THE DESTINY GAME (Intersex)

Chapter 2

Tiffany Suzanne Holland

"Woah! This is huge mansion.." Hershey's compliment, amazed as looking up the mansion.

We were all standing outside the gate of the mansion. We all saw it for the first time in real life. Although we’ve heard a lot of stories about the haunted mansion in the heart of Mori Forest, no one dared to go here because of the place’s bad reputation.

Actually, if you look at the mansion, it’s still in good condition. It’s just that the gate is a bit broken, I guess no one’s taking care of it. The plants and grass around it are overgrown, though. The grass is tall, but the trailer is still visible because it’s cemented.

“I thought this mansion was abandoned? Parang hindi naman." Nagtatakang tanong ni Hershey.

"Oo nga.. sure ba kayo na talagang abandonado ito? What if we get into trouble because someone lives here?" Saad ni Bakla. Duda din sya.

"Ang narinig ko kasi abandoned na talaga yang mansion. The old foreigner owner died years ago, so no one lives here anymore. Yun ang nasagap kong tsismis." Paliwanang ni Francis.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Hersey. 'Tsismis' What if the source of the gossip isn’t credible? That’s going to be a problem. Sasabihan ko na sana si Hershey na umuwi nalang kami kaso bigla syang hinila ni Anthony palapit sa gate ng mansion.

"What are you guys waiting for?  Let’s go! The ghosts are waiting for us.”  Anthony joked. Hesitantly, we followed them through the big hole in the mansion gate.

The gate was broken, so it was easy to get inside. But the mansion’s main door was locked and sealed. We looked around the mansion to find a way in. fortunately, nang sinubukan ni Bakla itaas yung isang bintana sa likod ng mansion, naka-unlock yun kaya nabuksan nya. Agad naming tinawag ang mga kasama namin na agad naman naglapitan.

"I’ll go first," Randy volunteered. Tinulungan sya nila Francis at Anthony makapasok sa loob. Nang makapasok na sya si Bakla naman ang sumunod, sunod si Gina, Ako at si Hersey. Anthony and Francis came last.

Sa loob ng mansion, Inikot ko ang tingin ko sa paligid. Kahit flashlight at cellphone ang nagsisilbing ilaw namin sa paligid, I could see everything in the mansion. The walls were white and bronze, there were large figurines that its almost our size, and real taxidermy animals mounted on the walls. I noticed a large living room and expensive look stuff, like those in palaces.

The chandeliers looked like from the 18th century. It's definitely vintage. There were large vases with dried flowers inside of it. The big clock on the wall still worked. And the large portraits hanging on the wall looked like they were alive and staring at me. It was creepy shit.. and my hair stood on end.

I took a step closer to one of the portrait, yung mas maliit kompara sa isa kanina. Dalawang bata na lalake at babae, they’re look similar, siguro magkapatid sila. The girl in the portrait was beautiful and looked happy. Her eyes were so beautiful, like they were alive, like she was staring directly into my soul.

I flinched when someone grabbed my shoulder. Napahawak tuloy ako sa dibdib ko.

"Okay ka lang Tiff? Nauna na sila sa oh. Lilibutin daw muna nila itong haunted mansion." Saad ni Francis. Hawak nya ang tripod. Mukang iseset nya ang cellphone nya para mag video.  Doon ko tuloy naalala yung pakay ko kaya ako nandito.