Summary: Seek, knock, enter. But are you sure you’re coming back alive?

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12.37p.m, 30th October 2008.

“How long?” I asked bitterly, burying my hands in my pockets.

Ethan Salvatore shot me a lazy grin, a cigarette dangling from his black lips. “One night – all six of us. You game?”

I growled, not enjoying it by the least. But I wisely kept my mouth shut. Lillian was clinging on to the crook of my elbow, her brilliant sapphire eyes lighting up. I recognized that look – that insane glint that every God forsaken Thoreaux women has in her eyes when she’s up to something.

Should have listened to Rod when he said she was going to be a handful, I mused, more amused than annoyed. Lillian just wasn’t afraid of anything.

“What’s the catch?” she asked snippily, pushing back a strand of golden red hair.

I suppressed a snort. And trust her to go straight to the point…

Ethan shrugged aloofly, unperturbed by her narrowed eyes or curled lip. “Nothing much. Just a hundred grand to those who make it through in one piece.”

I felt my eyes bulge. Lillian tugged my elbow persistently and I shot her a glance that echoed, ‘Are you thinking what I’m thinking?’

She nodded slightly, and I complied, albeit warily. “Who’s the supplier?”

Pushing himself off the hood of his red Camaro in one languid motion, Ethan cracked a wry smile.

“Who do you think?”

His careless expression tipped me off. So he was the instigator…

Lillian traded another glance with me, silently pleading. I looked away, running a hand through the russet curls on my head.

No use arguing. She’d win. Like always.

“We’re in,” I agreed finally, ignoring the happy girlish squeal that exploded from my side. Ethan shot me a smug grin and I began to walk away, heading back towards the campus hall.

But I didn’t miss his next few words that were whisked away by the cold October breeze.

“Thought you might say that, Lancer. But are you sure you’re coming back alive?”

-

9.44p.m., 30th October 2008.

“Where are those idiots ? I hope they didn’t stand us up !” Lillian hissed furiously, her fists clenching and unclenching.

I shook my head, squelching a deep sigh. She’s been like this for the past forty minutes. Pacing, muttering, and pacing again…Her eyes glittered under the silver moonlight, but I knew better. Lillian seldom got angry – she was just antsy and jumpy – and maybe even a tad excited.

My suspicions were confirmed when a sleek Porsche pulled over and she bounced forward, already harassing the driver to get out as quickly as possible. Rod jumped out of the car, making placating gestures as Lillian stabbed her finger directly at his chest.

“Where the hell have you been, McTavish? We’ve been waiting here for ages !” she growled, backing him up against the rear door.

He shot me a desperate ‘help-me’ look, and I almost felt sorry for the guy. Lillian could be really persistent when she was on a roll; I, for once, have learned to steer clear from her tirades unless I wanted some endless tongue-lashing for myself.

But judging by how much Rod was pressed up against the door, I guess he was already beginning to think twice about ever showing up. And God knows I was pissed off as it is since Ethan himself wasn’t here yet.

“Let him go, Lil. At least he’s here.”

She huffed and crossed her arms over her chest, before stalking off towards the large bronze gates down the road. I pursed my lips and followed her, but stopped when the passenger door of the Porsche glided open.

A leggy brunette with caramel skin stepped out, her dazed violet eyes scouring the remote surroundings with interest. I arched a questioning brow towards Rod. He took the cue and quickly made the introductions.

“Sasha, meet Derrick Lancer. Derrick, this is my…um…new stepsister, Sasha Alvers,” he uttered uncomfortably, stealing a nervous glance at Sasha, who just smiled at me in return. My eyebrows flew up higher.

“Nice to meet you, Derrick,” she remarked sweetly. I inclined my head in short nod, not saying anything. But I did watch Rod’s face go an interesting shade of red as she began to turn away and trudge after Lillian.

“Stepsister?” I echoed lowly, keeping ten feet behind Sasha – who had now caught up to Lillian and was beginning to chatter animatedly.

“Mum got hitched again on one of her business trips,” Rod explained curtly, his stormy gray eyes silently begging me not to ask. I didn’t push him further.

Within minutes, all of us were clustered around the main gates leading into the Wickershire Mansion, pausing and staring at the dark vistas up ahead.

“Wow. I had no idea it was so huge…and beautiful…” Sasha exhaled, her breaths coming out in misty puffs.

It was cold – unnaturally so. I zipped up my leather jacket, watching Lillian button up her own pink suede from the corner of my eyes. But I could still feel the icy mist sift into my clothes and curl around my body like an unwavering hand.

