The Mansion

Chapter Eight-Mystery Man

“Two more weeks."Eric said as he stared at the ceiling.

“Two more."Roger sighed.We were currently sleeping in Eric's bedroom,we were too frightened to sleep all by ourselves.The plan was to stick together no matter what.

“When is this going to end?"Eric wondered out loud.

“To me?Never.I can't imagine myself ever leaving this place." Roger said with a groan.

“Don't say that."I said as I turned to face him.“You're giving up so easily?"

“No,I'm just saying what I feel,okay?"he said.

“You know what?"Eric asked as he sat up.

“What?"

“We never got a good look at the backyard."He said as he stood.

“What do you mean?"I asked.

“We never explored it."Eric said.

“You're right!"I gasped.

We quickly ran down the long flight of stairs to tell the others about the backyard,but they weren't in the living room,nor in the dining room.

“Where are they?"I asked.

“I have no idea."Roger answered as he called out their names.

“Calm down would you."Christina said as she rubbed her eyes.

“Where are the others?"Eric asked desperately.

“Laura is in the greenhouse,David went out-"

“Out where?"Eric asked.

“Out of the mansion.The government picked him up early morning."Christina explained.

“What?Why didn't you tell us?"Eric asked,yelling.

“He asked me not to."she said.

“What?"Roger asked as he tugged on his hair.

“Traitors."Eric whispered.“You're all traitors!"he said as he strangled Christina.She was gasping for air and as much as we tried,we couldn't make him stop.He was stronger than us.

“Eric please stop!"I screamed.He stopped and stood up after a while,but Christina wasn't moving.She was still.

“What have you done?"Roger asked.

“She's not dead,she's breathing."

“You could've killed her Eric!"Roger yelled as he shoved Eric.

“I know.I'm sorry."he said as he looked down at his feet.

“This is a disgrace."I whispered.“We should've never been the chosen ones.I should have rejected."

“You didn't know.None of us did."Eric sighed.

“What now?"Roger asked.

“First we take Chris upstairs,then we explore the backyard."Roger suggested.We all went upstairs,Roger carrying Christina and Eric and I simply accompanying him.

“Done?"Eric asked.

“Done."Roger assured.

We ran down the stairs and we walked up to the kitchen.From the window,all you could see was mist covering the backyard.

“This place is haunted."Eric chuckled.

We walked outside,but we couldn't see our way around.The place was too misty.

“Guys I can't see."Eric said.

“Neither can I."I complained.

“Well,we have to keep moving.Don't give up."Roger encouraged us.We kept moving,and then,we came to a halt.

“What is that?"Eric asked in a whisper.

“What?"I asked.

“That."he said,pointing to a dark figure that was watching us from a distance.We all froze.Was it a ghost or a person?

“What is that?"I asked in a shaky voice.

“I don't know."Roger said in a voice below a whisper.

“We have to go back-"

“No!"Roger cut Eric off.“We'll have to find out who it is or what it is.We can't go back,We are not cowards."

He dragged Eric and I to where the figure was,but it didn't move,it was as if it was waiting for us.

When we got closer,we had a clear view.It wasn't a ghost or a phantom,it was a man.A very old man with a scar-face.He had long white hair and he wore a black hat.

“Who are you?"Roger asked in a demanding tone.

“The grounds' keeper."the man answered.

“When did you arrive?"Eric asked.

“I never left."the old man said.It frightened us a little because we have never seen him here,and nobody ever told us that there'd be a grounds keeper.

“What do you do here?How old are.you?"Eric asked.

“I am the keeper of this house.I've been here for as long as I remember."he answered.He was old,too old.He looked over a hundred years old.

“Where do you live?"Roger asked.

“Here."he said pointing towards an area behind him.We took a closer look and I couldn't believe what was before my eyes.

What else don't we know about?What else is hidden in this house?

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