Title:

"Betrayal is Nothing for the Dead"

Topic:

Ghostadventures! But you don't have to have seen Ghostadventures to read and enjoy this story. :) There's a lot of background info.

Author:

Storm Anara

A Quick Note:

The Ghostadventures Crew does not belong to me! Only original ideas are mine. BTW, parts of the speech that have a "*bleep*" signal that a swear would be here. As I'm trying to keep this story as realistically close to an episode of Ghostadventures as possible and swears are almost always censored with a "*bleep*" on the show, I will do as they do on their travels. Even some of the dialogue/plot/script may refer to some things that have already occured/been-said on camera. :D

"Requiem for a Dream" by GRV Music would go beautifully as music with this chapter.

Read - enjoy - and review, please!

An Introduction

It seemed to be a perfectly nice day - the sky being a vivid, forget-me-not shade of blue; the sun pleasantly warm; an occasional, comforting breeze sweeping across the road; only minimal swearing; and good food to eat all along the way. If he was an average man, Zak Bagans would've enjoyed the scenery and laughed at all the humorous jokes that were cracked and even start singing along to the Celine Dion music that played on the van's radio. In fact - he did do all those things. But that did not make him "average."

He was a ghost-adventurer. Yeah, sure - laugh away at that title. But it was true, and nothing anybody said could ever change that. He'd seen things that would make other grown men weep and cry for mommy, and there were only two exceptions to this fact: Nick Groff and Aaron Goodwin. They were a team. A trio. A group of three guys trying to get proof - evidence that there was indeed a world of the paranormal, evidence that would change the mocking views of the world, evidence that could change the classic skeptic into a kowtowing believer.

But...bottom line: Ghosts, demons, spirits; whatever you wanna call them - they exist. They may not be breathing, but they are thinking. They roam the mortal world in every form - mist, shadow, light, energy - and most of them are very, very, very intelligent. They could know who you are: your strengths, your flaws, your weaknesses, your deepest, darkest fears, from just the slightest touch. Scary, right? They could know you're reading these very words. They could be waiting for you; waiting for you to come to them, to the afterlife, to see the ones who are deceased. And you can run - but know that these dead souls will laugh at your petty attempts to get away from their chilling existence. It isn't that hard to figure out the obvious - you can't escape what is all around you.

"Zak - what the *bleep* are you going?" Nick's voice startled Zak from his crouched position. The furry entity that had been lying still earlier now revealed itself to the world as a very, very pissed off kitty. Zak was forced to jump out of its path as the bristling tabby raced past them, and Aaron roared with laughter, the camera's view shaking violently from his shameless chuckles.

"Oh, shut up," Zak muttered, but he didn't look Aaron in the eye. "Have we forgotten why we're here?"

Nick snorted in response. " 'course not!" The lean man rolled his eyes out of bounds of the cameras and mumbled a swear under his breath. "...We're going to that hotel, right?"

"Yeah - the Vorian Inn," said Zak, nodding. He glanced once at the camera, and then looked around the seemingly deserted street. It was quiet enough to hear the dead leaves rustling from fifteen feet away, and the very silence sent cold chills down the trio's spines.

Coughing in obvious discomfort, Aaron broke the noiseless pause. "So...we're walking through a town that's located smack in the middle of nowhere," he said, while motioning for the other two to start walking. The group ended up breaking into a full-on run, and Aaron ended up having to talk through the mic between steady gasps of air. "...And we're trying to find this...find this god*bleep* hotel, but - but...but we can't seem to find it...Hey - Zak - any idea where we're going? Oh, god*bleep* it, I'm tired..."

After an entire half hour (30 MINUTES!) of blundering and searching around - the crew finally stumbled upon an old, but huge, scarlet mansion. Nick nearly fell backwards in his attempt to get a shot of the entire body of the gargantuan, Victorian-styled house; Zak had to grab the other man by the shoulder so he wouldn't keel over. Aaron smothered a giggle.

"The Vorian Inn..." Nick gaped, eyes wide, at the unexpected sight before him. "*Bleep.*"

"They didn't mention how damn big it was, " Zak said, shocked as well. He managed to collect himself in the next second, however, and called to the other two, "We'd better knock."

