Chapter 33: The Forbidden Crypt
"Wait…wait a minute, come again?!" Maggie couldn't believe her ears.
In fact, the girls stared at Madame Zora in shock. The same red amulet that Willie had been carrying around his neck the whole time since the start of the game was exactly what the Monarch Butterfly had been talking about. But he never mentioned where the demon came from, and are now hearing it from Madame Zora. The girls were at a loss for words.
"I sold the amulet to Willie," Madame Zora repeated. "But that's not the end of the story. Let me finish before I send you out of here."
The girls were silent.
"Thank you. As I was saying, I knew the son of Gilbert Grimshaw before as I too was a member of the servant household, hired to communicate with the spirits that have been causing disturbances to the estate. That was when I felt an evil presence coming from the library as Henrietta pointed this out, defying Alistair's demands to stay out of there. It was there that I discovered the forbidden door, but could look no further once Alistair caught me sneaking around and demanded that I leave the mansion and never come back. I tried to warn him of not going any further to the point of no return, but he didn't heed my warnings. But I did not stay away forever, not when Henrietta called me back, begging that I help find a way to put a stop to whatever is down there. Although I had managed to trap the demon, there was nothing I could do for Alistair and his family, except to take the amulet far away on my gypsy wagon of mystical supplies where my plan was to lock it away in a chest and have the sailors toss it away into the deepest depths of the ocean, not wanting to take chances if the entrapment spell was not fully complete, which would have meant it needed a human host to carry out its evil will.
"My fears came true the day my traveling wagon came across Willie who had used his bullets to shatter and break the wheels and made me almost break an ankle when I fell out. It was another of his robberies to take what he found most valuable. I was too sore from the fall to stop him from taking the same chest that contained the amulet, after he dropped a bag of money by my side, thanking me for the sale. I could do nothing as I helplessly watched Willie ride away out of reach, leaving me to fend for myself in gathering what was left of the wagon and getting on the horse.
"Then I had a vision, a warning of impending doom to come, turning around to ride on back to the Grimshaw Estate, taking me more than a week to get back there. But by the time I got back, it was too late. My psychic senses told me that a curse had been placed upon the estate during my absence, with everyone inside having been killed, their lifeless bodies littered about the floor in every room. I searched for any survivors, but there was nobody left according to my senses. Somehow or other, they had all died. As I stood in the ballroom of corpses, I could hear voices, foul voices from another world, taunting me, threatening and driving me mad. I could hear things move throughout the corridor over the ever growling volume of the grandfather clock. I screamed for it to stop…which it did. But when I opened my eyes, there was a letter by my feet, written in red ink. Whoever left it there for me, I picked it up and it read:
Woe to those that enter and dwell within the legendary Grimshaw Manor, for once you enter and have met your demise, you can find no rest and shall be cursed for all eternity with no hope of release.
It has only been twenty years since my father vanished; only now I fear that he has become a host to an unholy demon, conjured forth into our world. It is a great evil whose hungers cannot be quenched. It is too late to undo what has already been done, and I may be the next to die, for I now confess my sins to have brought a curse upon our household.
May the Lord forgive me for what I had unleashed. But no amount of prayer can save us now. Heed this warning if you value your life and soul, leave now and never return. For the Grimshaw curse is no laughing matter. To die here now would mean an eternity of endless suffering and pain. Leave now!
"It was signed Alistair Grimshaw…only it hardly looked like his own handwriting. Seconds later, after I had finished reading the letter to analyze, the doors to the ballroom entrance burst open, and standing there was Gold Tooth Willie, with an evil smirk on his face the same as an evil overlord, wearing the amulet around his neck. The demon had already attached itself to a host in carrying out its evil deeds. It mocked my attempts to rid the estate of the curse, going on about how it has returned to claim new souls and nothing can stop it. It had now come for me, expecting my return and there was no escape for me at that point, as I let him take me."
Madame Zora had now finished the rest of the macabre tale and sighed when the vision faded in the crystal ball. She looked at the girls who were silent this whole time, trembling as they assessed the grim situation they were in.
"So now you see and understand the dark legend of Grimshaw Manor," the gypsy woman said with woe. "Master Gilbert is now the dark entity that has corrupted the memories of many ghosts that died here and turning others into evil spirits to do his bidding, with Willie as the next host. Phantom Gulch was never meant for the world of man to tread upon, and now we are imprisoned inside as ghosts of our former selves. But with you three as the very few that ever made it this far, our hope may lie in you to help defeat Willie and break the curse upon us once and for all."
Maggie's voice trembled. "So if what you say is true about the house and that amulet Willie holds, that means we're now victims of the curse and we are trapped like rats in a cage with no escape. It's a trap and we fell right into it. We'll all die here and it's all my fault."
Maggie, now terrified beyond all belief, dropped whatever item she was holding, tears welled up in her eyes. Her body shook like there was no tomorrow, staring up where Madame Zora was still sitting there, with more than a hundred ghosts appearing behind, which she had guessed to be rest of the household that used to live here. Her guilt now controlled her mind and body.
"It was my recklessness from above that got us here," she whimpered, trying to hold back any further tears. She remained silent, simply sobbing away until she felt two familiar hooves on her shoulders. It was Grace and Calloway.
"Maggie?" Grace asked, seeing Maggie look up at her with saddened, regretful eyes. "We know you didn't mean for this to happen. Nobody here did. It was an accident."
