"Carl, what the heck are you doing? We're not allowed up there!"

Carl turned around at the wrought iron gates, "Anna, you're such a baby," his expression softened slightly as he took my hand, "come on, you don't really believe in those old stories, do you?"

I stiffened, glancing at the girl who stood impatiently at the tangled hedgerow, "Well...no, I just...it's dangerous up there."

The girl smirked, "Don't be so childish Anna. Either go home, or come with us. You're choice."

"Come on Jess, don't be like that. It's not her fault she's scared,"

The words should have sounded nice to me, but they sounded just as taunting as Jess's. Jess turned away, and began to walk up the neglected driveway, blanketed in shadow. I wasn't scared exactly, but I felt as if we shouldn't be here. "Carl, please. Let's go home."

"Carl!" Jess called from up the driveway. Carl looked at me hopefully.

I rolled my eyes and sighed, "Fine. But as soon as w-"

Carl cut me off with a loud whoop and began tugging me up the drive. Yes, Carl was supposed to be my loving boyfriend. He didn't normally act like it though. Especially since Jess started hanging around. I glanced nervously at the overgrown shrubs, spilling over the iron fence that lined the driveway, and reaching towards us like hungry fingers. Hands. Scissorhands. I shivered, but Carl mistook it for the cold. After all it was Halloween. He handed me his coat.

"Thanks," I mumbled, much too thankful than I should have been. These friendly gestures were rare, and I had to enjoy them when they came.

Halloween was the reason we were up here. We'd started off trick or treating; hence the reason why I was dressed in a knee-length floaty white dress, and had feathery wings strapped to my back, that my delightful little sister had insisted on making. Carl had made less effort than I had, and carried around a fake axe. Maybe that was why no one wanted to open their doors to us.

It was a sad stereotype every teenager had to go through; we aren't all knife-wielding, happy-slapping maniacs, believe it or not. We reached another iron gate, this one blocked our path. I sighed in relief, "Okay, it's blocked. What a shame, let's go."

Jess growled slightly, and started rooting around the bushed beside the gate. I couldn't see much beyond the gate, but dark shapes seemed to loom out of nowhere, making me less sure if I was scared or not.

"Hey! Over here!" Jess's shout made me jump. Carl grinned at me and pulled me with him towards where Jess was. Her head popped out from the bushes, "I found another way in!"

Carl followed her through the hole in the fence, pulling me along like a parent with a child. I grumbled as the brambles snagged at my dress and bare limbs, and pulled at my long, dark brown hair. After we were free from the bushes, Jess started to run up the rest of the driveway. Carl finally released my hand and took off after her, laughing.

I looked after them sadly, "Maybe he'll change," I told myself again, the thought getting weaker and weaker. I glanced around the garden, and smiled at myself when I realized that the dark shapes were only bushes. Very well kept bushes, might I add. They were styled into an incredible variety of absurd and wonderful figures. I spotted a stag, a hand, and a flamingo standing solitary in its river of leaves. The decorations were eerily beautiful and they stood out plainly against the ill-kept drive. These bushes were in perfect condition, and I could only imagine how amazing they'd look in the sunlight.

"Anna!" I heard Carl's shout from up the driveway.

Turning hesitantly away from the garden, I hurried up the drive. Suddenly, a gothic mansion loomed into view, towering above me. Terrifying statues stood amongst broken windows and dark, uninviting stone walls. I shivered again and sped up, keeping my eye out for Carl and Jess. I found them where I had expected them to be, at the front door. The door was huge, and wooden, with heavy iron hinges. It was also open. Jess stood in the doorway, giving me her very best glare. She always saved that one for me, and oh, how I appreciated it.

Carl looked at me, grinning like a complete moron. "'Bout time. Come on, let's go inside."

"No, Carl. I want to go home."

Carl's grin faltered, "Why? You scared again? It's okay babe, I'll look after you."

I glared at him, "I said no. I'm going home, and you're either coming with me, or staying here with her."

I nodded at Jess. Carl looked between us awkwardly.

He sighed, "You go, Anna. I'm staying here. I want to check this place out."

Jess grinned at me triumphantly, "Come on then, Carl."

They disappeared into the building without looking back at me.

"Fine!" I yelled after them. I was about to turn away when something caught my eye. A movement in the empty window high up above the door. I squinted up into the darkness, searching for any signs of life. I stood uneasily outside, not sure whether to leave or go in after them. No doubt they'd get themselves in trouble if I left them. Groaning, I followed them into the dark mansion.