They walked slowly up the steps of the darkly-painted porch - which was adorned with metallic black leaves and vines, colored the hue of freshest blood, holding an ancient demeanor of absolute refinement - and simultaneously gulped when they stared up at the tall, tall, tall double doors. There was massive bronze knocker eerily carved in the shape of a beautiful woman's face, but it was not until Aaron and Nick elbowed Zak in the side to get moving that any one of them dared move forward. Zak coughed, shot a glare at his companions, and then grasped the handle of the knocker.

"*Bleep*...This place...it's already gettin' creepy," muttered Zak under his breath. He didn't know it, but the camera caught his barely intelligible words. Aaron and Nick shared a private moment, both giving each other raised eyebrows and openly bemused expressions as Zak rapped the knocker against the heavy door. Knock. Knock. Knock. The sound reverberated about them for quite a while - but when it stopped, it stopped. Abruptly, untainted silence filled their ears.

"..." Zak turned to glance at the crew. They knew that look on his face - the "WTF?" expression which never got old. It seemed as if they were in the wrong place, but then, their fears vanished at the slightest movement -

"Why, hello." Friendly blue eyes appraised the trio; a kind-looking old woman was looking up at them, smiling faintly. "Are you...?"

"Ghostadventures Crew, ma'am," Zak said, and he looked relieved. They shook hands. "I'm Zak. This is Nick," He gestured towards himself, the tall man standing to his left, and the bearded man to his right. "And this is Aaron."

"Hi..."

"Hey..."

Aaron and Nick both gave feeble little waves, their hello's rather weak compared to Zak's. But the lady didn't seem to mind. She smiled serenely at them all, her cliquant blue eyes shimmering with an oddly delighted light, and then ushered them inside the mansion. The trio's gasps were flooded out by the loud, echoing crack of the doors slamming shut behind them. It was like being inside a castle - a beautiful, beautiful castle.

"Wow..." Zak lifted his purple-tinted sunglasses in order to get a clearer view of the sights before him. Sparkles of diamond light gleamed all around them, creating a rather disorienting, but pleasant, halation of energy that glossed over every surface in the massive room. There seemed to be an almost welcoming aura that surrounded the place. It was nothing like the haunted place Aaron or Nick or Zak had pictured in their heads.

"Welcome to the Vorian Inn," the kindly woman said, raising the corners of her lips once more. "I am Lady Vori - granddaughter of Lord Vori the First. My daughter and I run this hotel together - with much help from our loyal employees, of course."

"This place seems empty," commented Aaron. "Where are -"

"Only my daughter and I are here," Lady Vori said quietly. She turned and looked straight into the cameras, her gaze suddenly guarded. "When I was informed that the Ghostadventures society was intrigued in my humble little inn, I immediately gave each and every one of my workers three days leave. I wouldn't want anyone of my people ruining your...'lockdown.' No...no...that wouldn't be good at all..."

She shifted her eyes and then focused upon Zak and Nick, as if noticing them for the first time. At Nick, she nodded faintly and mumbled, "Good man...good man...Not bad at all..." But at Zak, her response was rather frightening: the tendrils of muscle in her neck suddenly froze, sticking out sharply; her hands clenched into tight, white knuckles, and her once-beautiful face took on an expression of pointblank rage. Zak stared back at the woman, wanting to bolt but unable to move. The air had seemed to have gone very, very...cold.

Fizzle...*bleep*! CRACK.

The camera in Aaron's hands suddenly emitted a raucous noise - and all vision died on his screen. As Aaron swore in surprise, the freezing spell seemed to have been broken. Lady Vori calmed and befitted yet another warm smile upon her face - although this time, it was rather disturbing to see - and looked at the heavy device Aaron held.

"Oh, my my," She said, giving an unsettling little laugh. "Looks like the residents of this place are getting to know you already."

"Residents...?" Nick stared at her.

"The permanent residents, Mister Groff," Vori explained, fixing her glassy blue eyes upon him. "I hope that you understand what I'm getting at?"

Behind the old woman, Zak mouthed, "ghosts," to the remaining camera in Nick's hands. It seemed as if the antics had begun - and the interview hadn't even started yet, let alone the lockdown.

