House of Dark Skulls A novel by Robert Helliger

Chapter One-The House of Dark Skulls-1977

The guests arrived at The House of Dark Skulls. 

All of them shivered in the dense rain. 

A teenage girl smiled at them. 

'Good evening. Please come inside. I'm Arabella'. 

And she grinned, as she glided into the house.

Lamps illuminated the teenagers. 

And the darkness consumed the Louisiana Bayou.

***

The teenager smiled at the girl.

'Good evening. I'm Craig'. 

'Good evening. I'm Arabella'.

'Please come inside. One of the guests has arrived. She is early'.

'Oh, right. I hate the rain', Craig said. 

'Please take off your shoes, and place the black colored carpet', Arabella said. 

'Fine', Craig said.

And he followed her through the pastel curtains, and towards the Dining Room.

***

Craig saw the girl.

'Oh, hello. You're here for dinner? I'm Estelle'.

'Craig'. 

'My brother, David, is coming'.

'Oh, right! I came alone. Arabella is strange'. 

'Yes, she is. But, this dinner shall be wicked, you know. Full of creepy skulls in the gothic tradition. The South has risen, again!'.

'I don't think the South is that deep'.

'Yes, it is rather weird', Estelle said. 

'Sister', David said.

She turned around. 

'Oh, David! You're drenched by rain'. 

'Yes. I do know that', David smiled. 

And then there was a knock on the front door.

***

The girl arrived at the House of Dark Skulls. 

The door opened. 

'Good evening. I am expected'. 

'And, who are you? What's your name? I'm Arabella'.

'I'm Hilary'. 

'Please, come in. Others are waiting'. 

'Oh, right! I'll take my shoes off in the wicked looking carpet'. 

'That's my Mom's carpet from nineteen fifty-one', Arabella said.

'Oh, right! It's sinister looking'. 

'Follow me, Hilary. Estelle, and David. And Craig, are here. It's 6:45 PM. In fifteen minutes' time, dinner will be from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Afterwards, all of you shall do what you need to do. But, fare warning, at Midnight the blood gushes'.

'You can't be...Gushes', David said.

'At Midnight, the blood gushes', Arabella said.

And she turned on the lamp lights in the cracked walls, as she walked towards the door.

Someone was coming.

***

The last two teenagers were Mike and Missy Zachariah. 

'Good evening. I am Arabella. Please follow me to the Dining Room. It is 6:48 PM; it is twelve minutes till 7:00 PM, and dinner on the hour...please take your shoes off; please follow all the instructions to the "T". This is about your safety', Arabella said. 

'Good evening. I didn't think that we'd be scared', Mike smiled.

'At Midnight, the blood gushes', Arabella said.

'Is that a joke?', Missy asked her. 

'It is an old Southern saying in the Bayou. It's about making sure that you all comply with me. If you don't, then you'll be all dead', Arabella said, matter-of-factly. 

And, as they sat down on the rickety black chairs, the screams started.

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