“Dude, I think we better go in. It’s freaking cold out here,” Rod griped, already starting to shiver.

I snorted. “What about the other two? All six of us are in this.”

Three pairs of eyes turned upon me in unison and I rolled mine. “The deal is off unless all of us are in there-” I gesticulated towards the looming structure beyond the twisted gates “-and staying there for a whole night. He won’t pay us a single cent if we’re not in this together.”

“I don’t think he’ll know, Derrick.“ Lillian began, looking back at the mansion. “I-”

A flash of headlights stopped her in mid-sentence. A Camaro pulled up the dusty trek, before rolling to a stop right next to a gnarled yew tree.

“About time,” Rod muttered, echoing everyone’s sentiments.

An apple green haired teen piled out, followed by a delicate pixie-looking girl with bright fuchsia hair arranged in a spikes. A simultaneous groan rippled through all of us – save Sasha, who was looking politely confused.

“Not her. Dear God, why her?” Lillian moaned towards the heavens, already inching towards Sasha to relay every bit of gossip about Carlie ‘Spike’ Cohen to her.

I shook my head, willing myself to stay calm.

“Hiya toots! Sorry, we’re late. Got a busted tire off Fifth East and Third West, and fag-boy here had to take a piss by a hydrant,” Spike tittered, nudging a grouchy Ethan in the ribs and laughing madly.

“Everyone here?” Ethan grumbled, scowling as Spike bounced towards Sasha, already nattering about something inane.

“Couldn’t you bring someone less than a basket case?” I hissed under my breath.

“She’s the only one who wanted to come here. The rest chickened out.”

Rod – most probably catching my dark mood or my blazing green eyes – quickly dived in with a simple, “Let’s just get this over with.”

Ethan strolled forwards, pushing open the creaking gate and stepping inside.

And that was when I heard it. A soft whisper echoing silently through the wind, unbeknownst to anyone else.

Seek…

-

10.18p.m., 30th October 2008.

“So who wants to go in first?” Ethan asked, staring at the oversized griffin-shaped knocker. I shrugged when no one took up the invite – about to do the honors myself – when a blur of fuschia whipped past my left.

“Me first !”

A low ripple of displeasure undulated through the group – even Sasha was beginning to look pained. Spike lifted the huge knocker, before clanging it against the wood three times. Ethan and Rod dove in at the same time to stop her.

Knock…

I glanced around quickly, not seeing anything amiss. Shrugging it off as another trick of the breeze, I turned back towards Spike – who was pitching a fit.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, scowling heavily.

“You’re suppose to push it open, stupid. Not knock on the freaking door and wake up the whole of China!” Lillian hissed.

“But there’s no one in!” she said defensively, swinging around to point an accusing finger at Ethan. “He said so!”

I rolled my eyes. Boy, was this going to be a long night…

“The caretaker might still be around,” Rod explained, speaking slowly as if talking to a five year old. “And believe me, we don’t want to get caught. Remember what happened to Matt Reylando and the rest when they busted the old Steindler property up north?”

“Matt was an idiot,” Spike retorted vehemently, but there was no mistaking the nervousness that crept into her voice. Everyone knew what had happened to Matt and his motley crew when dear old Mr. Steindler came back home a few hours earlier than expected. Let’s just say they’ll be spending the rest of high school in a ten by four cell.

“Let’s just go in,” Lillian groused, pushing the door open. Rod inhaled deeply, trudging after her with measured steps. Ethan pursed his lips, allowing a sullen Spike to enter first. Sasha nodded determinedly to herself, before slipping inside.

I hung back for awhile, watching the ashy canvas above crack in the middle to reveal the ethereal silver sphere of the moon. Somewhere in the distance, a lone wolf howled its plight.

Turning back towards the foreboding entrance, I clenched my fists, determined to come back out as soon as this night was over. As my foot crossed the threshold, the wind murmured again – this time more louder and persistent.

Enter…

-

10.58p.m, 30th October 2008.

“See anything interesting?” Ethan asked, training his flash light against the oil paintings that adorned the walls.

Lillian snorted. “Not unless you include Mona Lisa want-to-be’s.”

“I like this one,” Sasha declared, tracing a manicured finger across a beautiful painting of a black stallion set against a country backdrop. Three flash lights immediately bounced upon her painting-of-choice and Rod sidled up next to me, scratching his head.

“Damn…How the hell are we going to get back a souvenir if everything is glued to the walls?” he grumbled, muttering a low-keyed oath as he tried to finger a small picture off the bricks.

