Silence » a.i

0.4

"Seriously, what is it?" I asked, almost laughing a little as Michael smiled watching me squirm under the suspense.

"You'll see, Cooper," he was laughing a little. "Just be patient."

He was leading me down my own street. Was he taking me to his house? Was he taking me to pick up Ashton again? Those wouldn't be very great surprises, and I doubted that Michael would make such a big deal out of either of them.

As we got closer to my house, I could see a figure sitting on the sidewalk in front of the Hemmings House. As my stomach began to knot, I realized I recognized the shaggy mop of golden hair and the sunglasses. Ashton stood as he noticed us coming and met us halfway. Michael stopped and gave me a cheeky smile.

"Ready for the surprise?" he asked eagerly.

"No, that's only why I've been begging you to tell me." I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes.

He grabbed my hand and led me over to the beginning of the driveway to the Hemmings House. "We're going ghost hunting."

While Michael looked excited for this, Ashton's mouth seemed to pull down slightly at the corners. It would be easier if I could see his eyes so I could know what he was thinking. What was with this kid and wearing sunglasses literally everywhere? Even Michael took his off sometimes.

"Are you serious?" I stared blankly at him. "This isn't a surprise, this is a death wish! Have you even seen American Horror Story!?"

I knew it was a bad idea to watch the entire first season right before moving, but I'd always wanted to see the show and I gave into the peer pressure. Michael just laughed at me.

"C'mon, Cooper," he said after collecting himself. "Trust me, none of that is even accurate."

"You don't know that." I muttered as Michael made his way down the driveway.

Ashton tapped my index finger with a finger of his own. I looked down at our hands that were almost touching, and then up at him. His mouth was pressed into a thin line as he looked at me - at least I assumed he was looking at me.

"Come on!" Michael shouted, already down the driveway, and standing in front of the door.

Ashton put a hand on my back as if to tell me it was okay to go forward. I turned around and looked at my own house, making sure none of my family was peering out the windows. When I saw it was all clear, I turned back to the house and walked toward it with Ashton. When we reached the door, Michael opened it.

"They just left it unlocked?" I inquired.

"Picked it." Michael answered smoothly, walking through the door and into the abandoned house.

I followed behind him with Ashton behind me. Ashton shut the door and Michael led us into the living room. The windows let the afternoon light stream in so we could see. Dust particles floated around the space as we looked around the room. It smelled musty and old.

"It's only been about six months and this place already looks terrible." Michael noted, looking around.

"I thought it was longer." I said, looking at him.

He shook his head. "Lucas died six months ago."

I noticed the wall had family photos hung up. I walked over and looked at a few. I had to admit, the boys of the family weren't bad looking, especially this Lucas kid. It was a pretty bad time to be thinking about how good looking a family that died was, so I moved closer to Ashton's side. He was standing in the middle of the room, looking cautiously around the space.

Michael suddenly spun around on his heels, an evil smile places upon his feature. "Let's go to the basement!"

"Let's not." I immediately replied.

Michael rolled his eyes, looking genuinely annoyed. "Can we at least go to Luke's room?"

Ashton vigorously shook his head and put an arm in front of me, as if he wanted to protect me.

"Oh, shut up, Irwin." Michael sneered. He reached over and grabbed my hand, pulling me forward.

He led us down a hallway and up a flight of stairs. He then led us down another hall and stopped outside the door at the end of the hall. I wondered how he knew his way around the house so well. Maybe this was a regular thing for him. Maybe Calum got dragged here with Michael before and that's what he was warning me about.

"Ready?" he smirked.

"N-not really." I stammered. I hadn't even realized how scared I truly was until I tried to form words.

"Oh, c'mon, Cooper, you'll be fine." he insisted as he opened the door. 

Lucas' room looked like any other teenage boys' room. There was a full-sized bed with blue plaid bedding. A black area rug laid by his bed on the hardwood floor. There were various band posters, and one window that faced the street. We were in the same room that I thought I saw a boy this morning. My blood ran cold.

"Michael, take me home." I tried to demand, but it came out in more of a whisper.

"But it's just about to get fun." he smirked, closing the door just as Ashton was about to walk in.

Ashton began banging on the door but Michael didn't let him in. I backed away from the door and into something else. Or someone. I slowly turned and faced the boy from the pictures downstairs. His height and outline matched the shadow I saw this morning. I wanted to scream, but nothing would come out.

I grabbed the nearest object and just threw it at him. As if someone flicked off a light switch, he was gone. That's when I noticed Michael was gone too.

"Michael?!" I called out, rapidly turning all directions to try to find him. "Michael, cut the shit!"

Ashton continued to pound on the door. I could hear him trying to twist the knob, but it wouldn't open. the door was locked. I wasn't getting out.

I was shoved to the ground even though there wasn't anyone in front of me. I hit my head off the door, which only seemed to make Ashton's actions more frantic from what I could hear. The hair on my arms was still standing up as the room went completely dark. How was that possible with no shades on the window? I wanted out of this house.

The lights flickered back on for a second, but it was long enough for me to catch a glimpse of Michael's bloody, beaten body lying right at my feet. I let out a blood curdling scream as I pushed myself off the floor and started banging on the door as well.

"Let me out!" I screamed, trying to twist the knob now. "Help! Ashton!"

I felt cold breath against my skin as a voice I'd never heard spoke to me in a soft, velvety tone that chilled me to the bone, "Welcome to Westfield Drive."

I felt like my body was shutting down from how terrified I was. And I just let it happen. If I died, I'd rather die completely passed out. I let my legs give out as my brain shut down. I didn't even feel myself fall to the floor.