Are you afraid of the darkness?

Dare

"Come on. Stop being such a chicken shit."

"Shut up, Remy. You're just gonna leave me anyway."

"Stop being a pussy."

"You kiss the Pastor with that mouth?"

"Ha ha ha. Seriously, girl. A whole year of being rent free. What do you say?"

You look to the Manor and know this isn't a good idea but you have no money and aren't sure why you said yes to this, besides the obvious of reasons. You only came along with your roommate to visit her sister, thankful that the drive was relaxing for you. The rest stop on the way home proved dreadful when you both heard of the popular grounds in the surrounding areas.

Crimson Peak they called it.

Actually it was the name of the home the original owner had in England. He had traveled to America only for pleasure and ended up buying a lavish home. The man, Sir Thomas Sharpe, lived as a popular social business man and was an apparent charmer amongst the women. After a year, leading up to the summer he disappeared, several women had disappeared including his sister and new bride. No one could prove that he was behind them but they were always last seen leaving for Crimson Peak.

The brother of Thomas' new bride and several other male family members of the girls that disappeared stormed Crimson Peak one night in search of the girls but found nothing. No bodies, no clothes, not even a hair ribbon. In just fury, they tied him up and set the manor on fire with him still inside. They all watched the exits to make sure he wouldn't escape. When the manor stopped burning, Thomas Sharpe's body was never found. Neither were the girls.

Now here you were on a dare as your friend sat on the hood of the car as she hands you a flashlight and your fully charged phone. Your mother would be disappointed.

"On reaching the place, he said to them, Pray that you will not fall into temptation."

"If you want, we can just go."

As much as you'd like to leave, you don't want her riding you as a coward. You also feel like there's something in the sight of the Manor that just draws you in. This will definitely be one for the confession on Sunday.

"Get ready to pay my rent, bitch."

"An hour gets you six months. Two hours gets you a year. If you back out now, you pay your own and you buy us dinner for the ride home. I'll text you when your time's up."

"Start charging it now so it doesn't die."

You snatch the light and phone and briskly make your way to the house. You stop short of the door that's already open as it swings freely in the wind. You shiver as your tights under your shorts provide no shelter from the chilly wind.

"Here goes nothing."

You enter the Manor and lock the door as instructed. Your ringtone makes you jump when you look around and realized how dark it was.

"Hey," says your room mate from the other side of the receiver, "Your time starts now. Good luck."

She ends the call before you can say anything smartass. You step carefully around the wooden boards of the first floor. There's two sitting rooms, the large kitchen smelling of mold, various broom closets, a saloon that houses a grand piano. The wood is old and has a lot of smoke damage but the keys are still white. You had always wanted to play the piano.

With the first floor somewhat familiar, you make your way up to the second floor with three possible directions forward. On either side are two hallways leading to more rooms and perhaps another floor. In front of you is set of double doors. Your imagination leads to what it might be but it had to be a library by the design of the door.

You step back and choose to go right as your feet carry you down a long hallway. There is a door, the last one on the left that calls out to you. The wood pushes open easily as you step inside. Besides the dust and musky smell, the room was pretty lavish. Cobwebs covered the window panes and the fireplace was enormous. The bed at the other side looks comforting as you sit on the century old mattress.

Your eyes feel tired the moment your head hits the pillow. There is about an hour and a half left in the house and you think to have a quick nap since there was no rule of it as you set the three alarms to wake you after an hour. The battery has barely drained so really you have nothing to worry about.

Your eyes close as you listen to the house. There was still an attic, a basement, the library and the severly burned part of the house that you were not tempted to travel to since the wood was old and you could hurt yourself trying to explore. You pull the lapels of your sweater closer as sleep washes over you quickly.