CHAPTER SIX: EVERS AFRAID

As Jamie followed the secret passage he was quickly led to a staircase. He descended carefully and followed the hallway that appeared before him. A choice of which way to turn next immediately appeared after only several feet. Jamie let his match go out as he tried to think.

He closed his eyes (though he needn't; the darkness had already rid him of his sight) and tried to visualize the layout of the mansion that he knew thus far. He'd entered the library which was on the east wing of the house. The passage he'd taken had gone to the left for several feet meaning he'd headed north. When he'd descended the stairs, he hadn't come across any turns so he must have continued several more feet north. He was somewhere heading to the "back" of the house; he figured that much. So if he went to the right, it might lead to another dead end since he reasoned that the library hadn't extended too much further east when he'd first viewed the house from the outside. If he went to the left, he was heading back in towards the middle of the mansion.

He struck another match and headed left. "Oh thank God!" He saw an outline of a doorway immediately. Yet the passage went on further. He was tired of weaving through hallways. This door had to be the best bet of arriving somewhere new. Or hopefully running into another human being already.

So Jamie walked up and touched the wood with excitement. He noticed a horizontal handle at eye level as well as another vertical one on the left side. Curious, he pulled opened the horizontal one first and a small section of wood swung with the handle revealing two small almond shaped holes in the door. Jamie dropped his now dead match to the floor and stared out through the holes from which light came through the other side of the door.

He was staring down a well-finished hallway; pictures lining the walls, the floor carpeted and sconces lighting the space. Surely he could find someone down this way.

Jamie closed the peepholes and pressed down on the other handle on the left. The door swung open and Jamie stepped down into the hallway. He turned around. The door was in fact a portrait framed on the wall; hence the step down.

Jamie laughed. The peepholes would have been the eyes. He thought these existed only in the movies.

He pushed the portrait of the sallow-faced nobleman back into place and heard the latch 'click'.

Still not seeing or hearing signs of anyone else, Jamie decided to continue down the hallway.

He grabbed an unlit candelabrum from a nearby table and lit it with one of his remaining matches. Better to be prepared, he thought wryly, and continued on.

As he passed each of the paintings on the wall they began to change behind him. The portrait of the woman on the chaise morphed turning her skin raw and scaly and her clothing to tatters. The portrait of a house overlooking a meadow changed to the house in flames and the scenery devoid of any green. Another portrait aged its subject, another morphed its subject to have facial deformities. The last portrait of a younger man atop his horse changed both horse and rider to skeletons.

Jamie had no idea of the sinister transformations occurring as he passed. His eyes were fixed upon the two bust statues in alcoves at the end of the hallway. As he got closer to them, Jamie felt creeped out. It felt as though their vacant stone eyes were staring right at him. He shuddered and followed the hallway which continued on to the right.

The busts' heads moved slightly turning to follow Jamie's movements with their eyes. Had he known this, Jamie would have run scared.

However he now faced a door at the end of the short corridor in front of him. It creaked and groaned as it appeared to expand and contract on its lowest panel. "What in the–?" Jamie muttered uncomfortably. He wasn't sure he was seeing straight for the second time tonight. It had to be the flickering candlelight again. Or maybe termites, he thought. "No can't be termites," he doubted suddenly afraid to move closer. "They'd be some gigantic termites!" He willed himself forward and then realized it sounded and looked like the door was breathing.

But that was ridiculous. He'd watched that stupid Monster House movie at a client's housewarming when the children there demanded it be put on for them. Houses were not living, they did not breathe and transform and try and hurt you or innocent kids for that matter.

He trudged forward in defiance and the illusion went away. It was the candlelight and rusty pipes somewhere –or the old floorboards beneath his feet. This house was old. And Jamie was just tired of being hopelessly lost in this unfamiliar labyrinth of hallways.

He touched the door panel with his foot. Solid.

It sounded like a telephone was ringing on the other side of the door. Jamie knocked loudly and received no response. So he placed his hand on the brass handle and discovered the door was unlocked. "Hello?" he called tentatively as he opened the door inwardly and peered into the room.

There was still no sign of anyone. The room was pitch black save for a chandelier above a table in the middle of the room. The ringing phone sat on top of it. Beside all of this stood a large framed rectangular mirror. As lightning struck outside, Jamie realized there was a floor length window in the far back corner on the right which was open slightly since its curtain billowed around in the wind. Jamie vaguely wondered what this room was for; it appeared empty otherwise.

He hurried forward and hesitatingly picked up the receiver of the Victorian-age telephone. "Hello?"

From somewhere else in the mansion, Ramsley hung up the phone.

"Hello?" Jamie repeated even after hearing the click. "Please it's Jamie Evers! I'm stuck somewhere inside the mansion! I don't know where I am! Hello?" But the line remained dead. Jamie hung up the receiver and sighed. Why should he be so lucky?

He caught sight of himself in the mirror. Jamie smoothed out his suit and examined his face in the mirror. He didn't look any worse for wear but he was starting to feel it.

