Chapter 30: Guardians of the Mansion
It hadn't taken too long for the girls to find their way out through the dark tunnel and back outside, walking silently towards a rocky path, their nostrils filled with the smell of fire and smoke down below the lava pools. Grace coughed briefly when accidentally inhaling some of the smoke, but continued to move on. They could not waste another second and be held back by any small complaints, not when they were finally about to reach their final destination and face the greatest of all challenges, tougher than the last ones they faced together. Her eyes widened as she and her friends moved along a path towards a large clearing. The sky was now dark red, covered in clouds as black as the night. Several yards of thorny bramble were now present, the closer the girls got; some even moving on their own like snakes in the grass.
According to the map, they were now traveling in the central domain of where Grimshaw Manor awaits to claim its next victims, and be described by other living mortals as a hellish underworld. Hidden from view beyond a wall of treacherous mountains and boiling lava lakes. Such a place would convince even the bravest of souls that they are better off never venturing there, not even out of curiosity. But it was the final level of the game where the girls had no choice but to take part in and face whatever form the final boss would take if they were to get back home before the midnight hour. Entering this domain right at the start of the games would have been extremely suicidal if they did not get their weapons upgraded nor had the dashing ability, let alone pass through the grounds. After all, the toughest and scariest of all things was always saved for last.
"Pay no attention to the vines dear Grace," Mrs. Calloway cautioned, "We're all in this together and we must stand strong, even if we're afraid."
"Listen to Calloway Grace," Maggie agreed, "I'm as scared as the both of you, having the feeling that whatever is up ahead will likely know we are coming. We don't know what's going to happen when we get there, but I do know we're getting out of here and going home." She skipped over a few thorny vines to avoid tripping over them. "And remember to watch your step."
Grace could only nod silently, not having anything to say at this time. Their time in this world was coming to an end, or at least after facing the greatest threat that's likely been foretold by several others in the last levels. Suppose facing what was in the mansion meant fighting to the death, which meant even if they do win and set the lost souls free, what if that meant joining them in the afterlife and never seeing Patch of Heaven again? A tear fell down her face thinking about this.
Her fearful thoughts were thrown aside, trailing close behind her friends, heading south along a road that ran between a long stretch of dense woods and a rocky cliff overlooking the sea of lava. At times the narrow road veered dangerously close to the edge of the cliff and the fiery abyss below. So now they really had to watch their step at this part and not look down.
After another mile or so, the road turned inland and the woods thinned to sparse patches of twisted trees and wild brush. By then the closer they got, a distant shadow began to emerge from the surrounding cover of barren trees and tangled vines, their eyes staring up at Grimshaw Manor.
While the mansion grounds were surrounded by mountains and lava down below, a tall wrought iron fence surrounded the entire property and withered vines twisted in and out of the black gates, wrapping themselves around the rails and posts, blocking the view of the grim structure from the main road, completely isolating it from the map of this world. The mansion loomed in the distance beyond the black gates, perched high on a hill overlooking a wide stretch of the massive pumpkin graveyard from the inside, possibly hiding all sorts of traps and abominations, and judging by the evil grins carved into the pumpkins with a candlelight that never went out.
The girls stood speechless, staring at the nightmarish vision before them. Standing no more than three to four stories tall, the mansion was similar to a fortress, a magnificent and macabre relic from the past, ravished by time, tragedy, and the size of a mountain, filled with unimaginable horrors. Massive turrets towered upwards into the red sky, the tallest being above the entrance doors like a pointed crown of evil. The stone and bricks were darkened nearly too black, casting a sinister taint over the ornate details of the elaborate masonry. Gothic columns framed the main entrance and supported a stone balcony surrounded by a parapet reminiscent of a medieval castle. Five pointed dormers crowned the mansion's heights and the peaks of each roof were topped with antique lightning rods that ended in tall iron spikes. Narrow stain glass windows lined the edifice at sparse intervals, visible on the highest point of the mansion, hiding away what was inside. The twisted trees and vines that clung to the gates of the mansion added a final accent to the sense of menace and foreboding gloom.
Whatever time passed for the girls to stand there mesmerized by Grimshaw Manor's macabre hypnotic hold, the loud echo of a clank roused them out of their trance. Startled so suddenly, their eyes widened to see Gold Tooth Willie standing behind the wrought iron gates inside the mansion. And he appeared rather furious at seeing the girls still alive and having made it this far to the final level that he did not expect them to do anytime.
"Blast you meddlesome heifers!" Willie grumbled, gripping the bars of the gate. "Don't you have any idea how long it took me to make one challenge harder than the other? Three decades that's what!"
Maggie appeared rather unmoved by his outburst, and for some reason seemed impressed by the fact that he was not happy with their success.
"Jealous much, Ghoul Boy?" Maggie responded, still unmoved and with no fear at his presence, not even when he gave a glare that now made her two friends shiver under his steely gaze.
