The Mansion of Time

Chapter 3: Chrono

Back inside of the classroom, i had told my friends what terrifying thing occurred in my vist to the restroom. My friends decided that they should check my body just incase something changed. I lifted my arms and took off my shirt and jacket. I told them my heart felt kinda strange and Hana put her hand on my chest. We blushed a bit after looking in each others eyes. My heart must've gotten worse because it felt twice as weird at that point. Kentoreru told me to check myself in the restroom thoroughly. So i did, nothing out of the ordinary. Fast-forward and "school" was over now. Me and everyone else began to walk back to where we thought the mansion was. It had began to snow "again" so i gave my jacket to Hana even though she tried to refuse "No, i don't need it. I'll be alright". Hana looked up to the "sky" and began to talk about how this whole thing felt like "deja vu". I nodded. After some time of us all walking i heard a scraping noise. It sounded like a metal scrap being dragged across rough stones. It grew louder and louder but nothing in actual sight changed. I blinked as i saw my friend lose his life before my own eyes. Blood poured from his head like a fountain clogged with obstructing materials. Ran's body dropped to the ground as if it were just a rag doll. My lips quivered, my body trembled as i saw my dear friends life come to an end. My eyes couldn't produce a tear but i wanted them to, i needed it. But rather i was so terrified my eyes couldn't shed not one single molecule of one. Kentoreru shouted for everyone to run but my mind and body hesitated for a bit. As everyone was running away from this invisible force we came to finally find the mansion. Mashu jerked open the door and we all bolted inside. I didn't realize i was so exhausted from running that long. My lungs felt like they were expanding three times as large and about to burst at any second. I began to internally panic as i tried to realize what i actually saw. My vision blurred, my head ached and burned as if a blacksmith was hammering a schoring blade. Then everything stopped. My pain was gone and my sense of very existence ceased for just an instant. It felt like i blinked out of a bad dream, a nightmare. My hearing sounded muffled but i could hear someone calling for me "Joshu! Joshu! Joshu!" then i snapped back into reality. "Huh?" Hana was standing beside me looking worried. "Hey, are you alright?". I nodded and gave her my jacket. All my friends were there waiting for me to get a move on. We all began to walk together. I turned to Hana and said to her "It feels like I was just freaking out.." she turned to me and stopped walking. "You're not really okay are you..get some rest. Im sure this is all a lot for everyone. " After about fifteen seconds i regained my memories of everything that just happened. I panicked on the inside and tried to remain calm on the outside. "Hey. Hana..this is gonna sound crazy but..Ran died.." "He's fine-" "No i saw it with my own eyes.." she didn't seem to believe me and told me i need rest again. We all walked down the street again just like before. I was on high alert this time around though. Then as i expected, i heard a faint scraping. I waited till the sound grew a little louder just to be sure and time things right. I shoved Ran to the ground and jumped back. Ran got knocked into a brick short wall and i saw a long carving across where his head would've been. Ran looked up to see the mark and was shocked. Kentoreru said to run and we all fled to the mansion "again". We all tried to catch our breath before speaking about what happened. "What the hell was that?" Mashu said with terror in his voice. Kentoreru responded "I don't know but i saw Joshu save Ran from whatever invisible force that was.." "Thanks Joshu but..how did you know?.." "I don't really know..but i guess..you're not gonna believe this." I exhaled preparing myself for their non belief. "I went back in time.." Ran frowned at my answer and wondered how i had the stability to make a "joke" at this point. I explained to him it was true but Mashu cut in "Even if that was true-" Hana cut in "It is true. He sounded really upset earlier and had told me this happened.." "Hana.." She had the only look in her eyes that believed in me. "Well no use bickering amongst ourselves. " Kentoreru started. "We have only 6 hours until 6 doors in the mansion unlock. So lets  be patient and think on how to survive in the mansion and some precautions to take." "Fair enough" Mashu nodded. We decided to all wait until the grandfather clock upstairs hit twelve. After six long hours, the grandfather clock struck twelve like no other hour. I heard the doors in the mansion open on their own and it caused an off putting nervousness in my stomach. "Alright let's search" Kentoreru said but Mashu brought up the fact we hadn't checked our bedrooms yet. So we all checked each of our bedrooms together just to be as safe as possible. We then decided on whose room was whose. I was feeling mentally exhausted so i told everyone im gonna skip on the investigation of the unlocked rooms and get some rest. I layed down on top of my bed on my back facing up at the ceiling. I began to think to myself "How did i get here, why, and will i escape with everyone?" My thoughts drifted off as my eyes began to close. I heard a knock on my door interrupting my sleep. I got out of the bed and asked who was it. "It's me.." it was Hana's voice. I opened the door to see her looking down saying something with an embarrassed looked. "I can't sleep.." "What's wrong- That was a dumb question.." i laughed at myself a bit. "Everything will be alright Hana. We'll make it through this all together. " I walked back over to my bed. "Well you should get back to bed. Good night!" Hana stood in front of my bed and looked at the ground then me. "C-can i sleep with you?" She stuttered and became even more red..