The Dare

"So how long do you think it'll take for us to get to Blackthorn City?" Ash Ketchum asked as he, Pikachu, Brock, Misty and Togepi headed down Route 44. He had collected seven of his Johto Leauge badges and was going to his eigth, the Rising Badge.

Brock looked at the map in his hands. "It could take up to a week, depending on how fast we travel and how the weather is"

"And how many times we run into trouble" Ash added. He had a point, no matter were they went they seemed to always run into trouble, with a wild Pokémon, Team Rocket of some ancient mystery that needs solving.

Brock nodded. "Yes, that too"

"It's starting to get dark, maybe we should set up camp" Misty sugested.

"Tokebri" Togepi agreed.

As the group searched for a campsite, the passed a gate. When the looked in they saw an old, beatup house. The windows were borded up, Zubat flew around the top and it had an eerie feeling about it.

"Brock, what is that place?" Ash asked, looking in at the building.

Brock opened Ash's pokémon leauge guidebook and looked it up. "This house is said to be haunted by ghosts. It's over a centery old and no one ever goes in there"

"Oh please, theres no such things as ghosts" Ash said lazily. "Come on you guys" He said turning awayu from the building and heading off in the oppoiste direction.

-----------

"Ok, how about a little game of truth or dare to pass the time?" Misty sugested as everyone was starting to get bored just sitting around the campfire.

Ash shrugged. "Sure, we've got nothing better to do"

"Ok, Brock, you go first" Misty said.

"Ok Misty, truth or dare?" Brock asked, grinning.

By the look on Brocks face, she knew just what he'd ask if she said truth. 'Do you like Ash?' that was what he'd ask, and there's no way she would answer that question. "Dare" She said, not so sure if it was a good idea.

"Ok, I dare you too..." Brock looked around the area for something to use for a good dare. He spotted something sleeping in a nearby tree and grinned. "go over to that sleeping Spinarak and pet it"

"WHAT?!" Misty said almost jumping to her feet. "Are you crazy?!"

"Whats the matter Misty? Scared?" Ash teased.

"You know I hate bugs. They're creepy and scary and...I just don't like them" Misty said stubbornly turning he back to the sleeping Spinarak.

"Misty's a coward, Misty's a coward" Ash taunted.

Misty growled. "Oh ya? And your not?!"

"I am not a coward" Ash protested.

"Are too!"

"Am not!"

"Are Too!"

"Am Not!

"Fine then, truth or dare!" Misty yelled.

"Dare" Ash said confidently. "And make it a good one!"

Misty narrowed her eyes. she'd wipe that smirk of his face. "I dare you to go into the haunted house we saw earlier alone and explore some of it"

"Fine!" Ash said standing up and picking up his back-pack. "I'll show her, I'll show her I'm not a coward" He thought as he headed off in the dirrection of the house.

Misty was shocked when Ash stormed off. Why did she make that dare? She didn't want him going in there, they didn't know how dangerous it was. "Ash, wait up!" She called out, running after him with Togepi in her arms and Brock and Pikachu following behind.

-----------

When the reached the house and had walked up to the door, Ash looked at nervously up at it. Somehow, the closer he was the more scared he felt. He didn't feel as confident as he had back at the camp, the house made him feel uneasy.

"Ash, if your afraid you don't have to do it" Misty said in an understanding tone. She was afraid of the house more than Ash, and she didn't want him going in.

Ash narrowed his eye. "I can't walk away. If I do she'll just call me a coward and rub it in my face. No, I'm gonna go through with this" He shook his head. "Nah, I can take it. It's just a house, no big deal" He said, confidence in his voice. He swallowed hard and pushed open the door.

It was dark inside, so he took a torch out of his bag and flipped it on. The house looked like it was made of rotton wood. Oil lamps sat on tables along the corridor and old paintings you could barely make out hung on the walls. All this sent a shiver up Ash's spine, but he walked in anyway.

"Be careful Ash" Misty said worriedly.

Ash looked back at her. "Come on, how dangerous can it be?" He said before walking down the corridor. "See you guys later" He said as he turned the corner and out of sight.

The house was pretty quiet, but Ash was beginning to wish that at least one of the others were with him.

Then he'd be able to explain the sound of footsteps following him.

-----------

To Be Continued

-----------

Ok, so it's not such a good chapter, it's gonna get better, I promise! Lol, lovely ending, wouldn't you say? Heehee, well, please review me, it'll help me write it. Thanx and see yaz later,
Bay Bay!
Bayleef
adorable_chickorita@hotmail.com