"You think you're so mighty clever and fearless by now to overcome the greatest challenge that lies ahead beyond these gates?" Willie stated, as he hit the bars with his rifle, causing a loud metallic noise to echo throughout the large space. "Why don't you get it through your thick cattle skulls that you'll never have what it takes to face your darkest nightmares that lie within the Grimshaw Manor where the spirits of the dead find no release from their eternal suffering, all thanks to the curse that prevents all who died there from ever leaving."
"That's quite a story there Ghoul Boy," Maggie said sarcastically, stepping a few feet close to the iron gates. "Have you read any good literature on the subject lately?"
"No, I'm statin' them facts o' the Grimshaw family bloodline," Willie sneered impatiently through gritted teeth, instantly reaching his right hand forward to grab a good firm handful of Maggie's fat (like a shirt) and strongly haul her close up to his eye level as if he possessed the strength of ten strong men. "And don't be thinkin' you're in any position to make a mockery o' me, not as long as I have the power to do as I please. Even if it meant going back on our deal to let you go free. Do not make me regret sparing your life any further than I do at this rate." He warned, the threat crystal clear as he tossed Maggie backwards, causing her to slip and fall before her friends went to check on her. He waited for Maggie to get back up so he could continue with where he left off. "Stories, myths, and legends of haunted houses abound throughout our world, but few can boast and talk of Grimshaw Manor, the most infamous of all with a dark and tragic history of darkness and blood." His expression turned fearful enough to make the girls shudder and cringe in fright.
"The legend of Grimshaw Manor dates back to the early days when them red skin skinned natives still roamed most o' the Americas. Often referred to as the land where shadows dwell, and knew when to stay far away from the impurity that lurked on those grounds, surrounded by the forests. It is also believed that the region became settled by citizens wrongfully accused of crimes and ghastly deeds they did not commit, or so they say. What happened soon afterward is the land becoming a haven for the practitioners that dove into the art of witchcraft and sorcery, conducting spells o' black magic to conjure up spirits from the world o' shadows and do their bidding. Which now takes us to a man named Gilbert Grimshaw who once lived off the coast, miles from Salem, Massachusetts.
"Long ago, the mansion ya'll see before yah was built by Gilbert Grimshaw for his lovely wife Rosetta during the start o' the 19th century after their wedding, constructed into four stories and 40 rooms, which took four years to complete. But little did anyone in the family know that a series of tragedies and deaths would take place within the next 50 years, haunting any foolish mortal who would dare to call the mansion their home. Several workers were crushed to death during its construction caused by falling bricks from a hoist and not one o' them found out why it happened. Coincidence or evil forces? Nobody knows. And that's not all. In 1850, the last remaining bloodline of the Grimshaw family, Alistair Grimshaw, his wife Sierra, his son Amos, and daughter Bettina vanished without a trace with no evidence of foul play to determine if they had moved away and left everything behind…or if they were spirited away by the evil that some say lurks below the mansion to this very day." He finished with an evil chuckle that should've made the girls shudder, but somehow they resisted, yet stood frozen stiff.
Grace couldn't help, but swallow hard, and then she asked. "So what did happen to them?"
Willie continued, "After the Grimshaw family disappeared, the mansion was abandoned and left to fall into disrepair. Since then, nobody dared to step foot on that property in fear of the rumored hauntings and ghostly sightings where folks claim to sight a ghostly figure known as the Black Phantom floating passed the entrance gates, believed to be the tortured spirit of Alistair attempting to chase away trespassers and stop them from entering. Throughout the years, numerous reports began to surface in regards to the abandoned mansion, such as strange lights and inhumane sounds coming from inside, horrifying enough to keep folks away from finding out what happened to the family that lived there. Aside from the Black Phantom, folks also claim to have witnessed the ghost of a Lady in Red wandering around the manor grounds and halls, resembling Sierra Grimshaw. Only by the midnight hour can her spirit be seen. And when she passes, the sweet smell of lavender oil dwells in the air, letting us know she is coming. So whether you was wise or just plain foolish to trespass and enter that house of fear, don't ever count on coming outta there…alive."
"Ok, so what are we supposed to do?" Maggie asked, stomping her foot impatiently, still trying to hide the fear in her, hoping Willie didn't notice. Not that she cared; she just wanted to get this going. "Is there more to the legend, or is that the end of it?
"There is more to it my dear bovine babe," said Willie, his voice full of malice. "But I sure ain't gonna tell ya'll the rest of it. You're gonna have to find it all out for yourself. However, I'll give yah one final clue to the whereabouts of the last treasure." He let go of the bars and began marching around, flinging the rifle over his shoulder like a military guard and began. "Beneath the mansion lies the chamber o' dark secrets where you'll find a ruby amulet around the neck of a stone gargoyle. To leave this place, you must solve the mystery of the true evil from beyond and face the nightmare where it awaits your arrival."
