The Trial

Chapter 7

"any ideas?"

"no. I don't remember anything being inside. you?" I replied, glancing around. 

"nope. I didn't do homework. I just did the physical stuff."

"I guess we should start checking the place out."

"we're not splitting up this time."

"agreed for now." I complied, as we started across the room to what looked like the only door. as we left the room, we came across several piles of ashes. 

"is that what I think it is?" mason murmured. 

"I don't see a fireplace anywhere nearby, so I'd have to say yes." I replied, trying to figure out where and when we were. "I think we should find our way outside. maybe, we'll get a better idea of what we're supposed to do."

"after you." he smirked and gestured to the next door. 

when we finally made our way outside, we still didn't see a single person. there had been no one inside either, or we would've heard them. "I don't like this. something is definitely off about this place. if feels like we're being watched, but there's no one here."

"yeah. I feel it too. maybe, it's above us." he offered, looking up and shielding his eyes from the sunlight to get a better look. "nothing." he grunted, dropping his hand. 

I didn't see any other buildings, so I offered "I think we should check around the whole building, before we go back inside."

"why? there's nothing out here."

"there's nothing inside either. at least, out here, we can get an idea of how big the place is and see if there's any visible damage, signs of forced entry, anything."

"fair point." he huffed in defeat and gestured to follow him, so I did, watching and listening for anything at all. 

as we rounded the back of the building, we both came to an abrupt stop. bodies laid everywhere. piles of ashes were blowing away in the wind, but there was still no sign of anyone or anything alive. we gave each other a nervous look, before we continued our search. we came up empty. 

reluctantly, we headed back inside. the entire atmosphere inside was like a thick fog, weighing down on us. "keep your guard up." he murmured as his body tensed in anticipation. 

we made our way through the hallway, checking each room as we went. when we reached the end of the hall, he glanced back at me with a nervous expression. "last door." he breathed.

as his hand wrapped around the doorknob, I quietly blurted "wait." he froze and looked back at me, waiting for an explanation, so I carefully added "it has to be a vampire den. I'd bet everything i own that that's a basement." 

he swallowed hard and whispered "so any ideas what vampire den we're in?"

I shook my head and took a step back away from the door. "we need to rethink this." 

"should I open the door? the sun's still up, so, if it's a den, they won't come rushing up here."

"do it quick and back away." I replied at after a long moment of thought. he was right. I hoped.

he tensed and yanked the door open, jumping back and looking ready to take on anything that came out at us. the only thing that came out was an aweful stench of death. we both recoiled away from the door, covering our noses with our arms. 

"definitely a vampire den." he gaged out behind his arm, making his voice come out muffled. 

"do you see a light switch anywhere?" I asked, and he glanced around just inside the doorway.