"And the award for person least likely to pay his part of the bills goes to Clive Dove." Flora exclaimed at the other… in utter darkness.
Clive, Luke, Layton and Flora are victims of the nights pitch black, that moonlight couldn't even flow through any of the rooms, not even the living room in their case! Electricity was a necessity nowadays and thanks to Layton, he suggested the four have a home together without having to separate for long periods of time.
They went back to family of course when the time called, and they came back to uncover mysteries, puzzles just about everything if you gave Layton a good amount of time. For most of them they did visit family, but Clive was rather a shut in.
He would go with Flora and Luke on their vacations back to family and gotten to introduce one another and see how their adventures have been going.
To Flora's surprise, and chagrin, her parents were extremely dissatisfied that Clive being an ex-felon worried for their daughters' safety. But thanks to her smooth words, followed by Luke's evidence she proved to them he was attempting to turn his life around. Prison didn't suit him he figured out later, and thus he was invited to stay with Layton.
This was the same for Luke's parents, but they required Layton and Flora to keep a stern eye on him, just in case he takes the boy out for crimes such as… Well for their sake, staying up after curfew, feeding the boy an unhealthy midnight snack or watching unwanted movies. To their shock however, he did look a lot like Luke. But Luke knows better about making decisions against the law.
Living in a mansion had its perks, such as more than 2 bedrooms, an inner gym so that they wouldn't have to go outside as often, a theater for the cinema and potential opera if they had anyone to invite and of course a huge Library for all of them take books at their leisurely pleasure.
That and the bedrooms were all connected around its giant doors. Luke could pick a story and have Clive read him to sleep. Being on a coastal part of London however took its toll whenever the furious rains and unkind winters came along. Layton had bought the place for both the view and low price.
He also wanted the others to get the experience of tasting the tangy air of salt infused water in the misty breezes, summer time fun under the sun, and examine some old seashells to find what extinct animal it used to be.
Yet now, with their A/C down with no power, Clive in hot water that he didn't pay the electric bill, and no candles in arms or rooms reach they were sitting ducks for the night.
"You're one to talk Forget Me Flora! What happened with the candles you and Layton went out to purchase?" Clive rebutted to said only lady in the living room.
"We did buy them! Scented I'll have you know… I misplaced them with the other bags from our trip we brought in my room." She uttered, lightly twisting her hair in curls and mouth up in a kissy face that no one can see. Even if she did want to go to her room, they have been here for a mere one week. The rooms were already furnished with everyone's things, but Luke suggested they all sleep in the living room one last time as… well a step family.
And now, with no power all the corridors and rooms were filled to the brim with the black of darkness and no one remembers the direction to their rooms. Such a big place, Flora needed to look up into its history to make sure it wasn't haunted.
"Now that's enough you two! Let's be careful maneuvering ourselves around. I brought a lot of sensitive artifacts and precious antiques big and small!"
Luke could confirm that by all the heavy lifting the professor made him and Clive do, and of course they weren't sure what was where. The older look alike of Luke's rubbed his eyes fingers going back and forth, unsure of what they should do now.
"The only solution now is to find the fuse box. Along with the cause of this power outage in the first place." Layton concluded, smacking a fist into his hands. No one else had any better ideas about doing anything else and sighs were heard leaving the others.
"Let's be sure we watch our-"
*BONK* "Shit! What's this?" Clive cursed massaging his head.
"Whoops! Sorry about that, it's the coat hanger I meant to put by the entrance." Layton felt the arms that loop around said iron rod. Luke, still unaware about the dangers of the dark, embroiders himself to face it head on besides the dangers lying ahead. If he's ever going to grow up and face his fears, this would be an excellent start!
"Professor, if it may be of more safety I should probably lead the way. I don't believe I'll get hurt that much, especially due to my size."
With a single snap, Luke made it his responsibility to walk the crew to their destination of the fuse box. Luckily he's still wearing shoes, or else he'd end up stabbing a sharp end of a monument to his feet.
"If you say so my boy. Flora, Clive, watch out for things yourselves! I'll be sure to keep Luke safe from harm." The professor stated, feeling the youngest of the group to finally tread on within the abyss. Outstretching his hands, he feels his way through the air within his hands, lightly so he doesn't poke his fingers.
