Conga Line of the Dead

Chapter 7: The First Step or Have a nice trip, see you next fall.

Peter slid through the bent out part of the fence around the back side of the old Truman mansion, through the overgrowth and thorn bushes that had grown around in the many years no one had lived there to keep up the grounds and into the overgrown yard where Ashley stood waiting for him.

"I can't believe we made it," Ashley replied as Peter dusted the thorns and leaves off himself as she looked around them, "I was almost sure my mother knew about this entrance. As many times as I used it to sneak in and out as a kid I was almost sure she did."

The distraction by Troy and Toke was working out perfectly; Peter could hear the sirens and commotion from the squad cars out front even from this far back in the lot, it was giving them enough time to get through this secret spot and into the house from a back way.

He shook his head, "Bet they're having a blast." he replied to no one.

Ashley smiled, "Guess that's the perks of having ghosts for friends, instant distractions."

Peter nodded, "Yea, but that won't help us any if we don't get out of sight, let's go."

They quickly made their way across the overgrown yard, using trees and bushes to hide behind, and soon came to the old brick mansion that far towered over them both.

The house itself was in good shape for being so old; some of the windows in the front and in various places were broken and vines from bushes at the houses base were snaking their way up the mildewed walls. But all in all the mansion was in very good shape, if you were in the market for a creepy Scooby-Doo haunted house.

Ashley led him to an overgrown stone walkway that made its way to a weathered wooden door which lead into the basement.

As they came to the door Peter stopped her and moved her aside gently, "Let me go first alright?" he said, not believing he was actually wanting to be the first to step into this creepy house.

"Sure, go ahead David Duchovny." she replied with a smile.

Peter glanced back at her with a smirk then set to work on the door before him.

It was locked, he tried the knob, but as old as the door looked he was sure he would be able to knock it down. One light shove gave him the proof that it would come down easily, so be backed up slightly and with all the strength he had rammed into the door as it seemed to shatter into millions of pieces and he tumbled helplessly down the stairs into the darkness beyond.

He finally came to rest on the basements damp and musty floor, door fragments cluttered the floor around him. Once the dust seemed to settle he got up and surveyed where he was. It was unusually chilly which was strange since it was a warm summer day outside.

"Are you alright?" Ashley's voice asked from above, he could hear her cautiously walking down the wooden stairs.

Peter shook his head as if it would help the headache that was starting behind his eyes, "Yea, I'm fine. Looks like fall came early for me." he said absentmindedly as he looked around the room he was in.

The basement was empty for all he could see with the little bit of sunlight coming in from the small windows and the newly opened door behind him. The room itself stretched out far and he could see only one exit out, a wooden staircase that led up to a door which had to go into the house above.

He turned back to the doorway and squinted into the sunlight at Ashley, "Come on it, it's safe for all I can see unless there's..."

"PETER LOOK OUT!" Ashley screamed as she pointed behind him.

Peter had just enough time to look as the back side of a shovel flying towards him.

"Oh Shit."