I chuckled and he glowered darkly.

“Look for something smaller. Portable,” Ethan instructed, scouring a nearby hallway.

“Think we should split up?” I asked, placing the flashlight in my mouth as I patted the back of my pockets in search of my cell phone. I pulled the tiny black piece out and flipped open the cover.

“Or not,” Lillian said, smirking as she caught sight of the ‘no coverage’ print flashing across the screen in big bold letters. I scowled at her and replaced the phone into my pocket.

“Hang on. Why is it so quiet?” Sasha asked, frowning deeply. All of us looked at each other as the same thought crossed our minds. But only Lillian was brave enough to voice her musings out loud.

“Where the hell is Spike?”

Nobody answered. Multiple flashes of light bounced in all directions, scouring into the darkness. Nothing except for empty, barren walls interspersed with unlighted candlesticks filled the sides.

“Shit, we have to go find her.” Rod cursed again, running a hand through his cropped black hair.

“We have to split up,” Ethan proclaimed, his voice a bit shaky. “We have to-“

A piercing scream drowned out the rest of his words. The scream continued in a high klaxon-like wail, before ending abruptly. Precious seconds ticked by, and nobody moved.

“Was that…Was that…her?” Rod asked, his throat convulsing as beads of sweat pooled across his forehead.

Sasha immediately sidled closer to him, her violet eyes large and terrified. Ethan didn’t move. He just froze, his flashlight dangling limply by his side.

“Derrick…” Lillian started worriedly, clutching on to my arm for support.

A flicker in the distance. The adjoining corridor up front lighted up, the flames throwing waves of shadows across the walls. The paintings no longer looked beautiful. The images were now distorted – the forms shifting and flashing into grotesque depictions of animals and people.

Sasha reeled backwards with a gasp, pointing at the stallion that she was admiring shortly ago. The shiny black coat was in tatters, separated by pieces of skeleton and graying flesh. The grassy backdrop faded into a famine-stricken field with shriveled trees and a stormy sky, losing all sense of serenity.

“Shit,” Rod whispered, his horrified gaze staring unblinkingly at the macabre pieces.

Ethan ran a finger across the painting of a large distorted wolf, only to yelp and withdraw his fingers in a flash.

“What’s wrong?” Sasha asked, trembling. The older boy hissed, before flashing his bloody fingers at her face.

“It bit me! The fucking thing bit me!”

Rod swore colorfully as the paintings began to shift and stir – awakening from their slumber. Naked fear clawed at my chest, but instinct and self-preservation kicked in and commandeered my mind.

“We have to get out,” I replied hoarsely, finding my voice again. “Now.”

Tendrils of flame rose up along the pale violet candles adorning the walls, lighting up the corridor we were trapped in. And that was when I wished it was dark again.

Animals – no, monstrosities pulsed within the canvas, ripping free of their bindings and clambering unto the carpeting. A sickening thing that resembled a mermaid dragged herself forwards, her jaws opening to expose razor-sharp teeth.

Screams rung out in unison – there was no telling which one belonged to who.

“Run!” I roared, charging forwards through the deadened mass limbs and God knows what else.

Everyone scattered – I grabbed Lillian’s arm, unwilling to let go. She cried and screamed at the same time, her legs wobbling unsteadily as I dragged her along. Heavy footfalls lumbered behind us, but I couldn’t chance a glance to see whether everyone was following.

I kept running, towing Lillian forwards with every single leap and bound. We sprinted non-stop into different corridors, before stumbling into a decadent wing filled with dust and cobwebs. Rod immediately lurched in, followed by Sasha and Ethan – the latter looking unnaturally pale and green.

“Everyone…okay?” I asked through ragged gasps, my lungs burning from the exertion. Rod shot me a thumbs up and moved over to hug Sasha, who hugged him back shakily.

“Ethan…you…?” I couldn’t get the last few words out – I was just too tired and shaken to continue.

He staggered and his eyelids fluttered erratically. I surged forwards, ready to help him up until he buckled over and groaned.

“Jesus, man! What’s wrong? Did it get to you?” Rod asked heavily, trying to steady his breathing.

Sasha suddenly cried out and dragged her stepbrother back. “His hands! Look at his hands!”

I stared in horror as Ethan lifted his gnarled hands – the tips of his fingers slowly curving into claws…

No…my mind refuted my sight immediately. This is impossible… They don’t exist…They can’t exist…

The curtains surrounding the east side of the wing fluttered open, dragging along the full brunt of the accursed moonlight. I edged back, my heart pounding and my arms instinctively held apart as I protected Lillian from what I couldn’t even began to believe, let alone see.

