MARVIN'S CURSE

Chapter 6.2

She was pointing at a huge grey bricked house. A large black cast iron fence stretched around its perimeter which was covered in a thick blanket of grey fog. As for the house itself, its specific features were well hidden behind the fog mask. 

'Great!' 

'Come on,' she called, watching as Marvin struggled the last few metres. 

'I really do need to join a gym!' muttered Marvin. He bent over and waited while his heart rate calmed down. 

Stella waited for him to recover then they began the short distance to the house together. 

'Hold on. Just stop for a minute,' said Marvin, pulling Stella aside. 'This man, this pawnbroker, we need to be careful. Think about what the flower lady said.' 

'Scaremongering, that's all.' 

'No, there was more to it. You saw those people. If he's done the things she said, he's evil.' 

'Look, we've just come for my memories that's all,' said Stella. 'We ask nicely and get out of this hell-hole, yeah?' 

'Yes, I suppose you're right. It's none of our business what's gone on here.' 

Stella moved on towards the house, pulling Marvin behind her. After just a few metres they stood in front, weighing up the entry point. 

'Fog! There has to be another way in that doesn't involve fog!' said Marvin, fumbling around for a break in the fence. He held his breath then his head disappeared deep inside the fog blanket. He came out just as quickly, coughing and spluttering. 'It's in my ears and up my nose.' He gagged. 'The stuff in there is not natural, not right.' 

'Did you hear the voices?' said Stella. 

'I was trying to find the way in!' 

Stella sighed. 'Why don't you let me help?' 

'I'm quite capable of finding a gate, thank you.' 

Just then, the grey fog lifted revealing a huge gate and a path that led to the house.  

'How weird is that?' said Marvin, watching as the fog wound itself around the roof of the house. 

'This place gets stranger by the minute,' said Stella, looking around, a hint of anxiety in her voice. 

A loud squeaking noise suddenly emerged from the gate making her jump. 'Arrgghh! This is like some kind of horror story. As if I wasn't a nervous wreck already!' 

'At least we can get in now,' said Marvin, putting his arm across her shoulder. 'Come on. Let's see if the alleged murderer is in.' 

'Perhaps he's asleep in his coffin.' 

'These are spirits, Stella, not vampires!'