Prologue: A Slip in Time

"What. Is this."

The beautiful head girl of three spat lowly as she carelessly threw a pad of sheets.

The stapled bunch of papers landed at Reina's purple sneakers, scattering Autumn leaves. They fell away to reveal the large C circled in a brilliant red, marking her group's recent lab report. She trembled as the Grade seemed to glare back at her, words of defense long lost in her throat.

"Well?" Jessica demanded harshly.

Reina flinched again. She wrung her small hands nervously, long slick with sweat. But the frustration of recalling her partner's own refusal contributing to the project gave her the courage to mumble out. "B-but… it would've been i-impossible to get a good grade if I was the only one to-"

"So you thought it was a great idea to snitch to Miss Sceltos about that? Figures. Stupid Goody Two Shoes, no wonder no one wants to have you as a partner." Elise rolled her gray eyes beside Jessica, admiring her own black painted nails.

Completely cowed, Reina fell into a hurtful silence.

Kaitlyn gasped in outrage, "Or maybe… this was her plan all along? Snitch on you to the teacher, so even if she screwed up the report, she'll get a gold star for 'initiative!' Makes sense, doesn't it?"

The brunette whipped up her head in alarm, ponytail smacking the back of her neck. "N-n-no! I wouldn't-!"

Eyes flashing in anger, Jessica stomped towards Reina and shoved her roughly to the ground. Reina cried out in surprise and pain as wet auburn leaves and mud stained her red jacket. She slowly sat up on her elbows, only to have the muddy report shoved into her terrified face. Reina froze, paralyzed at the dangerous sneer lining Jessica's brown eyes. "You see this? My parents are going to freak."

Reina trembled, unable to say anything. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for the usual pain.

"… If they knew about it, that is."

What? The girl reflexively looked at Jessica, stunned.

Gone with the enraged look and replaced with a smug sneer, she continued to loom over Reina menacingly. It only made Reina even more wary as the other girl pointed behind her in the distance.

"There's a mansion just down the woods. Bury the papers there. If you do, I'll forget any of this happened. Not a bad deal, don't you think?"

At once, Reina's own emerald green eyes landed on the sheets in Jessica's hand. Bury it… at the mansion down the woods? But that place was-

Her eyes widened again, this time in near disproportions. "Y-you can't be serious! That place was supposed to be-!"

'It was supposed to be haunted! Everyone who went there has supposedly never come back!' The terrifying words lodged in her throat at the last moment. Her legs shook, the world spinning as colour drained from her face.

In her daze, she felt Elise yank her hard onto her feet by the arm. "Come on. Move it." The girl spat.

Kaitlyn grabbed Reina's cerulean blue knapsack, hauling it over her shoulder.

She squeezed her watering eyes shut. 'I…. I don't want to!'

But when Jessica's menacing glare sharpened at her lack of movement, Reina's feet moved mechanically, forcing her deeper into the woods. The girls followed, watching her struggle with smug satisfaction.

Reina cursed herself, tears pricking the back of her eyes. 'Why can't they ever leave me alone?! Why can't I say it?! I hate them! I wish they didn't exist!'

The park woods remained empty and quiet as the dilapidated mansion's gates soon came into sight. Reina stopped for a moment to quietly gasp. The place was enormous, even bigger than she thought. The mansion was lined with stone and rows of broken windows. A cracked, marble fountain decorated its central courtyard. All trees surrounding it had already lost their leaves, testament for the coming Winter months.

But what made everything in Reina's body tingle with foreboding dread was the bright yellow safety tape wrapped around the premises. It was clearly meant to be sealed off from the public.

'There's still time to turn back...' Her mind whispered. 'Say something! No matter how you look at it, it's crazy to go in!'

Her knees knocked. 'I... I...'

Kaitlyn scowled. "What are you waiting for? Are you retarded?"

Reina cringed, all previous thoughts forgotten. She slowly slipped under the tape, gingerly opening the door. The rusted lock fell from its hinge, making her jump squeaking.

It was open.

Carefully opening it the rest of the way, she peeked around with frightened eyes. No one seemed to be around...

She breathed in deeply before taking trembling steps up the stone path, up to the mansion's front door. Clutching the papers to her chest, Reina shakily looked back at the girls. She felt her heart drop to her stomach when Kaitlyn motioned for her to head inside. She reached for the rusted brass handle, opening it with trembling fingers.

So far, so good... the girl gulped before placing a purple-sneakered foot forward. The floorboard creaked loudly, making her jump back with a strangled squeak. "H-hello... anyone there...?"

She mentally smacked herself. 'Of course not, it's abandoned, Stupid!'

At least, she hoped. But where was she expected to hide the-

The door suddenly slammed shut behind her, making Reina scream. The papers fell from her arms as she leapt onto the door. Mean, high-pitched laughs came from the other side as she hastily fumbled with the knob. It was locked.

Their angry taunts filled her ears.

"So stupid! Did you really think you'd get away with what you've done?" Kaitlyn's voice sneered.

"You're getting what you deserve, Goody-Goody."

"Have fun~" Jessica crowed before they laughed nastily again, voices fading as they left.

"No, wait! Stop!" Reina's throat finally worked again as she banged against the door. "Stop! Don't..." She fearfully yelled, "Don't leave me here! Please! Someone! Let me out! Please!"

Silence met her pleas. Defeat and hopelessness crashed down on her like a wave. She slumped back against the wooden frame before slowly slinking to the floor. Bringing her knees to her chest, she bleakly watched the setting sun's rays pour in through the broken glass. Her shoulders shook with muffled sobs.

It wasn't fair…! She tried so hard to be good. Good to adults around her, to her teachers, so her mother could have an easier time supporting their family. They told her she would eventually fit in if she played nice with the other kids. So why hasn't it happened yet? Why did she have to pretend?

Why did she have to be miserable?

Resentment and fear built up inside her as she hiccupped in tears, 'I'm scared... I'm scared! Someone...'

She whispered. "Help me..."

'Finally, she says it!'

She jerked up, face awash in tears. "W-who's there...?"

'You know, if you wanted help, you should just ask!' A childish voice chirped. The sound echoed, bouncing off the mansion's high ceiling. Reina whipped up her head in shock, furiously glancing around. When she saw no one, she turned deathly pale. "Who... a-are you? A g-g-g-g-g... ghost? Where are you?!"

'Oh! No, I'm not. Or at least, I don't think I am. Hmm, that's a good question really…' The voice took on a tone as if they were truly considering it.

What was that supposed to mean...?

'Play with me.'

Reina nearly fainted. The voice came this time frighteningly close to her ear. "B-but I don't...s-see..." She choked out, overwhelmed.

'You don't need to see.' It replied simply, confusing her further. 'Come with me...'

At once, the mansion began to spin. Reina thought she was having another dizzy spell when the floor itself began to give way. She scrambled to grab hold onto the floorboards as they disappeared, screaming, "W-what's happening?! Stop!"

'It's going to be fun!' It giggled, completely ignoring her. 'So much fun, you'll scream!'

The floor disappeared, as well as the mansion, its giggles accompanying her own screams down into the darkness...