“Help me!” he screamed, his muscles bulging and rotating as clothes ripped and frayed, making way for patches of inky black fur. Amber eyes shifted to jade green, the pupils narrowing into vertical slits. Facial muscles creaked and bones snapped as a muzzle sprouted and pushed its way outwards.

Werewolves don’t exist…

Rod was backing up against the corner, Sasha whimpering behind him. I rotated my head by a fraction to look out of the window, and into the neck-breaking three storey drop underneath. It was impossible – we were boxed in. Ethan was blocking our only way to the exit…And he didn’t look obliged to allow us to pass.

The werewolf flattened its ears and growled hungrily, his eyes honing on to Rod and Sasha. But it didn’t move. It kept looking at all four of us in turn, assessing which one was easier game.

Rod shifted slightly, and the growl rose by an octave.

‘The window’ he mouthed to me, his eyes not straying far from the wolf.

I shook my head and he nodded curtly, his eyes brimming with hopelessness. The werewolf slowly shifted into a crouch, and all four of us stiffened. It’s hackles were slowly raised – preparing for a savage leap-

A small chuckle sliced the dead calm, causing the beast to whine in displeasure. It trotted casually to the side, and for a fleeting moment, I thought we were going to make it. Until a rather beautiful woman stepped into the room gracefully, her silver eyes glowing with iridescent light.

“This is he?” she asked, her voice soft and melodious…just like the whispers of the wind…I frowned heavily, panic morphing into uncertainty.

“Yes, it is.”

I swiveled sharply when Lillian answered, already stepping out from behind me and walking ahead.

“Lil, what…?” My fingers automatically reached out to haul her back, but she shrugged off my protective grasp.

“He’s perfect,” Rod chipped in, his posture changing and his face adapting an indifferent look that I have never seen him wear before.

I paused warily, confusion pumping in my veins. No…something is wrong…this can’t be happening…

“I think he’ll be a wonderful addition, Selene…” Sasha chipped in, her eyes sharp and no longer dazed.

I stepped back, my heart beating more furiously. Ethan whined, and Selene bent down to stroke his glossy head absent mindedly.

“You think so? I’ve always wanted another son…”

All three of the nodded and stared at me, sickening smiles lighting up their faces. Instinct was prompting me to run – to dive out of the window and never look back...

My throat clogged and I managed a strangled whisper, “How…? What…? Why…?”

The words died in my throat as Spike suddenly bounced through the door, whistling amicably as her caramel brown eyes landed on me.

No, this is wrong. All very wrong…A nightmare on Halloween…

“He doesn’t understand, my poor son,” the woman called Selene said sadly, her ebony hair fanning out behind her.

“I’m not your son ,” I replied automatically, inching backwards as she drifted closer. The window was close, but I was still torn between jumping and staying. Jump and I most certainly die. If I stay however…

She looked at me directly, her eyes glowing brighter under the moonlight. “Show him.”

Somehow those words answered a question I wished I’d never asked. Images shimmered and dissipated as veils of truth were lifted one by one. New faces – unrecognizable, horrendous faces stared at me – no longer my friends, but something else. And somewhere above, the clock struck midnight.

Ding.

Halloween.

Ding.

Real monsters.

Ding.

The things that stalk the night.

Ding.

“What’s wrong, Derrick?” Lillian cooed, beating her leathery wings and running a single scaly finger across her left horn. “Don’t you love me anymore?”

Ding.

Rod grinned at me from the corner, gently picking up a patch of fleshy skin that had peeled and fallen off his right bicep.

Ding.

Sasha just stared at me, arching her orange striped back and giving a purr of satisfaction as a violet skinned Spike used one of her hooked claws to scratch her behind the ears.

Ding.

I stumbled backwards, a combination of horror and fear submerging my insides. Trapped…

Ding.

“Monsters aren’t real ,” I spluttered, pacing back as the throng surged forwards with measured steps.

Ding.

“Oh, but they are, my son…”

Ding.

Selene suddenly flashed in front of me, caressing my cheek. “And I think you’d make a handsome vampire…”

Ding.

Her pale lips parted to reveal two pointed fangs – fangs that were immediately lodged in my throat as she began to drain my life – my essence. I gasped, my hands flailing madly as I struggled to push her off but to no avail. She was strong…Too strong…

Ding.

Sinking deeper…plunging deeper into the black abyss…a smooth voice…another gentle whisper of the wind…I had to come back…I must come back…

But are you sure you’re coming back alive?

-