Clive continued to rub his wound, hoping it didn't leave a bruise… It was throbbing. Walking in the darkness with the others might just have made him a bit woozy because he felt his head spin lightly.
The mansion wasn't a bad place no. Upon finally exiting the living room, they felt the space around them widen.
Also, the stuffy night air cools once the semi giant doors end up opening. There was a slight glimmer of light from afar, and it shot off from a variety of the collected items. Luke could only make out some shapes.
One was a katana most likely from Japan, Layton got the interest of learning about techniques and fighting styles of various people. Never know when one false slash from said sword would end up making a suspect come out into the light without them knowing it. After that, a few medium sized (up to Layton's height) statues were in the way.
Flora was sure these things were alive, as the slightest touch sent static and goosebumps to infest her arm and back. Even through gloves, she could feel the unbearable freeze upon them.
If not for her imagination, she might as well lend them a sweater or two for being like that in the first place. She made sure Clive would continue paying for his half of the electric bill that's for sure.
"OW!" Layton grabbed his right foot in bouts of pain.
The shriek alone, made Luke want to fly out of his body and hide behind one of the statues. Only Clive picked up on the whimpering he makes after that event. He gently puts one hand to Luke's head and the other to his shoulders to let him know he was safe. Luke was unsure if he was crying but his eyes felt glossy.
Feeling hands on him made him shiver a little more, but upon recognizing the others familiar touch, he attack-embraced Clive. Breath now out of his lungs, he was hit in the back by a ditto stunned Flora.
"My word! What happened?" She hush-screamed at the eldest.
Layton, again to his dismay, picked up the piece of said item from his foot, carefully dislodging it before it made him bleed. It was soft however, but the horrid feeling was still there. He felt the piece all around…
A Lego block.
"Luke, how many times have I told you never to leave your toys scattered like this! I almost broke my foot!" he said massaging his heel. Luke semi scoffed at his mentor, as he didn't leave them out intentionally to hurt anyone.
"I was merely building a city and making replicas of the one we're in now. I apologize professor." He meant it with sincerity. He still is a child but accidents happen, right? He thanked Clive for keeping his body's composure, and took hold of his hand. The elder didn't think much of it, but it would be too easy to get lost like this, so he went with it.
"Ok, enough. By the looks of it, I remember we placed these statues and alleged blocks right near the stairs leading up to the second floor. The steps are right here. Ready to move forward Luke?" The maiden responded catching hold of the rail.
Luke agreed, all four now making the careful way of maneuvering themselves onto the wooden stairs.
If only things weren't so crooked in this mansion, nothing would make Clive's evening if none of the rooms or doorways made any noise just by the wind. Regardless, Luke takes one step onto the board, anxiously awaiting a moan to rise from the aged wood.
Nothing. Another step, this time with 2 on the next step and the others on the first. Not even harsh steps like a ghost would do to let you know they were in here.
"I think we can move forward a little quicker." Flora stated, but now hand to her mouth. She might just have jinxed their situation of being on the stairs. Now she was cautious to the point of having both feet on one step, and hoped she didn't end up tripping and stumbling down the stairs with Layton right behind her.
Luke took this as his cue to step it up fast, a tiny bit and low and behold the stairs weren't as old as they thought they would be. None of the steps made creaks or moans, not one even remotely felt shallow to the point somebody could fall through. Gosh did Layton wish the full moon was out.
All 4 were careful on each step, not to trip and end up becoming paraplegic's. Right at the last step, everyone hears a growl. A really… unwanted growl. Like as if you were stepping on its foot.
"Don't mind that, it's my stomach. Dessert is calling for me." Clive stated. Luke shook his head relieved it wasn't a beast in the black fog, he missed the last top step and hurled forward, hitting his face on the floor with a THUD. The 3 adults were on the tips of their toes, Clive especially hopping up on the last step.
The others followed and Luke was carefully picked up on his feet. "Does anything hurt Luke?"
A light moaning came from his mouth and the boy was massaging his left eye. He hissed in pain at the injury to his ocular sphere. "I… I think my left eye is broken." He felt a couple of tears rush through his eyes, and Clive picked the boy up, as a Koala embraced its taller figure. He was semi moaning, but was bounced to keep him calm.
