PROBLEM - Anthony Lockwood

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

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xxvi

this was a very big mistake

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"IT'S AWFULLY QUIET," Lucy mused as they climbed what Fairfax had said was the Screaming Staircase.

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

"Like we should've done," Lucy replied.

Alice leaned against the railing of the staircase, watching as Lockwood stood at the top, looking down. "You okay?" she inquired.

He nodded, not saying anything and quickly followed them. They made their way across the landing towards a elaborate door.

"Everyone ready?" Lockwood questioned.

The room itself was decorated with wood pannelling and elaborate green wallpaper. There were no other windows or exits at all. The moment Alice stepped inside, she could feel the hum of dark magic echoing within the room.

The Red Room.

"There's bad energy in these walls," George noted, "A lot of bad energy."

"There's screaming, chaos," Lucy added, "There's too many voices."

Alice closed her eyes.

"Deane..... Deane...."

Alice could hear their screams, the shrieks of those five women. Louder than those of the victims they'd claimed after their death. Blood, so much blood. She was practically choking on it.

"Judging by the amount of death glows, alot of people died here," Lockwood revealed.

"It's not very Red, though, is it," George mused.

Alice didn't have the heart to tell him that he probably shouldn't have said that.

"Deane.... Deane...."

"Luce, help me with the chains," Lockwood declared, as they set their kit down. "George, secure our retreat. Ally, look for sources."

The moment Lucy and Lockwood began to unload the chains, Alice felt a shift in the room. Negitivity, anger, fear.

"Guys, they don't like that," Alice warned them, "Maybe we shouldn't use chains."

"Do we really care what ghosts think now?" George retorted.

"Alice is right," Lockwood agreed, "The less angry we make these spirits, the better." He knelt down, packing the chains up again and instead grabbing the jar of mountain ash, reaching in and throwing the black dust into the air.

When it settled, it formed a perfect circle on the ground.

Alice made her way around the room. She put away her torch and took out a candle, lighting it and using that for light instead.

The screams reverberated around the room, and Alice could hear the women crying and choking and begging for revenge. There was a blood curse on this room, so strong that it would take all of her focus to undo it.

But she couldn't do it with the rest of them watching her.

"6 degrees and falling," George declared as his thermometer beeped.

"There's no sign of any sources yet, though," Lockwood replied, "Strange." He turned to look at George and Alice, "Guys, didn't you say that you suspected there were hidden rooms?"

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

"We'll look for evidence," Lockwood stated, "You stay in the circle, watch our backs."