I sighed for the millionth time in eight hours. Sitting in a cramped car driving to the middle of nowhere would to that to you. My cousin sitting next me laughed and I just glare at the road.
"It's not that bad," my cousin says to me smiling. He's enjoying my contempt of driving on a road with nothing to look at. The radio stopped working an hour ago and the last city, if you can call it that, was 100 miles ago.
"says the guy not driving. Where is this place? Are they sure it even exists? "I ask as he pulled out a print out of the place we were looking for. I glance over as he opens the Manila folder and takes out the directions to a large mansion.
"Yeah. We still have another 100 miles to go. We should be in the town of Cyndra soon. Do you want me to drive for awhile," he asked while placing the paperwork back. I think about his offer and shake my head. Sean drove like a little old lady. It would take us longer if he drove.
"Are you even interested in moving to this place?"
"Honestly, no. I don't know whose idea it was for the whole family to live together. It's a crazy idea."
"You don't think everyone should help out with grandma? Or is it the fact everyone would know what you are doing all the time?"
"I don't mind the family helping out. I just don't want to be in close quarters with some of those people." Sean snorts and I smile. Our family was easy to deal with in doses. All of them at the same time was torture and the idea of living with all of them was wearing on my sanity.
"Caroline, they are not that bad," Sean says as we pass a sign stating "25 miles to Cynda."
"Says the guy whose married with a kid on the way! I am the outcast remember? I don't fit into their perfect little mold!" I say and he sighs. This conversation had a long time coming. I am different from my family. My mother was Caucasian, my father is African American. My brother and I are mixed but due to them kissing ass most of the time they are accepted. Me? Not so much.
"They just don't like the fact you don't bow down. Nothing new there. But hey! You got me. Melissa and Britt are on your side as well also uncle Rich is always on your side."
"True." I smile as I think of my crazy great uncle he is my grandmothers brother. I smile as the city comes into vision. Sean shakes his head as we start driving through it looking for a hotel or inn.
"There is one." Sean states pointing to the left. I park the car in front of a shabby looking place called "stars." I turn off the car and pop the trunk. We grab our bags and head inside to see an older man reading the paper behind the desk.
"Excuse me?" Sean says and the man lowers his paper. My eyes widen when I see his face. He had the gashes that ran from his eyebrow to his chin on the right side.
"Hello. I'm Hayden. How can I help you folks?" He said smiling. I try not to cringe as Sean spoke up.
"One bedroom with two beds please."
"Sure. We don't get visitors often in these parts. So what brings you? Hayden asks as he hand Sean the key.
"The mansion on the hill," Sean says. Hayden frond and looks to Sean then to me.
"You thinking about buyin'? " Hayden asks.
"Our family is," I state and he looks at me and does the sign of the cross.
"God bless your soul. The ghost will change your mind." Hayden goes back to his paper as we walk towards our room. Sean opens the door as we walk into the small room. Two twin beds and a desk was the only furniture sitting in the room. I place my bag on the bed and open it.
"What was that about?" I ask going through the bag looking for a set of pjs.
"Apparently, the mansions haunted."
"what?!"
"People have gone to see this place and end up dead or missing."
"Screw that! I'm not going to go look at a home and get killed!"
"You won't be killed. It's just rumors."
"Some rumors have truth behind them."
"I looked into it before we came. It's safe."
"Fine but if I did I am haunting your ass!" I say as I walk out of the room to look for a bathroom.
The next morning we woke up early to get a head start. Sean called his mom to update her on where we were and how the trip was going. He hangs up his cell phone and shakes his head.
"Mom says hi," Sean says getting in the car. I snort as I get into the car. My aunt Ellie and I did not get along very well. He knew this and had been trying for years to get me and her on the same page. In Sean's head I needed more support. In all honesty I wanted to be left alone.
We reached the mansion around 10 am which was surprising with his driving. The five story home was beautiful and antique looking on the outside. Large gray columns were on either side of the entrance holding up what looked to be a balcony. Sean pulls out the keys he received from the realtor days before and opens the heavy black door. The door opens to a large living area. The floor looks to be made of white marble and the walls are a greenish blue color. Stairs leading to the upstairs circle on both sides of the room along with numerous doors.
"Where should we start?" I ask in aw. It was beautiful but I knew we had to check the home for any problems.
