THIRTEEN FOR DINNER

Chapter Four

CHAPTER FOUR

            The darkness is suffocating; even the flame on all three candles flickered and vanished when the thunder shook the room. I lift my hand in front of my face but I can’t see anything. I don’t want to panic but I am terrified and fear chokes the voice from my throat. I am utterly speechless.  I want to stand up and make a run for the kitchen, directly to Mike, but in the bitter darkness I have lost my bearings.

            It seems everyone at the table has been stunned to silence as well but little by little their voices begin to arise out of the foreboding darkness. They hurl their questions at Mr. Brackett who remains eerily silent. Peter Butler curses in an angry Texas drawl demanding that the damn lights be turned back on immediately. It’s Regina who answers his demands by flicking on her lighter and igniting the wick on the candle directly in front of her. The faint glow of light shatters the menacing darkness, releasing sighs from the guest, bringing a bit of relief to the table. Austin Phinney quickly picks up the candle and lights the wicks of the other two. Able to see more clearly now we all turn to face Mr.Brackett for some sort of explanation to his bizarre announcement but his chair is empty. For some reason all eyes turn to me, even Quillan is staring at me from across the table with those luscious eyes of his. I wonder why they are all looking at me and I swallow hard fearing that maybe the ghost of Emily Faulkner is standing directly behind me. My dumbfounded expression must be noticeable because Quillan quickly makes his opinion known on the matter. “I don’t think she has a clue as to what her Uncle is doing. She seems as surprised as the rest of us.”

My uncle! That’s right; Mr. Brackett introduced me as his niece, Makayla, heading to Cornell this fall. 

            “Well I’m not one to play childish games, especially those that glorify the occult and insight fear” the ultra- conservative Tony Chizzam faces me as he stands from the table. “I agreed to come here tonight because I was possibly interested in funding a boarding school. Your Uncle’s proposal sounded promising as if he intended to bring some good to a place with a very dark past. My wife and I are all about redemption but I refuse to be drawn into a game that incites fear and glorify the tragic events that took place here. Thank your Uncle for me, but I am no longer interested in investing.” All the others agree and stand to leave as well. I could really care less so I decide not to respond. Besides what could I say? To tell you the truth I am pretty much hating Mr. Bracket right now so if no one invests in his little venture it’s not my responsibility. I’ve done my duty for the night.  I’ve had a nice dinner, gazed across the table at the hottest guy I’ve ever seen, and being paid while doing it. I’ve had a successful night, let them all leave, and then I am free to escape this haunted mansion and go home.

            Tony picks up one of the candles from the table to light the way out of the dining room and to the front door. Everyone follows as he leads the way to the exit; everyone but me and Quillan that is.  I am not taking his path; as soon as they all disappear I am grabbing a candle and yelling for Mike to come get me. I am surprised he hasn’t made his way in here already to check on everyone since we lost the power.

            Tony stops for a moment then shifts his path slightly to the right. Raising his candle he illuminates the wall in front of him, there is no door only solid wall.

            “Where’s the damn door?” Peter Butler curses again. Tony shifts back to the left, and I watch from the table as he lifts his light again, still only a floral papered wall greets him.

            “There’s no door!” Emma Chizzam’s voice reeks with fear. “The door has disappeared!”  Tony openly shows his agitation, “That’s impossible honey, doorways just don’t vanish.”