CAW! Jamie jumped back in surprise; crying out. A crow was perched on the top of the mirror. It had to have flown in through the window. "Oh you crazy creature!" Jamie scolded angrily, shaking his finger. "You scared the bejeepers out of me!" The bird flew away back out through the window.

Catching his breath, Jamie turned and caught sight of his reflection again. A corpse was staring back at him. As he screamed, it too opened its mouth in silent terror. Frightened Jamie dropped his candelabrum and it made a resounding clank as it hit the marble floor.

Feeling unsafe without the light and without the heavy metal of the candelabrum, Jamie dropped to his knees and frantically picked it up. He stood up quickly and stared back at his reflection which was now normal again.

With the blood pounding in his ears, Jamie stood stiff for several seconds staring wide-eyed into the mirror. He was in utter disbelief. Sure, it was dimly lit in this room but there was no way he'd misconstrued what he'd seen in the mirror. This was no trick of the candlelight or the dark. There'd been a zombie reflection of himself he was sure of it.

Jamie touched his face to confirm it was intact. He stared at both hands and back into the mirror. A terrified, but living, version of himself stared back.

He wasn't staying in this room any longer. Jamie rushed out and closed the demon door behind him then tried another door along the right wall which opened easily and uncovered another hallway. "Oh God please!" he muttered anxiously. He just wanted to find something familiar already –or come across someone.

While the previous hallway had matched the Victorian style with its purple wallpaper and elegant wall sconces, this new hallway was completely different. It reminded Jamie of the streets of New Orleans with its ornate wall brackets and supporting columns. Several doors lined the corridor which had small rectangular stained glass windows at the top of each of them in colours of orange, green and yellows. This hallway was unlit and Jamie was again grateful to have the candelabrum with him.

The door at the end of the hallway was opened; its frame formed a pointed arch with two symmetrical pieces carved on each side to make the frame more interesting to the eye. A woman's voice could be heard speaking indistinctly. Jamie was instantly relieved.

"Thank God I heard your voice!" he called, "I've been lost in the mansion for awhile now and… I'm just glad to come across another human being finally! Listen, I'm sorry if I sound a little frazzled but I just had myself a little freak-show back there and… I was supposed to meet with Mr. Gracie but I got stuck in a secret passage and…"

Jamie came into the room and saw it was lavishly decorated with thick fabrics hanging and covering every inch of the walls. Most of the curtains were a rich crimson with gold accents and trim. There were also several violet fabrics hanging too, and many of the draperies were bunched together; held with intricate ropes and ties. Several pillows littered the two long divans that sat on the left and right wall. In the middle of the room was a round table; several things scattered across its surface including tarot cards but Jamie's eye was immediately drawn to the large glass orb set on top of an intricate holder. Behind the table was an empty chair. What is this, a fortune teller's room? Jamie thought to himself.

The woman's voice continued to speak on and on as though she had not paid attention to anything Jamie had said. "…Goblins and ghoulies from last Halloween, awaken the spirits with your tambourine. It is time to bring forth all that is dear, so rise from your places and gather all near." She paused and Jamie stared around the room.

"Um, I hear you but I don't see you…" he declared. Jamie was shocked when the swirling orb suddenly revealed a woman's face turning towards him.

"I am Madame Leota; Seer of All. I am voice to the spirits and answer their call. Your aura is murky; your colour is weak. Young Jamie Evers, whom do you seek?"

Perhaps she had been paying attention to him, Jamie thought. She knew his name. It was still unnerving though to see a face through this orb. It was a cool party trick though –if nothing else. "I'm looking for a way out actually," he told her and suddenly he was pushed by a chair from behind. He fell backwards into it and it moved into place at the table.

"Hey! What are you doing!? Let me out of here!" he insisted.

"Silence!" she answered harshly, "I shall ask you again; whom do you seek?!"

"I am seeking a way out of here!" he repeated slowly.

"Then you must look within."

"What? I don't want to look within! I want to get out!"

"There is great evil in this house you will find, a devil's curse was left behind. This evil presence is strong and true, this curse seeks to destroy you."

"What? Destroy me? What are you talking about? Why would something want to destroy me I'm just here to sell the house, ok?" Jamie protested.

"Dark spirits from the grave come forth, from west, east, south and north, lift us from the black, and show us; show us the way back."

"Dark spirits? No, no dark spirits! Don't make any dark spirits come out!" Jamie demanded shakily.

"Lift us, lift us up to the light and lead us through this stormy night." The table began to rise slowly into the air and Jamie felt a stab of panic rise in his chest.

Suddenly, before he could comprehend anything else his chair rose too. "HEY! Hey, hey, hey! Oh my God! Oh God please no. I'd like to stay on the ground? Can I stay on the ground? I really don't like…"

The table and Jamie's chair began to slowly spin in mid-air and as Madame Leota spoke, they began to spin faster and faster as instruments and other objects in the room rose with them and began to make noise. "Evil and darkness have fallen this night but to survive you must gain new sight."

"I must gain new underwear here," Jamie muttered sarcastically.