"I think we'll let you stay behind with me Luke." Clive says, while trying to figure out what he could put on the youngers eye to prevent it from swelling. He pressed a finger hoping it wasn't as bad as he thought.
Just slightly swollen, and throbbing it'll only get bigger as time went along. Layton, still trying to make out their situation felt the cold shield of a large knight armored in steel. He takes it, just light enough to be held. Then again, nothing here is light these days.
"Flora, use this to keep his wound from becoming any more inflamed." She takes it, not even too much of dismay nonetheless and stands behind Clive and Luke and places the cool object onto the other's eye.
"Thank you professah." He says relishing in the cooling effect it gives his appendage, throbbing slowing down for now. He'll have to see the doctor tomorrow. Now with Layton leading the way, they take the direction East down to the next corridor. Almost a long walk, they head down further and further.
Like the professor remembers, there are three doors to pick and where the fuse box is hidden in. He attempts the door to his left. Ever so cautiously, he hopes no burglar has come in and knocked the power out and started robbing the place. Just one peek through the door and Layton would get his body blown off to the other door.
Turning the knob, he attempts to push the door like a toddler would not disturb its parents. It starts to creek.
"Mmmmmmm…." It began. Another push. "MMmmmmmm…." The moaning gets louder. Clive feels like he has a frog in his throat, and Flora's goosebumps infest her arms and back.
One more push. "MMMmmmmooooo…" That made Luke snicker and Clive wander in disbelief as to why it was so funny. Layton feels the rest of the doors exterior, to find the cause of the animal like sound. Just feeling the hinges on the door and the various spikes and markings protruding from them, he deduced why they were so loud in the first place.
"I fear this door has become a victim of years and years of rust. It was no animal that made that noise, but hearing a laugh sent shivers up my spine." The professor says, remembering it was Luke that was giggling.
Now realizing that the room was probably a storage closet for cleaning supplies, they would have a repairman come later and change the door along with the hinges. But before Layton could even remotely find the door knob for the next room, he felt this door's exterior. This one had a rather… rougher hide.
It had ridges all over it, and he places his hands upon it. Practically all of it was composed of a waxy substance as if it was made from hardened paper. His fingers pop themselves into holes, which startles the man.
"Is it another run down door Professor?" Flora asks keenly, hoping it was just that.
Just as bewildered by that question, he feels around some more, until he feels a smaller hatch like opening. He pinches the tinier knob and, he feels various switches. "I do believe we've found the fuse box!" he announces triumphantly, earning hoorahs from his crew.
He flips one of the white switches and voila, electricity was restored to their new home. Now with the bigger lights' brilliance upon them all, Layton still wanders just what the door he was feeling before looked like.
His eyes were regaining their quality back and… By the looks of it saw several winged insects, about the size of his palms staring right back at him.
They weren't too happy about it.
Spongebob Narrator Voice: *1 Hour Later*
"That vwas an awfphpfpfulll expslpslpslerience." Layton exclaimed through now swollen lips and left side of his face.
The hornet nest found in the home must have been growing for several years, probably within the home's infrastructure and wasn't detected until the power went out in the mansion. Flora ran as fast as her legs would allow her from the mess before she was attacked.
Luke told Clive to stay still and relaxed, since this species can detect an intruder's guilt for invading their property and chased after those who run. Layton tried to run, bet fell to their stingers.
The two lookalikes were merely investigated by the bugs but were left alone as they returned to their home. Now here they were again, in the living room on their makeshift mattresses for the night all wrapped up in their giant comforters of 3 beds. Flora had had enough of the night's events and went straight to bed, leaving the other 3 awake.
Clive shook his head at Layton's poor emaciated face, but looked down at Luke's figure, as he had an ice pack to the purple colored extrema.
"Luke… do you mind telling me why you wanted to lead first?" He asked the boy, who was dozing off in the others' arms. He tilted his head up. He wasn't sure if he wanted to be made fun of, but he let out with it.
"I had a… slight fear of the dark. Wanted to conquer it head on I guess."
One of Clive's eyebrows went up, knowing full well that the darkness was one of everybody's first fears when they were children. He remembers it all too well. He smiled warmly down to the boy, and pecked his forehead, earning him another hug.
"You are a brave old chap. Good night Luke." He said wrapping them both in the blanket, leaving Layton to his irritating face for the night.