Lives

Chapter 1

   "Deke! Samantha!" The duo turned around just in time for Elizabeth to barrel into the both of them. Before they could speak, Elizabeth was talking a million miles a minute. "I found this website! The asylum's being knocked down! Can you believe it? This is crazy!" Liz paused to pant, and Deke clamped a hand over her mouth.

   "Stop," he said monotonously. "Your being way to loud," he said not so monotonously but, in fact, irritatedly. Samantha giggled her quiet giggle when Deke released Liz's mouth, and Liz huffed.

   "Anyway," Liz continued, slightly softer this time. "They're knocking the asylum down! Look!" She shoved a printed out page into Deke's face. Samantha tugged it away and began reading. Deke read over her shoulder, making 'hmm' noises every now and then. Eventually, Liz jumped up and pushed the paper down out of their hands. "Whaddaya think?"

   Samantha pushed her thick framed glasses up higher on her nose, which scrunched up in thought. "I don't know," she began quietly. "What do you want us to think?" she finished quietly.

   Deke pulled his sunglasses off and wiped them on his shirt. His red eyes- one of the many traits that showed his albinism- glinted at Liz. "I know what you think." Elizabeth grinned. "Do you agree?" The boy sighed and put his glasses back on. "No," he replied. "If you're thinking what I think you're thinking, then no. I think it's idiotic." Samantha looked between the two of them, bewildered. Liz frowned. "You don't believe all that bull about ghosts in that place, do you?" Deke gave her a glare she couldn't see.

   Samantha turned to Elizabeth. "W-Wait, you're not thinking of exploring that old junk heap?" Elizabeth grinned and practically bounced in place. "YES!" Samantha paled until she looked like Deke. "Why?" "Why not?"

   Deke sighed. "Do you have any idea what kind of dangerous shit must be locked up in there?" Liz laughed, and Deke found himself thinking of mad scientists. "Yes. Yes, I do."

   A shadow passed over Elizabeth's face, erasing the excitement. "Come on guys... There's just something about that place. I have to check it out, at least once, before it's knocked down. Please..."

   Deke sighed- he did that a lot around Liz- and massaged his temples. "Fine," he finally said. "I'm in. But only to make sure you don't hurt yourself!" Liz smiled and looked up at Samantha, saying, "What about you, Sam?" Samantha held her books closer and pushed her glasses back up. She shuffled a bit in place before finally sighing. "Fine. I guess I'm in too..."

   Liz squealed and hugged them both. "Great!" she yelled. "Come to my house this Saturday. We have a ton to plan." Having accomplished her goal, Elizabeth ran off through the hallway.

   The bewildered duo exchanged worried glances before looking down at the very wrinkled paper. The picture of the dilapidated building leered back at them. Neither of them wanted to do this, but it was Liz. They had to, didn't they?

   Samantha examined the paper even as Deke turned to stare down the road. "It...could be fun," she said quietly, trying to convince herself as much as she was Deke. Deke only grunted and stared at the place where Elizabeth had disappeared.