mabel voice trails off as she is finding it difficult to voice out the secret.

   Tes caresses Mabel's shoulder  and smiles at her which gives Mabel the courage she needs.
   The door shudders again, within a matter of minutes, it will soon be opened!
   "We are all dead!"Mabel says instantly as she breaks down crying.

   "What?"Noah and Anabel asks simultaneously, a wave of shock gripping them.

   "Yes we are. We died many years ago, mum killed us. I don't know why she did it. She poisoned both of you and when I found out she stabbed me. Not only did she kill us,she also cursed this house, that's why we can't move on"
   Anabel and Noah gave way to tears as they both hugged their elder sister who was on the verge of breaking down.
    The door shuddered again, the next hit was sure to open it.
   "I'm sorry,I never wanted both of you to know. When she killed us, she immediately left the Manor. Then one day she came back to the Manor, I let her into the house but not into the Manor itself. She knew we were still trapped in the Manor. I made myself invincible to her and I called out to her from the cellar. She opened the cellar and walked towards the furnace. I made it seem like my voice was coming from there. I immediately pushed her inside the furnace and quickly locked the cellar. I could hear her screaming that's why I didn't want any of you going near the cellar"

  Finally the truth had been revealed!
  "I'm sorry for keeping it from both of you. This wasn't the life I wanted for you both. I'm sorry"Mabel pleaded.

   Immediately the door swung open as Mrs Manor walked into the library, eyes glowing red with fire.
   "Get behind me!"Mabel said as Noah and Anabel goes behind her back, both of them clutching her tightly.

   "Leave us alone!"Tes shouts at her.
  She glares at Tes.
Stretching forward her clawed hands, Tes feels an immense force pulling her towards Mrs Manor.

   "What's going on?!"Tes screams as she is being drawn towards the phantom.

   "Leave her alone!"Mabel shouts as she watches Tes come face-to-face with her mum.
   "You insolent child!"Mrs Manor calls out to Tes as she grabs hold of Tes' throat.
  Mabel tries to help Tes but finds herself stuck, unable to move!

   Mrs Rose let's out a hysterical laughter and increases pressure on Tes' throat lifting her up.
   "Let..let...me go!"Tes screams feeling the pressure of her hands on her throat. It was as if she was restricting the air from flowing in her lungs as Tes suddenly started gasping for air.
    Mabel cries out as she tries to free herself to no avail.
She knew her mother would definitely kill Tes!
    "Child you did me well by freeing me, but you are being to stubborn for my liking. I believe it's time for you to die"
   She increases the pressure on Tes' throat, her nails were digging into Tes' skin making Tes scream out.
   At that point, blood had already started dripping from Tes' nose.
 
    Tes glances at Mabel who cries loudly, vehemently trying to break free from the strange force not letting her nor her siblings move!

   Tes caught a glimpse of Mrs Manor who increased pressure as she tightens her hand on Tes' throat with her nails digging deep into Tes' skin, blood trailing from that area.
    Tes feels her strength failing her as she slowly closes her eye giving in to the darkness.

   Suddenly there is a flash of white light!