"Only the light will lead the way for this darkness and evil cannot stay. Follow the light and find your way home lest your soul continuously roam. Go Mr. Evers your family is at stake if this curse you do not break. Your very life is at stake so listen well there is no escape for you unless you break the spell. Go save yourself, save your family –for to stay here would be deadly. Release her, release us all. Be the savior; heed the call."

Jamie had closed his eyes tightly and prayed this would all stop. "I'm getting queasy!" he warned, "Very queasy here!"

Madame Leota had stopped chanting now but the instruments still droned on and on. Somewhere, a laugh began to carry into the room and it sent chills down Jamie's spine.

"He must begin. Release our spin!" Leota called and at once the table, Jamie's chair and her orb landed back in their original places.

Jamie's eyes flew open and breathing heavily he stared straight ahead for several seconds still in shock. But after a moment he regained his bearings and burst out of the chair.

He yelled as he ran back down the hallway and he suddenly heard the sounds of instruments drawing closer and closer behind him. He moved to head down another hallway (had that even been there before?) and as he turned he saw the instruments in his peripheral floating down the hallway towards him.

Utterly terrified, Jamie ran down the next hallway screaming for help. He backtracked as he found a nook in the wall where presumably someone had removed the table or other decoration that had stood in the alcove. He thrust himself into it and held still as the instruments whizzed past his hiding spot. After waiting a few moments, Jamie bolted out of the alcove and ran the opposite direction. But the instruments caught up and a drum hit him square in the back. He tumbled forward and just managed to catch himself before falling too hard and skinning his hands and knees. Disoriented, he headed back down the hallway passing his hidden nook and as he reached the end, he panicked. There was nowhere else to go from here.

He yanked open the nearest door and flung it closed behind him just as the instruments caught up. They slammed one by one into the door; each sounding louder than the next. After about five seconds more of panic and praying the door would hold, it seemed the ordeal was over. There was not a sound to be heard now except for Jamie's own heart beating loudly in his ears and his ragged breaths. He stood there for several seconds, back against the door still, as he tried to calm himself down.

What in the hell had just happened? He couldn't even collect his thoughts at this point. He felt the adrenaline still pulsing through him making him shaky and slightly dizzy.

Jamie closed his eyes to remedy the situation. But when he opened them, he was in for yet another surprise.

A light blue ball of light floated through the wall ahead of him and made its way towards him. It looked like smoke almost, but it cast a pale blue light around it and Jamie was too shocked to react at first. He simply blinked and confirmed that yes; it was still there.

"Stay away from me!" he exclaimed breathily. "Please! Just… just stay away! Don't hurt me," he added.

The ball of light had paused several feet away and remained stationary in mid-air directly ahead of him. Jamie stared silently back at it. Now, he swore he heard the faint sounds of a music box playing although he couldn't make out where the sound came from exactly. It was a soft and simple melody and Jamie suddenly found himself humming it without even realizing it.

He stopped abruptly and frowned in concern, wondering what he should do.

The light inched forward slightly. Jamie knew he wasn't going to retreat back down the hallway behind the door and risk being paraded again by the instruments. He just wasn't sure he wanted to be trapped down this one with this ghostly ball of light either.

The light retreated slightly and Jamie calmed down. "Please I'm not here to disturb anyone," he began, "I just want to find my way back. I need to get out of here so if you'll just let me pass or…" The ball responded by swirling as though it had changed direction and floated down the hall. Keeping his distance, Jamie followed it slowly.

It proceeded down another corridor to the left. The moment he turned to take the next hallway to the right, the light swirled past him and stopped. I think it wants me to follow it Jamie thought. He moved and sure enough the light continued back the way it had originally gone.

Shaking his head at what he was about to do, Jamie resumed following the smoky light down the other hallway.

It led him to an elevator where it floated between the bars of the two gates and stationed itself in the far right corner of the lift. All at once, the two gates slid open with resonant dry metal scrapes. "Uh…" Jamie hesitated. He wasn't sure this was a good idea. You don't know the last time that thing's been inspected he thought.

But if Sarah were with him, she would urge him forward with a phrase like "where's your sense of adventure?" And he would have to explain to her that he really didn't want to die following a "ghost-ball" into an antique elevator.

But, if he didn't, he might not ever get back to her anyway. So Jamie sighed and instead of turning and walking back down the hall as he had been about to do, he entered the lift. The gates squealed shut and he heard the machine power up. "This is against all my better judgement," he declared as the elevator began its ascent.

Author's Note: If things felt a little confusing with the descriptions of all the hallways, it was slightly intentional. Jamie keeps getting further and further into these halls not knowing where he's going and I tried to give a little of that for the reader as well; disorientation. You may have noticed at the beginning Jamie tries to reason which way is most probable to get him out but by the end he basically just goes wherever he can.

Please leave me a comment/review! I have so few for this story and I want to know what I'm doing right and what I can do better on! I hope you're enjoying this so far and I hope too that you notice the similarities between this and the movie as well! ;)