Mansion of Madness

CHAPTER ONE

As I haul my luggage up the stairs, I look up at the mansion, intimidated by the size of the luxurious 3-story house. The painted-blue walls seem to reach up to the pink-orange sky, and the setting sun reflects off the huge windows. The sand brushes all the way up to either side of the pavement leading up to the porch, and the waves sound nearby.

I glance back at my group of friends, excited to finally start vacation. I grip the door knob, and realize it won't turn, though I'm not surprised.

"It's locked." I yell at Greyson.

"Well duh. You think a place like this would just be free for anyone to walk in anytime?" Logan replies in a matter of fact tone.

"Just give Izzy the keys." Greyson says behind him, clearly annoyed.

Greyson gives the keys to Logan, which he hesitantly tosses to me. My clumsy self fails to successfully catch the keys and they fall to the ground. I quickly pick them up and pretend nothing happened. I turn around and unlock the door with a satisfying click. A blast of cool air shoots past me.

The first thing I notice is the beautiful crystal chandelier the size of a boulder hanging from the ceiling over a grand staircase. I walk to the left of the stairs and into what must be the kitchen which opens up into what must be the living room on my right.

"I didn't realize this place would be so huge." Gracie says as she walks up from behind me to join my side.

' "Well we all knew Greyson was loaded." says Logan as he enters the room putting his arm around his girlfriend.

"Yeah, but not this loaded." replies Gracie, looking around in awe at the huge kitchen.

Once everyone is inside with their luggage, Greyson announces sleeping arrangements. We each get our own room with a queen bed and a bathroom. I expected as much.

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With much struggle I manage to heave my heavy bag up to the second floor, into my room, and onto my queen bed. I brush my light brown curtain bangs out of my face, and survey the room. I suck in my breath, shocked by the beauty and size of it; it's about three times the size of my bedroom at home with a bathroom that has another sparkling chandelier and a bathtub big enough to wash an elephant.

I shake myself out of my wonder and begin to unzip my over-packed duffle bag. As I open it, I scrunch my face up in confusion, when I realize a small piece of parchment, which I don't remember packing has been put in my bag. I slowly reach in and grab the note, which I carefully unfold:

'Meet me on the beach. Midnight.'

I'm even more confused before I decide it must have been Logan, trying to pull another one of his pranks.

I debate whether or not I should confront him, and decide it's no big deal. I tuck it in the back of my jeans pocket; It's probably best just to ignore him.

I almost get lost trying to find my best friend Scarlett's room, but eventually I find it on the third floor. Her room is pretty much identical to mine, except that her bed sheets have a different pattern on them. I glance at her bag and find it neat and orderly as I would've expected it to be. Mine–on the other hand–was messy, and packed in a rush.

"I found this in my bag." I say to her, pulling the slip out of my pocket. "It must have been Logan."

"What does it say?" Scarlett asks. I flip the note, and put it in front of her face so she can read it herself.

"How did he get it in your bag?"

"I'm not sure, but knowing Logan, he probably figured out some sneaky way to do it."

"Scarlett, Izzy, Greyson! Get down here! There's something you might want to see!'' Scarlett and I hear Lillian shout from the kitchen on the ground floor.