After Aaron's camera died unexpectedly, Lady Vori had decided to show the group to their separated bedrooms. Zak's room - incredibly large, its walls and adornments shaded ivy-green and metallic silver, the lonely bed huge and oval-shaped, supposedly designed for two people to sleep in - was located on the top, 5th floor. He was left alone to acquaintance himself with his quarters while Nick and Aaron were lead down one of the mansion's many stairways. Aaron's room - unusually spacious, was based mainly on the colors of blue and earl-gray, containing a large, square bed shaped in a double-crescent form - had been placed in the far right corner of the 3rd floor, its door hidden from any stray eyes.

Last to be shown to his chambers was Nick.

"Ahh, sir Nick," Lady Vori said, flashing him a coy smile. "This is a special room, it is. I dearly hope you appreciate its perfection." And she opened the glossy maple door. "I shall see thee, and your comrades, within the strike of an hour, I hope?"

"One - One hour, right," Nick said. He was far too distracted to respond properly. "O-Of course." And as he set foot over the threshold, a strange breeze flew across his magnificent room and threw open its windows' scarlet curtains. Sunlight cascaded across the breath-taking scene - illuminating his vision.

"Daaamn," He whistled, folding his arms thoughtfully. His first impression had been red - only red - but then in the next few seconds, reality took over. Saffron and beige were the two dominate hues in this god of a room - carelessly beautiful, abstractly elegant - the cylindrical ruby bed looked comfortable and welcoming; a small, priceless chandelier hung from the ceiling's very center, casting faint wisps of silver across the carefully painted walls; there was a large corridor to the left of the room, leading off to what could only be heaven's very bathroom.

"This place?" Suddenly, Nick groaned and facepalmed. "This place has to be haunted? Seriously? Not cool."

Up in his room, on the very corner of the 3rd floor, Aaron Goodwin was grinning from ear to ear.

"EPIC!" He caterwauled, right after seeing the absolute brilliance of his chambers. This was probably the best inn he'd ever stayed at, and just to rub it in, Aaron began testing his funky bed by hopping up and down on it. "THIS. IS. EPIC!"

Back up on the 5th floor, in yet another fancy room, Zak Bagans was a little blown away. He usually did an inspection of every hotel room he stayed at - but today, he just stood absolutely still and stared. If this inn was haunted, Zak thought, they were screwed.

Suddenly, a tiny gasp made him turn around. There was this loud crash - a golden vase brimming with lilacs was thrown to the ground, splashing crystal water everywhere - and the sound of frightened feet rushing away echoed from the hall. Instantly, Zak broke into a running, dashing after the footsteps.

"Wa - Wait - who's there -" As he called after the noises, his thoughts flew to spirits, demons, ghosts, violence, an impossible lockdown, a darkness, someone's anger, the dark histories, many years hidden and dormant, secrets untold but said today, promises made, kept, then broken -

and he halted, suddenly, abruptly, as he saw the lithe figure standing in the shadows of the stairway, the only things visible being one, pale hand grasping the handle of an ancient staff, which was studded and adorned with dark emeralds and the imprints of glowering eyes - eyes that were alive, watching him, glaring at him, staring him down - eyes that told him he was not welcome, which told him to get out and leave the seemingly innocent mansion, for it held an evil, evil power - this being was telling him to escape it, escape it all, before it would be too late and he would discover something horrifingly unreal, but real, nethertheless -

"ZAK! Ya up there? CAN YA HEAR US?" Nick and Aaron's voices were like an ethereal light in his brief moment of darkness and hell - at the first opportunity, Zak grabbed at the light, fumbling as he lapsed out of his breathless insanity - and in the moment of distraction, the figure backed away and vanished, the hem of an amethyst cloth being the last Zak could ever possibly see of that entity. But he fell to his knees, breathing heavily, shaking everywhere.

"What the *bleep* was that? !" He screamed at no one in particular, just needing some sort of outlet for his fear. His breath was cold, and goosebumps raced up and down his arms.

"ZAK? ZAK?"

"Hold on, *bleep*," He swore, shaking his head. "I'm comin'... just, damn it, give me a second..." And then he stood up, still trembling a bit, watching the unseen blackness, studying it, holding onto it. "That was..." He let loose another swear. "*Bleep*"

A/N: Hope you enjoyed! XD Hell knows I did. ^_^ Please review, and you shall receive a virtual cookie! 8D