Betrayal by: R.L Stine

Village of Shadyside 1900

The fire reward like thunder. Above the choking cloud of black smoke, the night sky bright and with a wash of angry Scarlet. The flames tossed crash like ocean waves, rolling over the blackened mansion, pouring out every window, seeping up the walls and over the roof until the house was nothing more than the dark corporation fireball. Staring down at the fire from the low hill that overlooked the wide lawn, Nora good pressed her hands over her ears. But even with the fires drawer muffled she could hear the screams. The screams of those trapped inside the blazing fear mansion. The screams of everyone she knew, of everyone she loved. "Daniel, i'm here! I am alive! I ran out!I Escaped the fire!"Nora shouted. "where are you? Are you coming out too?"
The flames roared louder, as if it to answer. Nor his entire body tremble in dread. She lowered one hand the amulet on a chain around her neck. The firemen already please for more than an hour. Daniel wasn't coming out. No one was coming out. Only minutes after if I had begun, the Shadyside volunteer fire fighters pulled her horse drawn water truck onto one of the mansion. For the flames had already told up the entire house. This is their faces revealing hard on, the firefighter stood by helplessly and watch for the other towns people could gather them a little hill, huddling in the small groups, their face is red in light of the flickering blaze. "you're not coming out, are you, Daniel?"Nora said. "i'll never see you again." She shut her eyes. But even with her eyes close she could still see the angry red and orange flames tossing up cross the inside of your eyelids. Squeezing the small round pen entire tightly, north side. The silver anyway it was it sparkly blue Jules held in place by silver three toed call, like those on a tiny birds foot, had been given to her by Daniel fear as a token of his love."it is all I have left of you, Daniel!"Nora wailed.  Voices Rose around her, close by, louder than the thunder of the flames. Nor opened her eyes and turned her gaze on the horrified faces of the people from the village. They clung together, as it frightened for their own lives. "The fire will burn forever!"A bearded man cried, his face Scarlet, the flame refected in his eyes. "look at the house,"a frail woman a few from feet from Nora cried, pointing."it is covered with flames, but it does not burn!" "it looks as if the sky is on fire!"screamed a little girl, hiding your face in the mothers dark skirt."I always knew this place is evil,"The bearded man declared, shooting his eyes with one hand. "I always do the theories will come to no good." "they burned up inside their house,"i'm on said"maybe they're evil Perish with them"another person added."The firemen did not even try to put it out.""they cannot put out this fire. It is not an ordinary fire. It is not fire from this world.""evil of this house feeds the fire." " The house is cursed! The ground is cursed!" " No! Please. . . Stop it! Stop it!" Nora shrieked. Unable to shut out their voices , she began running toward the house. Her cloak flapped behind her as she stumbled down the hill and over the lawn. Slipping on the dew-wet grass, she could feel the heat of the fire on her face. Strange shadows flickered over the law , black against the reflected scarlet light. "Daniel, why is your family so cursed?" Nora cried as she ran. "What kind if evil brought you and your family to a fiery end?" Nora's long dark hair floated wildly above the flapping cloak. As she ran, she held her arms out as if ready to embrace the flames. "Who is that?" " Where is she going" "Somebody stop her!" Alarmes voices rang out from the crowd. Panting loudly, Nora raised an arm to shield her eyes as she ran. She could feel the precious silver amulet bobbing against her throat. "Daniel, are you in there? Daniel?" "Somebody stop her!" "Has she gone mad?" " Who is she? Is she a Fear?" The voices finally faded, drowned out by the crackle and roar of the blinding red-orange blaze. It's so hot, so hot! Nora thought. She loosened the cloak and let it fall. I feel as if im running into the sun! Now i feel as if im on fire too. She stopped, chocking on the hot smoke. Where am i? She gazed into the flames and suddenly realized she was standing in front of a window. The window of the grand ballroom. The tossing flames made the window glow. "Ohhh!" Nora maones in horror as he faces inside came into view. Faces among the flames. Nora's breath caught in her throat as she stared through the windowat the wriggling dark bodies. Are they dancing? Dancing with flames? No. Their faces were twisted in agony. Their dark bodies writhing in pain. She saw screaming women, flames rolling up their hair. Shesaw the toturted faces of young men, dark holes where their eyes should have been,their clothing wrapped in fire. Who are these people? Nora , wondered, unable to turn her eyes from the ghastly nightmare inside the house. Why are theyin the ballroom? Whay aren't they consumed by the flames? Why dont they die? And then Nora's eyes focused on a figure in the center of the writhing screaming crowd. A young girl. Wearing a long maroon dress and an old fashioned cap. Nora gasped as the girl raised her head and their eyes met. The girl's eyes were eggshell white. Glowing white. As Nora gasped in horror, she saw the girl's mouth open wide into toturted scream, a scream of rage, of unbearble pain. Then Nora noticed thst the girl's hands were tied behind her. Tied to a tall wooden pole. The girl was tied to a stake. And now her dress was billowing with fire. And the flames were rising up to her face, up her long blond hair. The cap burst into flame then. Struggling against the stake , the girl shrieked as she burned. Then, with a low explosion, the flames hid them all behind a rippling yellow curtain. The window burst, glass shattering and flying out. The fire's roar rumbled over her. And still Nora stood motionless, staring where the screaming girl had been, staring into the wall of flame, staring, staring into the bright, dancing horror....