The Mansion

Chapter Ten-The Talk

While we ran up the stairs my mind was running wild.How could this be happening?Me,Claire-Marie the most successful historian ever stuck here in this haunted place running away from ghosts.It sounds crazy,but it's the truth.What have I done to deserve this?

When we got to the room,I began packing my belongings,all of them in my luggage.I was disappointed.How could they leave us here,all by ourselves?They knew we were disturbed,but they couldn't have the decency to tell us about their leaving.How disappointing.Now,we're doomed.I could never forgive them for this.

I don't know how Eric and I will escape but,one thing is for sure.If we stay here,we die.This could change our lives forever.Change is scary,but you know what else is?Allowing fear to stop you from evolving and progressing.They're only ghosts.They're dead,there's not much they can do.Maybe they just want to scare us off.Maybe they don't want us here,but that should be obvious by now.But,there must be something they want,that's why they won't let us be.But what is it?

"Ready?"Eric called from his room.

"Yes!"I responded.

When I was about to leave,something happened.My vision was slightly blurred but I could see.It felt as if the house moved.The lights flickered.I could here Eric calling my name but I could no longer see him.I was scared,but something inside me didn't allow me to.

Then,all the rumbling stopped.My hands were covering my ears,when I removed them I couldn't hear anything,just silence.The house didn't creak,nothing.Not even Eric.

"Hello?"I called in hopes that someone,anyone would hear me.Silence greeted me."Eric?"I called.My bedroom door was opened,so I could see the long corridor.Eric was lying on the floor,right next to his bedroom door.

"Eric!"I wanted to run to him but something stopped me.At the end of the corridor someone dressed in black was standing there,big black eyes staring at me.I froze.Fear was eating me alive.Her hair was white,matching her skin tone.I knew who it was,I've seen her before.I was trapped,there was nowhere left to hide.

Then she charged towards me,she was not running,nor walking.She was sliding,her feet didn't touch the floor and her arms stretched in front of her.Her mouth was opened,and a skin-crawling screech left her pale lips.I instinctively closed the door,and stepped backwards.

This could not be happening,again.

When my back hit the mirror,I turned around to make sure it wouldn't fall on me.When I did,hands attacked my neck.She was strangling me,and evil look on her face.I was choking on my own breath.Then she released me.

I fell to the ground,then I stood up.I was coughing out blood,I knew I was going to die,just not at the moment.She stood by the door.Then she charged towards me again,but this time she went through me.I felt my insides freeze.My bones.My muscles.Everything.Even my blood.I sat on the ground,preparing for death to strike.It never did.

Then the woman did something unexpected.She grabbed a chair,and she sat right across me.I looked up at her.She had the same neutral expression on her face.She began speaking.

"What do you want from us?Why are you here?Who sent you?"she asked.Her voice was distant and her accent was ancient.The thought of her speaking frightened me,but I knew I had to respond.

"Please.Don't hurt me."I begged.She gave me a cold stare,which meant only one thing;I didn't answer her question."I'm just doing my job."

"You are invading our space.My husband and I do not like being disturbed."she said.Husband?

"You're Viktor van Scheinberg's wife!"I said in an accusing tone.She simply smiled and nodded."Oh my God."

"Get out of my house."She said.

"We would,we will.Please just don't hurt us."

"I am afraid that will not be your case.You see,every year,new people come from different places to visit our magnificent castle.It has a splendid view and they are what keeps us alive,"She explained,"There must be an annual sacrifice to ensure our survival and this year,you shall be our sacrifice."

"No,"I said,"No!" I threw a vase at her,and as expected she disappeared.I left the room straight away,my legs carrying me far away.I stopped to help Eric,and he woke up.

"What happened?"he asked.

"No time to explain.Let's get out of here!"I yelled,running down the stairs.He followed me.I ran as fast as I could,to the front door.It was locked from the outside.

"Claire,look."Eric said,pointing to the spot where Roger was.It was empty,he wasn't there.

"Where is he?"I wondered.

"Right here."A deep voice said.I recognised it right away.Roger.

"We have to get out of here."I told him,trying to force the door."Looking for this?"Roger asked.When I turned to face him,he had the house keys in his hand.I sighed in relief.

"Oh thank goodness you found tho-"I was interrupted by a slap,so hard I flew and my back hit a wall.A grunt left my lips,and I placed my hand on the back of my head.Blood was oozing out of the cut,running down my neck.

Roger did the same to Eric.He landed right beside me.I looked at Roger closely.There was something different about him,almost evil.His eyes were dark and red circled his pupils.

"Roger,you're possessed!"I exclaimed.Roger just laughed at my remark.

"Took you long enough to figure it out."

"This isn't you.Leave my friend alone!"I screamed at the top of my lungs.He simply cackled at my remark.

"You think that's gonna help?"he asked.

"Who are you?"I asked in a whisper.He smiled.

"The owner of the house,the one you invaded."

"Viktor van Scheinberg?"Eric asked.

"Yes!Strong and alive!"Roger answered,raising his hands in the air.

"We didn't know."I said.

"Well,now you do.And you're going to pay the price!"

"Go to Hell!"Eric threw a vase at him.It cut Roger's forehead and blood spilled.It wasn't Roger anymore,it was Viktor.Roger was long gone,or maybe he was stuck there,helpless.Viktor let out a screech.All the windows in the house broke.My left eardrum burst,blood running down my neck.When he stopped,he disappeared.

Eric stood in front of me and said something.I couldn't hear him.Not one sound.All I could hear was my.heartbeat.I tried telling him that I couldn't hear him but I couldn't hear my own voice.How would I face the devil without one of my senses.I was doomed.We were doomed.

My life was a nightmare.More of like a living hell.At some point,I thought this was all a dream.I felt myself float,in a distant world.I was peaceful,it was quiet.Wherever I was,I didn't wanna leave.I was surrounded by a white bubble,all I saw was a light.A pleasant one.

I then looked down,I saw Eric shaking someone.I looked closer.It was me.Eric was shaking me,but there was something wrong with me.I didn't look like me.I looked lifeless,sick.Blood was all over me.

Then Eric sat beside me and began weeping.He looked hopeless,about to give up.I didn't want him to.I wanted him to never give up and get out of the dreadful place but he couldn't.

Then,I knew what I had to do.It was stronger than me.I had to save my friend.I couldn't let him die,the way I did.He doesn't deserve it,I wouldn't let them win.

Ever.

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