Perfectly Imperfect 1

82- The Haunted Mansion

Hello peeps! Before you guys scroll on, I kinda have a favour to ask from you wonderful people. See the Youtube video at the side? Well, do you think you could play it as you read the story? I want to set the mood, you see, and the music from the Youtube player is the one Kayla's listening to at the ball :) So, p'haps, if you guys play it while you read it, you'd be transported to the Warwick High Masquerade Ball too, and be able to truly appreciate this chapter =) oh, and instead of clicking the arrows when you guys want to turn to the next page, perhaps you guys could click on the tiny '+' symbol at the right hand corner of this reading-box, instead? that way, the video won't be interrupted =) thankies!

KAYLA:

Although there was no spotlight shining on us, everybody seemed to know that we were newcomers. As Cal led me to the centre of the room, the sea of people parted to let us through, but everybody kept their eyes fixed on us. As we walked, I could hear hisses echoing around the room, and I held on to Cal's hand tightly. Not letting go, Cal continued to make his way past the bodies, finally stopping when we had reached the centre of the room. I latched on to Cal as he surveyed the room impassively; heads turned away as Cal caught them staring, until one by one, everybody was back to minding their own business.

I exhaled a sigh, and tightened my arms around Cal.

"That was... scary," I finally murmured, as the orchestra started playing a creepy, hair-raising piece.

Cal smiled down at me, but I could tell that his mind was somewhere else.

"What's the matter, Cal?" I whispered, shuddering at the choice of music. "And why are they playing that? It's... creepy!"

And creepy it indeed was. The instrumental, which started off with screeches of violin, had now progressed to wails of flutes, dramatic piano interludes, and sudden bursts of harmonica. The dim lighting reminded me of that night in Cal's house- shadows were casted everywhere, the silhouette of the person I was following...

"Aiden!" I squeaked, clutching the front of Cal's tuxedo tightly.

"What? Where?"

"No, what if- What if he's here, Cal? What if he's under one of these masks, what if he's just waiti-"

"Shh, baby," Cal muttered soothingly, pulling me into a hug. "This- this is all just for show. We are supposedly in a haunted mansion, after all. The music, the lights, the mask- they're all to make up the ambiance, that's all."

The orchestra started wailing again, and I whimpered.

"Although why they chose to play 'Play Me the Song of Death' is... beyond me," he murmured, as the riff of a guitar suddenly burst out.

"The- the song of... death?!"

Cal opened his mouth to reply, when suddenly, a magnified voice cut him.

"Good evening fellow alumni of the prestigious Wariwck High, chosen guests and... their dates."