Chapter 1.
Deep into the mountains, some hours of walk from the town's square, a mighty mansion was placed and no one knew about it. Rumors said it was haunted.
-So it is really here. I thought it didn't exist…
-What are we waiting for? Let's get inside!
There were only four of us, the others might be already inside, or still searching for the building. It was so deep and out of the way that I wouldn't be surprised if they don't find it.
-... We should wait for the rest.
-Don't be so boring! Let's enter! They may be inside already!
We decided to split in two groups and search for the mansion. Of course, we all thought it was only rumours, no one really expected it to exist. And of course, no one would ever expect such a big building could be built aside from any path, with no communication from the rest of the world.
No one ever saw anyone coming or going to here. Most likely it was going to be abandoned. However, when we got inside...
-It's cleaner than what I thought...
Meg was the first to say it. The inside was surprisingly clean. A short, awkward silence followed, until Alfons decided to break it.
-Let's split and search the building.
To everyone, this is Alfons. This is the guy who is always full of energy. The guy who always plan things and then, somehow, makes everyone to follow him. The guy who is always looking for an adventure.
-I prefer that everyone stayed together... – Craig said.
-Come on, there's nothing to fear! – Alfons pointed.
I wasn't really paying much attention to them; I was looking carefully to every corner of the hall searching for cobwebs, dust... but nothing of that was found, the mansion was surely clean.
Along Alfons mucking around and having fun of Craig, a sound came from a near corridor. Something fell down and broke. Craig was the first (and only one) to scream, but we all got nervous.
-I... I will go and check. – I said.
-Be careful there. – The rest said together.
There can't be monsters... right? It's scientifically impossible that monsters exist. This is what I wanted to think. There should be an explanation, maybe someone lives here after all, that would explain why there is no dirt anywhere.
Following a corridor in my right, with every door being surprisingly locked, except one. The door to the kitchen. However, only a broken plate in the floor was found there and no hints of people, animals, or any other thing.
-How interesting...
Talking to me when no one was around was a strange habit that I somehow developed. Maybe weird to anyone who could be watching me right now, but it always calmed me.
-Anyways, I should return before they get worried.
It was a big surprise. Only a brief moment passed since I went to check the sound and came back. But these cowards weren't on the hall anymore, most probably they already left. "How regrettable" I though. But when I tried to open the front door to scold them, I noticed it was locked.
-Oh, how funny, so now you decide to lock me here. Regrettable.
There was no other choice but to search the mansion now. It was surely not a funny idea but what else could I do?
4 floors, the first two being the biggest ones. 22 corridors, each one with countless rooms, two libraries, bathrooms, a kitchen, many bedrooms, several living rooms... Nothing out of the ordinary, if we forget no one is really living here. Everything was quiet, awkwardly quiet I'd point; until, another screamed broke it. It came from the second floor where I dashed to the point of nearly falling in the stairs.
A bedroom with only one bed, wood floor like in the rest of the building, red curtains, some closets in the left. And a boy in the middle of the room who, for some reason, I didn't see the first time I peeked through the door. However, it was a familiar face; at first I was very angry but...
"CLACLACLACLACLACLACLACLACLACLACLACLACLA"
-Craig, are you okay?
"CLACLACLACLACLACLACLACLACLACLACLACLACLA"
He was shivering a lot, I could hear his teeth clacking several steps away from him. He was very pale, his eyes were lost, like looking to the distance, and he was sweating a lot. He was in a total shock.
-Wait here, I'll get you some water, somehow. You'll feel better soon. – I said.
"CLACLACLACLACLACLACLACLACLACLACLACLACLACLA"
A concert from his teeth greeted me, and said bye as well.
Water... Water... I offered myself to do this too fast. Where should I get water? Will pipes even work in this site? Well... Now I had no other choice but to look for it. Luckily, I remember there was a bathroom very near.
Just the moment I entered, an evil thought came to my mind. I looked at the toilet.
-Well... This is water too...
For some moment, I thought in punishing him for leaving me alone, for making me to wander this enormous mansion. But this quickly faded. I looked at the faucet at my right and, using it, water ran down it. And it wasn't even dirty. And now, I should bring him to here and ask him what exactly happened. Another screamed filled the place just after I left the bathroom, this was getting uncomfortably common, and, this was also familiar. It came from the bedroom I was just a minutes ago. Craig screamed.
I won't lie to you. I became worried. I ran to the room, but even so, what awaited me there was something coming from a nightmare, it broke reality, it broke my world. Craig was dead. His body was mutilated; he was lying in the middle of the room with a horror expression in his face, with his belly being torn apart, his intestines and blood in the pure floor near him. His legs all wounded, only his arms and head seemed to have not be touched at all.
I wanted to puke. I wanted to stop this cruel joke, I wanted to leave and go home.
-Cruel and curious paths fate gives us, right? – A voice sounded behind my back.
I turned around very fast. I had a shocked expression and a few tears in my eyes, but I could see perfectly this boy. He was wearing a white, formal shirt, jeans and black shoes.
-WHO ARE YOU!? – I shouted to him.
-Calm down, my friend, I'm no enemy. My name's Oparin, it's a pleasure to meet you. – He raised his right hand, trying to shake my hand. However, meeting someone else right now wasn't my priority.
-What happened here!?
-... You'll eventually see. You won't believe me if I told you.
-Tell me RIGHT NOW. - I came closer to him. I don't know what I was thinking, maybe to punch him; however, he saw my intentions.
-I insist, my friend, calm yourself, there's no reason to get violent.
-Don't call me your friend. I don't know you.
-If that's what you want, you have my apologies.
This guy. This idiot. Someone who appear from nowhere and started calling me his friend.
-Who are you anyways!? What are you doing here!? – I asked, still shouting to him.
-I can be a lot of people; your friend, someone from your family, someone you never met, someone who died, someone who doesn't exist. And, I could be you.
-Are you playing with me?
-Oh, no, don't misunderstand me. I'm just remarking how amusing it is to ask someone who they are.
-What should I say then!?
-You could start giving me your name...