See No Evil (Anthony Lockwood)

chapter 10

The group of four walked slowly up the supposed 'Screaming Staircase'. Violet's brows were furrowed as she brushed her fingers along the wall and the railing. There was nothing. Barely even a tingle.

Lockwood looked over his shoulder at Violet, "Sense anything?"

Violet shook her head, "Oddly enough, no. Luce?"

"If this is a Screaming Staircase, it's being very quiet."

"Maybe it's taken the night off," George suggested.

"Like we should've done."

"Agreed, Luce. Definitely agreed," Violet said.

Lockwood stopped at the top of the landing, looking down the stairs.

Violet grabbed his arm gently, "You ok?"

Lockwood sent her a small unsure smile, "Yeah. Let's go."

Violet slid her hand down to hold onto his, walking next to him as they made their way to what should be the Red Room. As they inched closer, alarm bells began to go off in Violet's body. Every step made her uncomfortable.

Lockwood, noticing her hesitance, squeezed her hand in comfort. He wanted to get through this as quickly as possible and get Violet out of here. He hated to see her like this. So tense and paranoid.

"Everyone ready?" Lockwood asked as they approached the Red Room.

"No," Violet admitted, "But i'll go in anyway."

Lockwood hesitantly let go of her hand and walked forward to open the door, his light shining in the empty room. There was nothing red about it.

George placed his hand on the wall as he walked in, "There's bad energy in these walls. A lot of bad energy. Violet, maybe you shouldn't-"

Violet reached over and placed her hand on the wall. It felt horrendous. Violet pulled back, a piercing feeling shooting through her chest as if she had been stabbed. Terror and violence. It made her feel sick to her stomach.

Violet closed her eyes, fighting the urge to run out of the room and vomit her guts out. She was just grateful that her touch hadn't connected to her sight at that moment. She would hate to witness whatever had happened here.

"There's screaming. Chaos. There's too many voices," Lucy said, looking around.

"It's not very red though, is it?" George pointed out.

"Luce, help me with the chain. George, Vi, secure our retreat," Lockwood ordered.

While Lockwood and Lucy laid out the chains into a large circle, Violet poured filings into the doorway and George slid a heavy brick into place to keep it open.

George checked the thermometer, "Six degrees and falling."

"Whatever's here, it's getting closer. There's no sign of any sources yet though. Strange. George, didn't you say you suspect there's hidden rooms?"

George nodded, "From the plans, it's highly likely."

"Of course there would be hidden rooms here. They had a cult," Violet muttered, flashing her torch over the walls.

"We'll look for evidence. You stay here, watch our backs."

Lockwood, Violet and Lucy began to feel along the walls, knocking at certain points.

"Look for cavities, false walls. Anything that could be concealing sources. Judging by the number of death glows, a lot of people died here."

Violet felt along the walls carefully, trying to ignore the feelings she would get from the touch.