Attached [Rewritten Version]

20. Brook Mansion

Saturday, October 15th, 2016

Sid took in a deep breath as he locked his bike next to Cory's, a bit away from Brook Mansion. It felt eerily quiet, while on one side of them, there was a huge forest; Miller woods. But in their silence, not a single sound could be heard, and when they started walking, their footsteps felt like an intrusion to what some people would describe as peaceful.

They knew better.

Brook Mansion was situated slightly off the road, surrounded by trees on three sides. It wasn't until they started their way up the driveway—a sandy path— that they first saw the mansion, ominously looming over them as if had been awaiting their arrival. It was old, decrepit, and it stunk. Sid couldn't describe the smell that lingered in the air, but it nauseated him. It felt like a mixture of mold, old sweety socks and... death? Sid really couldn't tell. But seeing the fact the mansion had been abandoned somewhere in 1685—Sid had done some research by now—the mansion looked in an amazing state.

Especially considering the fact the mansion supposedly burned down, and the bodies of the family hadn't been found until nine days later.

There was no trace of a fire, anywhere. Someone had seemingly, back in the days, rebuilt the mansion, but never moved in.

The fire, however, happened after Elizabeth Baywick died, and thus was unrelated to their search.

"I really don't feel comfortable here," Amber muttered, inspecting the front door of the mansion. "It feels as if someone doesn't want us to be here."

"I feel the same," Annika nodded, hugging her petite body with her arms, shuddering as a cold breeze of wind hit her, causing her to look up to the sky. "And it's going to rain soon."

"Well, we're here now," Sid said, shaking of the weird feeling he himself had before he started making his way through the overgrown yard towards the back, "might as well take a look around."

Angie and Cory followed him, while Davy didn't seem too enthusiastic to leave his sister out of his sight. "we, uh, we'll check the front," Davy called after them.

Sid chuckled, but silenced quickly when he realised it really wasn't all that funny to see Davy nervous in a place like this. Ever since their nightly visit to Miller Woods, he wasn't too keen to anything that had to do with the paranormal, and Sid could only agree. It just felt weird for a thrill seeker like Davy to act this way. Not too long ago, he would've laughed at him.

"Did you guys notice there's literally no trace of a fire?" Cory said out loud, climbing the steps onto the back porch, "not a scorch mark to be seen."

And Sid could only nod in agreement, while his eyes focused on movement in the woods behind the mansion. The long narrow backyard was separated from them by the same chain linked fence you'd find anywhere else, but it didn't take away the view into the woods. And he had seen some movement, but as soon as he focused, there was nothing there.

"Why is the backyard seemingly not as overgrown as the rest? It almost looks like someone came in here and mowed the place not too long ago," Sid voiced his concern, playing the movement off as something caused by the wind. Or an animal. Or... anything.

"The doorknob seems used," Cory added, pointing at the door as soon as Sid had turned around, "it's not covered in dust and sand like the rest."

"Yet, no footprints," Angie joined in on their observations. "This place is freaky. And I've haunted the woods for a long time. If I think it's freaky, it's freaky."

Sid smirked at her, but did notice she was right; no footprints aside those caused by Cory.

"Wait, that window," Sid said, hurrying towards Cory to pull him away from the window and door. "I saw someone." He kept his eyes on the window; which was pretty much the only window not boarded up.