The Mansion on Degriest Hill

Chapter 3- Damian

Then I heard that little ringing sound again. I rubbed my eyes and reached over to grab my phone.

  '5 new text messages'

All saying they can come and what time do I want to meet there. I counted in my head as i checked my text messages, Marissa, Samuel, Cam, Natalie, Lindsay, Mckinleigh, Hannah, Bryce. Yep that's everyone! I texted back 'great, meet me there at 8:45! Then I glanced at the time in the right hand corner of my phone. Woah! 8:00 I should've already been to Cameron's by now! I grabbed my backpack, phone, slipped on my shoes and ran to my car. Luckily, Cam lived only 5 minutes from me, so I drove quickly to his house and he jumped the front seat of my yellow mustang convertible.

     "So, what'd you tell your parents?" I asked.

     "I told them I was sleeping over at a haunted mansion for a school project. But they obviously thought I was joking but they said yes. So I take that as telling me I can go, even if they thought I was kidding." He said laughing. As I turned around he looked at me confused.

     "Uhh...Damian.?"

     "What?" "You're going the wrong way."

     "No I'm not?" I laughed.

    "Yes, you are. Degreist hill mansion is that way." He said pointing to the right where there was a long dirt road.

     "Oh by the way, were picking up Natalie." I told him. He smiled at me. "What was that look for?!"

     "I think you can figure that out yourself Damian.." he said as he chuckled to himself.

     "Oh shut up." I laughed.

     We then pulled into Natalie's driveway. She was waiting on her porch steps with her bag stuffed full and her long red hair pulled into a straight side ponytail. She stood up and walked over to the car and hopped in the back seat.

     "Oh my god, turn the heat on! I'm freezing!" She exclaimed.

      "Hello to you too.." said Cameron jokingly.

     "So you two ready for this!?" I asked as we drove slowly down the sketchy dirt road, trying to make sure my tire didn't pop from all the broken glass and such that were mixed in with it.

      "I'm a little spooked, but yeah, I'm ready. It should be fun." She sad smiling. I looked at Cameron.

      "How 'bout you?"

      "Uhh, I guess I am." I could tell he was starting to freak out. Same old Cam. Always so excited and ready for something, then when the minute comes that he actually has to do it, he freaks.

      "You'll be fine" Natalie told him assuringly.

      All of our attention then went to the dark broken down old mansion in front of us. I have to say, I'd never really taken a look at it before. Now that I have, just..woah. It was made of cement, there were four ghastly gargoil figures next to each side of the door, the vines creeping up around the sides of the building, and the fog on this night, caused shivers to run up my arms and down my spine. Cameron, Natalie, and I sat there jaws dropped, seeing what we will be sleeping in tonight.

      Our thoughts were interupted by a red Corvette pulling up beside us.

      "Hey guys!" Said Marissa rolling down the window of Samuel's car with Hannah, Mickinleigh, and Bryce in the back seat.

      "Hi Marissa" I said my lip quivering.

      "This is awesome dude! I mean look at those gargoils!" Samuel yelled. Why was I so freaked our all of a sudden. Ugh, Cameron's rubbing off on me..

      "Where's Lindsay?" Asked Natalie, concerned that her best friend may have chickened out.

      "She just texted me, she's almost here." Shouted Bryce from the back of Samuels car where I couldn't see him very well.

      We all examined the building while a little blue camry pulled up and Lindsay stepped out wearing a jean jacket, sequined tank top, and dark blue skinny jeans with knee high boots. She quickly ran over to where Natalie was sitting.

       "So, are we just gonna sit here all day, or are we gonna go in there?!" Asked Samuel pushing his dreadlocks away from his face. "I guess we'll go in." I said getting out of my car. Then I helped Natalie out do the back, which had no door. Marissa carried a few boxes.

      "Guess what I have!?" She asked seeming excited about whatever was in the boxes.

      "What?" Lindsay asked. Marissa opened the box on the top to reveal a steamy box of cheese pizza.

       "Pizza!!" She exclaimed smiling.

      "Marissa I love you so much right now." Said Hannah. "I'm starving!"

      "Can't we wait 'til we get inside to eat?" I asked them. Following what I had ordered, they each walked with me to the front door. We all stopped and starred at it. There was no doorknob.

      "Is this some kind of joke?" Mickinleigh asked laughing.

      "No, I don't think so." I answered, confused and looking for something that I could use that would open the door. There was nothing!

      "Maybe it doesn't have a doorknob for a reason. It probably doesn't want us to enter, so let's just respect it and go hang out at my house.." Natalie said through her gittering teeth.

      "Oh no, you're not going anywhere." I told her grabbing her wrist as she turned to get back to my car. "We'll find a way in.."

      "Fine." She said crossing her arms.

      "Maybe ill be able to help one of you up into that window and you can open the door for us?" Samuel offered. Marissa shrugged and walked over to the window in the back with Samuel and Bryce. I waited standing at the door. Then all of a sudden the door opened a crack.

     "Well that was fast" I said walking inside with Natalie, Lindsay, Hannah, Cameron, and Mickinleigh. Then I dropped my bag on the old wooden floor and looked around for Marissa, Sam, and Bryce. I didn't see them anywhere.

      "You guys this isn't funny, where are you?" I asked suddenly a little concerned.

      "Marissa! Where are you guys!?" Lindsay yelled. Then a hand popped up on the window in the end of the long hallway and Marissa struggled to climb in. Natalie and Hannah looked at me confused and scared.

      "Oh, so you guys got the door open?" She asked with Samuel yelling at her to jump in the window as he and Bryce pushed her up. I turned towards Cameron and he gave me a frightened look. We were all thinking the same thing. If Marissa, Samuel, and Bryce are still outside, then who opened the door? Lost in each others thoughts we heard a loud slam and I leaped backwards 3 feet! We all turned around to see the door had been slammed shut.