The Manor At The End of the Lane

The manor laid silently in wait for its next victim… silently…

Chapter 1: The Haunted Manor

Snow piled high on the school grounds, fresh and pure. Haruko gathered her winter coat, piling herself into the thick furry warmth of the coat. Mizuki slang her book bag causally over her shoulder. Riku laid his bare feet into his sneakers.

"Should we?" Mizuki prompted. The other two nodded and headed out of the school gates which towered above them, with their jagged spikes on top.

"Miss Yuuki was boring, today wasn't she?" Mizuki said, pouting. Riku and Haruko nodded. Neither were willing to open their mouths and allow the cold air outside an entrance and besides they were shivering too much to speak. Mizuki, however seemed totally fine, and was ranting on about Miss Yuuki.

"Don't you feel cold?" Haruko asked, hugging herself. Mizuki grinned, "I am tough, unlike my weakling of a brother." Riku turned up her head sharply, "Shut up, Mizuki!" His face was a deep red. How dare Mizuki insult her in front of Haruko, he thought. Haruko chuckled slightly, then quickly wrapped her arms around her.

They had reached the end of the lane. To their side laid a manor which must have been a magnificent and grand one in its prime, but was now draped in vines and algae. Most of its windows were barred up and its gate was swaying in the wind.

"Strange, I don't remember seeing a manor here…" Haruko exclaimed as she went nearer for a closer look. Riku dragged her back. "Don't you know? That manor is haunted! People who went in never came back."

"Oh, come on, Riku, don't tell me you believe in that?" Mizuki laughed slightly. Her brother was really amusing at times. "Yeah, Riku," Haruko smiled. Riku blushed. He vowed to prepare a special training schedule for not blushing in front of Haruko once he got home. "Well, of course not," he exclaimed, he was not about to embarrass himself in front of Mizuki and much more Haruko.

The three went closer to the manor and crept to the large oak doors. Mizuki pushed at them and to her surprise, they opened rather easily. They sneaked in, careful with each step. The atmosphere of the manor was uneasy and it smelt of mould and decay. The hallway led to a spiral staircase and several other rooms.

"We should go now…" Riku suggested, swallowing a lump in his throat. As to agreeing to his statement, a wind howled. Mizuki held on tight to Haruko's hand. They nodded and almost stumbled over each other to get the door.

To their horror, the door was firmly shut and no amount of pulling and pushing could open it. They were trapped in this manor without any means of escape. The candles of the hallway lit up slowly, illuminating the manor. The three friends huddled together, regretting coming into this horrible place. "Leave now!" a hoarse voice yelled. A creature appeared in the shadows, its built not of a human's.

Mizuki pushed the door with all her might as the creature approached. The door opened this time and she ran out, followed shortly by Riku. However, before Haruko could join her, the door closed. Mizuki and Riku knocked their fists on the door. "Let Haruko out!" Mizuki yelled, tears escaping.

Haruko was confined with a inhuman creature. She watched as it approached and darkness engulfed her….

This is my first fanfic, people, so hope you like it. . Please leave your comments and reviews.