"Well then if you're finished, would you mind letting us through so we can get it over with?" Maggie insisted, not wanting to hear more about the Grimshaw curse from Willie and would rather find out for herself. "We won't be able to start if you keep on yapping."
"My pleasure ladies," Willie sneered, vanishing out of sight.
By then the girls had hoped to see the gates of the mansion open for them, but instead they heard low rumbled growling that sounded like it was coming from a pack of wild dogs or something, echoing throughout the valley.
"What was that?" Grace panicked, staying close to her friends who were scared into a trembling frenzy.
Maggie looked up at the entrance gate where she and the other two forgot about the twin bronze statues of fearful looking wolfhounds sat perched atop tall stone posts on either side of the gateway, guarding the manor house from unwanted guests. Before then the girls were so focused on getting inside that mansion that they never took notice of those horrible creatures glaring down with lifeless eyes.
Uh oh, I just plum forgot to warn you heifers about the Guardians of the Mansion now, didn't I? The voice of Willie cackled somewhere in midair. You appear to be trespassers on their property and they don't seem to like that. Looks like there is more to the Grimshaw curse than you ought to know. Find a way to outsmart them and you shall pass.
"You dirty rotten foul smelling ghoul!" Maggie snapped angrily, shouting to wherever Willie might have been. "Now you've grinded my gears for the last time."
The girls backed away as they watched the stone guardians jump off from their perch to circle their victims as real wolves do during a hunt in the woods. The silence was thick when one of them dared to make a sudden move…then disappeared.
"What, where did it go?" Calloway grunted at first, but seeing the other still there, she gave a last minute thought to charge and head-butt it into the iron gates, hoping that would cause some damage. Only to her surprise, the wolfhound vanished and she ended up with a painful, bruised shoulder. "Ugh, how do we stop these monsters?"
The dynamite girls. Miriam answered her. See how their bodies are covered in cracks? Try to shove the dynamite down their throats as they lunge right at you.
"Why won't these stone canines stay still?" Maggie grumbled in confusion, trying to jump on one that disappeared. "It's driving me to a breaking point!"
"Use the dynamite Maggie!" Calloway called, dodging an oncoming attack from the other twin wolf. "Their bodies are rusted!"
"Rusted? How can they be rusted when they appear brand new?"
"Just do it before we all die!"
Maggie felt a chill up her spine when something was upon her, tackling her to the ground, scrambling to dodge the bites and snarls before finally throwing the monstrous mongrel against the iron gates, even coming to Grace's aid when the other wolfhound was about to go for her neck, charging it against the side. It was finally clear that a straight out fight with these canines would mean certain death.
"Ok that does it, now you canine mongrels are about to get a taste of your own medicine!" Maggie snapped, wasting no time to seize a stick of dynamite from their inventory and time out her movement when the first guardian lunged at her, revealing its jaws wide open, shoving the lit dynamite inside. "You are one bad dog I'll give you that!" The girls watched as the guardian had a look of confusion and realized too late what was in its mouth, leaving the three to suddenly duck down somewhere as the fuse shrunk quickly and the guardian's head exploded in a flash of rubble, like a cave explosion, rocks spilling across the ground. The girls shielded themselves as the explosion happened and saw the headless canine statue collapse onto the ground and break into a million pieces.
It was now one down, leaving one more to go. But rather than step down, the second guardian was now furious and let out a snarl and kicked up its pace to a more dangerous pace. Now the girls had to watch their step, never knowing what this mongrel was capable of doing in such a fury.
"Look buddy boy, why don't you just sit down and have a biscuit if you're so tensed up?" Maggie taunted, pulling out another stick of dynamite. "Come to think of it, I got something much better than a biscuit! Come and get it!"
The second guardian lunged out at her, taking the bait of having the dynamite shoved into its throat, unable to cough it out in time before it met the same fate as the first guardian, its head blown off its body, falling over into a million pieces like the other one. After that, their stone bodies somehow disappeared and suddenly reappeared back on the stone pillars where they had first jumped off from, as if accepting defeat and turning back into bronze statues. A strange light zapped the ground, in which three unfamiliar potion bottles appeared to the girls.
Wait, I know what those vials are for. Miriam specified. The curse of Grimshaw Manor bears a wicked enchantment to sedate the mind and destroy the will if you step inside without some kind of spiritual protection, preventing victims from knowing their fate. These elixirs will give you the power to resist the effects and protect your minds from falling into a state of madness. Believe me when I say you do not want to fall under such an evil spell.
AN: Another update as I had promised, and now that the girls heard the backstory to the legendary haunted mansion to see if any part of it would give them a clue to who and what is behind the curse that dwells onto the property, there are other details that Willie left out himself, either wanting the girls to figure it out for themselves or he doesn't want them finding out about the rest of his origins and the other side of the Grimshaw curse. What could it be? You'll find out in the next chapter or two.