Darkness Devours

Part 2

Mark walked up the creaking wooden steps of the house, stashing his phone back into his pocket.  He started to wonder if the guys had agreed on a room yet, when a chill caused him to shiver.  Turning to look over his shoulder, he took in the landscape one last time.  Rubbing his arms to warm them in the slight chilly autumn air, he felt uneasy.  He had always hated haunted locations... even if this was just a fake haunted location set up for Halloween fun... the caretaker had really freaked him out a bit.  Staring back down the driveway toward the large iron gate, Mark swallowed hard.  He was getting worked up for nothing.  He just had to do this video and go.  He was about to turn around when he saw a hint of movement by the gate.  Was it the caretaker?  Squinting to try and get a better look, something dropped onto his shoulder and he jumped away screaming out in surprise.  "JESUS CHRIST"!  Ken raised his hands in surrender, chuckling as told him calmly.  "Easy, Mark. We found a room. You want to take a look"?  Mark quickly shot a look back toward the gate, but nothing seemed to be there now.  Sighing heavily, Mark bent over, placing his hands against his knees, then answering shakily.  "Ya... Lead the way".  Ken's expression turned serious, asking him with concern.  "Are you sure you're alright"?  Mark chuckled feeling silly as he told Ken confidently.  "I'm fine. I just let that caretaker get to me. He was a good actor".  Ken gave Mark's shoulder a comforting pat, before leading Mark inside.  The inside was even creepier then the outside!  Everything was severely outdated with a thick layering of dust.  The furniture was all scuffed up dark woods.  Even the wooden floor had been scuffed in places.  The rugs had certainly seen better days.  However, there was very minimal cobwebs, and the water and electricity worked.  Ryan met them at the base of a nice staircase, pointing to the wall of black & white photos, saying a little impressed.  "Someone went all out to make this house look creepy. I mean, why else would you do that to such old photos"?  Mark followed them gradually up the steps while examining the weird photos.  Each one had a different family portrait that appeared to be from different periods of time.  In all the photos, the families eyes were all scratched out... except for a single person in each that seemed to be harshly shaded in darkness.  Mark suspected it was due to bad lighting when the picture was taken.  As for the scratched out eyes... it was creepy but kind of clichéd.  Ryan lead them down a long dark hallway to the room at the very end, telling Mark excitedly.  "I figure we trail the camera down this hall with minimal candle lighting.  Then we open this door to where you will be in the bed asleep, and have you jerk awake at a creaking noise.  Maybe a door opening somewhere in the house?  We get you going to investigate and-".  The bedroom door yanked open suddenly, cutting off Ryan as Felix jumped out at them yelling.  "BOO"!  Mark took a step back, exhaling sharply.  It hadn't really scared him... but he was still on edge.  Felix chuckled at Ryan and Ken who did jump, saying proddingly.  "Well? Are you going to show him the room, or just tell him about it"?  Ryan swatted Felix in the chest, snapping back defensively.  "I was trying to tell him the plan, Felix"!  Felix stepped aside for them to entire the room, passive-aggressively shooting back.  "Don't be such a bitch and get in".  As Ken passed into the room, he playfully muttered back to Mark.  "That's what she said".  Mark tried to suppress his smile, only to burst out laughing.  Once again Ryan started back tracking in his idea, pointing to the bed and then the door, finishing his previous line of thought.  "We get you to investigate and that's when we have Ken and Felix start slamming the doors down the hall. Scaring you to the front door, which we will say is 'locked'. You turn and we have Ken and Felix grab you and drag you toward the basement door.  Sound good"?  Mark simply nodded his approval, hoping it would all be done before it got too late.  He really didn't feel like staying.  The house just felt dark and gloomy... and it was still daylight!  He didn't want to see this place at night!  Felix and Matt got to work opening up the bags they brought, pulling out camera equipment, costumes, and props.  Felix and Ken quickly slipped into fully clad reaper costumes, while Mark changed into a white T-shirt and his Markiplier 'M' pajama bottoms.  Switching his phone from his jean pocket to his pajama pocket, he reminded Ryan casually.  "Don't forget. Jack will be calling in an hour. I told him his scene was still in. So, can we work that in at the end"?  Ryan snapped his fingers as he remembered, answering excitedly.  "That's what I forgot! As you're being dragged to the basement, your phone will fall out and Jack will call.  We can have Ken answer it and Jack can say his line. I knew I was forgetting something...".  Mark chuckled softly, throwing back the large old bed comforter on the four poster bed.  It looked clean... just really old fashioned.  Shrugging away his doubts, Mark slipped into the bed and they started filming.  The filming turned out to be so much fun!  Ken and Felix really put in their all to make the scenes really spooky!  Which encouraged Mark to put his all into acting as terrified and confused as he could!  Jack's call was a little late, so Mark had to lay across the floor waiting to be dragged away from it!  So, Ken made a show of holding Mark's legs and asking him playfully evil.  "Are you waiting for a call? Cause I can wait"?  Which made the moment perfect for the blooper reel!  After all the filming was done and they were packing to leave, Mark happily told Jack through the phone.  "Ya, it went great! Maybe next year we can do a sequel and get you in it".  Jack chuckled, cheerfully replying.  "I'll start clearing my calendar".  Mark smiled to himself, reached out to open the front door... only it wouldn't open.  Yanking on it a little harder, Mark told Jack uneasily.  "Oh jeez... The door is stuck".  Jack chuckled on the other end of the phone, saying positively.  "It is an old house, Mark".  Mark grumbled out a simply 'Ya' and tried tugging harder.  When it didn't work, Mark turned around calling out.  "Guys! The damn door is stuck! You wanna give me a hand"?  Mark could hear the guys laugh upstairs and start to head his way... when all over the house, the dark window shutters began to slam closed!  Rocking the walls and blocking out the last of the setting sun!  Leaving the house shrouded in pitch black shadows!  To Be Continued...