"The first door on the right. We will work our way around from there. Exploring the bottom half of the house turned out to be interesting. It consisted of a large kitchen and dining room, a library, study, three living areas, and a pool. We head back to the entrance to check out the next floors only to notice muddy foot prints on the stairs.
Sean walks over to the steps and glances back at me. I walk over to him and he looks up towards the set of double doors at the top.l
"Do you still have your Swiss Army knife?" Sean asks.
"Yeah."
"Good. You might need it."
"You are kidding me right? Let's just leave and call the police!" I state heading towards the front door. I try to open it and the door refuses to budge. I start going from window to window only to realize how hopeless the situation was.
"Calm down. We will find another way out. Apparently someone doesn't want us to leave," Sean states starting up the stairs. I grumble as I followed him holding the knife in my pocket. Sean opens the door to the second floor only to lead to a long dark hallway. I pull out my cell phone and turn on the flashlight. Sean nods in approval as we start walking down the hall. We stop at the first door on the left and he nods as I open it. The door leads to a small empty bedroom. I sigh in relief as I shut the door. We do this for six other rooms for them to all be the same. As we reach the end of the hall Sean's phone chimes and I jump holding my knife up.
"Calm down its Trinity checking on us," Sean said reading a text on his phone.
"Damn this place has me jumpy," I say lowering my knife.
"I thought you liked horror video games?" He states with a smile.
"Yeah I do, but in them I have a gun," I say and he shakes his head turning back to the double doors ahead of us.
"True. Next time I'll help you get a gun permit," he says as he pushes the door open. As we walk in a musty smell hits me and I almost gag. I look around the room to see another set of stairs to the left and a door to the right.
"Door first?" I ask. He nods and we head towards the door. I open it and he heads in. I walk in behind him only to notice the room lead to another door. The door was metal and had what looked to be a shield on it. Sean tries to push on it but the door doesn't budge.
"I guess we go up the stairs," I say and he sighs.
"That's weird the realtor never mentioned anything about locked doors."
"The realtor never said anything about a faulty front door and here we are."
"Good point. I tried giving him a call and he did not answer."
"When?"
"After I told trinity that we were fine," he states as we start up the stairs. I open the door and he heads in first. The door opens up to a large living area and four doors. Large windows were in place of the wall to the left and on the right was rows of bookshelves. I walk over to the bookshelves as Sean walks over to the windowsill. The books on the shelves were old and dusty. I pull out a book and all of a sudden I hear movement. Sean looks at me as I drop the book I was holding. Then I hear a growl. I large brown wolf starts walking to us from near the entrance we came in. We slowly walk towards the doors to make sure we do not frighten the dog. As I reach a door the wolf pounces and I push myself through the door and throw myself at the door as I hear the wolf jump at the door. I close the door and lock it. I turn around and groan when I realize I am in another hall. There was only one door at the end and faded pictures on the walls of the hall. I jump when my cell phone rings and I grabb it and answer.m without looking to see who it is.
"Are you alright?!" Sean's voice said through my cell.
"I'm fine. You?"
"Yeah. That wolf went after you first. After I saw that you went into a door I dashed into another."
"Good."
"Explore what you can and I'll check back with you in 20 minutes."
"Alright." Sean hangs up the phone and I walk down the dimly lighted hallway to the door at the end. I open the door slowly to a large bedroom. The far end of the room was a dome like window with another floor that could be reached by stairs. I look ahead to see a large round bed that looked freshly made. Bookshelves were along the walls of the room along with a door. I walk over to open the door when I get tackled to the ground. My hands are pinned above my head and I am facing the ground.
"Who are you?" A voice growls out. I turn my head and all I see is dark hair streaming in front of me. I struggle more and they tightens there grip and puts there knee into my back.
"My family is looking to buy this place! We came to see it!" I groan out.
"We? How many are there?" They ask not letting up.
"Let me up and I will tell you!"
"How about you tell me and I will let you live."
"How do I know you won't kill me anyways?"
"Good point," they say letting me go. I get up and turn to see the most gorgeous man I have ever seen. His cold grey eyes look me up and down as I dust myself off.
"There is just me and my cousin," I say looking around the room again.
"Male or female?" He asks.
"Male."
"Damn it! Where did he go?"
"Through another door. We got separated when a giant wolf attacked us."
"What color was the wolf?"
"Brown." As soon as I said brim the man raced out the door I came through.