Is this Rare?

Chapter 5

"You look like you've just seen a ghost." Ann bursts out.

Jenn is still clutching the blankets as she protests, "Yeah, well I heard a lot of noises up there. Screeching and scraping sounds. Like something was scratching at the door." Then she shudders.

Ann responds nonchalantly, "It was probably a mouse or rat."

Jenn says, "That's what I thought too, but the scratching noise sounded too deep and long for a mouse. Like the claw was bigger, maybe?"

Quickly, I declare, "You probably were just imagining things." Because I am really really hoping it not a rodent. I really would hate to have one of those things running over my toes in the middle of the night.

Jenn gives me a cold stare and retorts, "I wasn't."

Unsurely, Maggie begins, "It is kind of hard to imagine that kinda thing. Let alone hear those sounds when you're all alone. Jennifer's hearing is pretty good."

Jenn is just joking and being her sarcastic self when she looks at Maggie and says, "Huh?"

Maggie begins again, still completely serious, "I said that-"

Jennifer cuts her of with, "No, seriously I heard you. I was just-"

Now it was Maggie's turn to cut Jenn off. She accomplishes this easily by launching a pillow across the room: aimed right into Jennifer's face! We all burst into laughter yet again!

After all the laughing attacks die down, Ann asks somewhat randomly, "Where is the bathroom?"

Jenn give us a puzzled look and mentions, "Well, there's only three rooms upstairs. Including the attic."

Already suspecting the answer, I question, "Did you open any?"

Jenn gives me another stare. This one is blank. No emotion at all. "Are you kidding me?!  That was the longest minute of me life!"

Maggie voices what all of us are thinking, "Well, we can't just sit here and do nothing. Do you all wanna go up there?"

Jenn, trying to be humorous as well as sarcastic, says, "Well, if you want to go to the bathroom outside then-"

Ann stops Jennifer there by literally shooting out of her chair as she decides for us, "Okay, let's go!"

While they all make their way to the staircase, I shout after them, "Dudes, wait up! We will need a flashlight." I go to collect the lights. I hear Jenn mutter something, but I don't acknowledge it, enough to understand what they are saying. Let alone retaliate.

I meet them at the bottom step, pass out the flashlights, and listen as Ann explains, "Remember how in horror movies when people go into dark places and their flashlights go out and--"

We all interrupt her before she can continue, "ANN!"

"Sorry." She mutters under her breath.

Then, I try to get out a statement, and slightly tremble, "Who wants to go first?"

Ann suggests that Jenn goes first.

Quickly, Jennifer groans, "How about we go in the order we are already in?"

We all agree and nod in assent. First goes Ann. She scurries up the stairs faster than any of us would had expected her to.

Next, Jenn goes up with out me or Maggie having to persuade her. Another surprise.

Maggie follows Jennifer. She clings to at railing and steps lightly. Definitely no surprise there.

I go last. I surprise myself when I walk up the steps just like I was at my own apartment in New York. I don't trip up the steps or hold the rail.