Don't Keep the Lights On

Chapter 10

I felt as though my world had been yanked out from under my feet. Even though it seemed unlikely we were going to survive, I had never thought that at Andrea would die. All of us were crying. I didn't even know ghosts could cry, but they did. "We have to go on without her." I choked. I couldn't decide if what I said was brave, or stupid. "She's right." Hannah stood up, mopping up her tears with her sleeve. Dolly nodded. "That's right. We can't linger."

We walked up the spiralling flight of stairs. "Have you come to play?" Someone asked. My eyes darted around. "Who...who said that?" I asked uncertainly. "Me..." the voice echoed. "Show yourself!" Dolly called assertively. All at once, a piano began pounding a sad, mournful tune, and a wailing rose up. We clapped our hands over our ears and walked forward blindly, hunched over from the insane wailing. "Please!! Stop!" James screamed. I made my way over to a James and pressed comfortingly against him. "Whoever you are, come out and face us!" I yelled.

The piano and the wailing stopped. Something stepped out from the darkness. It was...my mom! But it wasn't my mom. My mom had brown hair and green eyes. This lady had greying hair and red eyes, and her mouth as open in a impossibly large smile. But she retained some features of my mother. She had the same glittering eyes and wrinkles. And the same voice. "Come, Madison. We can go home. Abandon those friends. They were the ones who brought you here. They were the ones who killed Andrea." Her voice sounded weirdly distorted, like five of my mom were speaking all at once. "Madison..." She urged.

Home. I could be safe, happy, and healthy. All I had to do was to leave behind Hannah, Dolly, James and Connor. It wasn't so hard. My ghoulish mom was right about one thing. They dragged me into this mess. I looked at my mom again. Her arms were opened. I couldn't shake the feeling that if I followed her, I wouldn't go  home. I'd go into her stomach. "No." I said firmly. My mom looked disappointed. "No? Madison....I'm disappointed in you. Babe? Come on...." When I didn't go to her, she snapped. "Alright then, I'll call your father. Gary!" Hearing her call my dad raised the hairs on the back of my neck.

A ghoulish version of my dad came into view. "Maddie...." He whispered. His nickname for me. "Dad...I'm sorry. But you're not my dad!" I pointed a finger accusingly at him. "Madison! Come here!!" Dad roared. "I said no!!!" I cried, and I lunged for them. I grabbed them both and kicked everything I could until they disappeared in my hands. "Woah." Dolly croaked hoarsely. I smiled, kicking away the ghoulish ashes that were once my fake parents. "Who can't be rebellious, Dad?" I said.