★ＨＡＵＮＴＥＤ ＭＡＮＳＩＯＮ★

★56

Tayla's frustration boiled over as she shot an accusatory finger at Jaxon. **"Are you stupid? You're a hypocrite! You complain about us saying, 'Stop saying it's my imagination!' when you just said it was *her* imagination! How about that so-called ghost under your bed? Is that your imagination too? HUH??!? HUH?!?!?"** Jaxon opened his mouth to protest, but no words came out. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to process the whirlwind of emotions swirling around the room. **"I'm just saying that—"** he started, but Tayla cut him off again.**"No, you're just scared!"** she shot back, her voice steady but intense. **"We all are! But we can't keep pretending that this isn't happening. Amber saw something! We need to figure out what's going on instead of bickering!"**Jaxon crossed his arms, defensive but clearly rattled. **"Fine, but what do you propose we do? Go downstairs and have tea with a ghost?"**Amber stepped forward, her earlier panic subsiding into resolve. **"Maybe we should investigate. If there's a ghost, we need to understand who she is and why she's here. Maybe we can help her!"**Tayla took a deep breath, her heart racing at the idea of confronting whatever lurked in the shadows of the house. **"Okay. But we stick together this time. No one goes off on their own."**Jaxon nodded reluctantly, the fight leaving his posture. **"Alright, let's just get this over with."**With a sense of trepidation hanging in the air, the three friends made their way toward the basement, where Amber had seen Adorella. The dim light from the hallway barely illuminated the stairway leading down, casting eerie shadows along the walls.**"Just remember,"** Tayla whispered, her voice a mere breath. **"Whatever we find down there, we face it together."** They descended the stairs slowly, each creak of the floorboards echoing their unease. The basement door loomed before them, heavy and foreboding. The chill in the air intensified, and they exchanged glances, a mix of fear and determination in their eyes.**"Here goes nothing,"** Jaxon said, reaching for the doorknob. As he opened the door, the darkness yawned before them, and with a deep breath, they stepped into the unknown.