"I never should have touched that headstone," said Maggie. "We should have just gone home, but my pride got the better of me." She hammered the floor in rage. "How could I have been so stupid?
And with that, Maggie threw herself on the floor, covering her face so nobody could see her tears. Her two friends allowed her to let it out, feeling it might make things worse if they acted insensitive by demanding she stop. Even the rest of the remaining friendly ghosts were just as patient, allowing Maggie to weep from the bad feelings she had been holding in for so long in a struggle to stay strong. After some time, Maggie eventually unhinged herself from her friends and wiped her eyes.
"Oh dear me, I don't recall a moment where I cried like this the last time," said Maggie. "If I stay like this, the game is over before we finish." She sniffed heavily and picked herself up, catching her breath. "Thanks everyone." She looked at her friends.
Madame Zora spoke up. "I'm afraid you're right, dear. There is no more time for despair and self-pity, not any longer. That is what the demon of Grimshaw Manor feeds off of, the same with anger, fear, agony, and suffering. And that is how else we're still trapped here. It feeds off our endless suffering, which is why we need your help. If you and your friends have already seen that the thing you're up against can bring inanimate objects to life, then it has the ability to control the dead and manipulate them like puppets. Its powers have sealed the opening portals of this world, preventing us from leaving. And I'm relieved that you didn't stay any longer in the grand ballroom, for the ghosts that died have lost their memories and are cursed to dance and party forever. But do not fret; you three are stronger than you know when working together. Light, love, and hope are its weakness, more powerful than darkness itself. You must believe in the light and it will push the darkness away."
"But how do we make that work?" Grace asked, confused in what the gypsy woman said, yet saw how she stood up firmly and signaled for Theodore to come forward and hand over the lantern, setting it down in front of the crystal ball.
"This is a lantern from my collection," She showed them. "It harnesses the power of light which can vanquish evil and will grow more powerful by the light from your heart, as long as you don't lose hope and give into despair. So keep it with you on your way to the library as it will force the bad spirits into hiding. And when that happens, their corruption will weaken and perhaps restore them to who they were before, powering up the lantern and break the barrier of the secret chamber. Even if you don't understand completely, you will at the right time." She turned to all the spirits behind her. "Everyone, gather around and lend me your powers."
The girls watched as the ghosts suddenly transformed into tiny orbs of bright light and merged altogether into the lantern, including Madame Zora, her voice still present.
"Now hurry girls, our spirits will now guide you throughout the mansion. Just follow my voice and whatever happens, stay together."
"Then let's go bring this thing down on its knees," Maggie said, her confidence and courage returning. "I'm through running. It's time to take a stand."
"We'll show Willie that we're not afraid of him," Mrs. Calloway agreed.
"Wait for me!" Grace called, chasing after her friends who were following a new path out the séance room. They were now more determined than ever to put an end to this curse and save the lost souls, and themselves.
The girls stood back out in the corridor of portraits in silence, with the lantern held by Maggie's tail, having gathered the greatest allies within that would be with them in their final confrontation to face the nightmare of Grimshaw Manor. Madame Zora mentioned something about their greatest weapon being light, love, and hope, even if they didn't completely understand how that would help. But they would know eventually.
Before Maggie could ask the spirits inside the lantern which way to go, an eerie melody broke the deathly silence, like the faint chimes of a music box echoing from a distant part of the mansion, unsure which hallway to take.
"Follow the music down to the south corridor," Madame Zora instructed quietly. "Take the stairs over there."
The girls obeyed, and made their way down the stairs and followed the hypnotic melody as it led them through a tall archway and past another hallway of eerie portraits of children, stopping before an ornate oval frame that revealed the portrait of a family gathered, cast in shades of sepia, with the man wearing black and the woman dressed in red garments, holding onto a little boy and girl. An inscribed plaque below read "Alistair, son of Gilbert".
"I don't believe that Alistair and his family are gone for good," Madame Zora whispered, "If they were, I wouldn't be able to feel their spiritual energy, trapped like the rest of us within the mansion walls. Unless I'm mistaken, defeating the beast might set them free along with the others."
With each step the girls took, the chimes seemed to be slowing, as if the music box were winding down. As silently as possible, they approached a door near the far end of the hall. The eerie melody, which had slowed to a crawl, seemed to be coming from inside the room. Grace remembered the key they found in the room with that evil doll and inserted it into the keyhole, hearing it unlock and push open the door. When that happened, the music stopped.
They stood in the doorway of a magnificent private library, awestruck and spellbound within the deathly hush. Tall bookcases were built into the oak-paneled walls and lavish works of art were displayed prominently throughout the chamber, well organized. Heavy drapes covered the windows, filtering the violent lightning flashes to a subdued flicker. It all seemed like a grand showroom for a museum than your average everyday library. Cobwebs clung to the monstrous faces of winged gargoyles from gothic sconces set into the four corners of the room, twisted into ferocious snarls as if guarding over the library's secrets from uninvited guests. A majestic grandfather clock stood behind a veil of cobwebs in an arched alcove to their left. It was designed with anthropomorphized detailing; it's upper half like a fanged, demonic face, its gold pendulum in the shape of a devil's tail, and its legs looking like animal claws. Its face glowed green, and it's crooked hands moving past the number 13? How could there be 13 numbers when there was only 12 hours on every clock they have seen?
A large globe of the world was supported on a pedestal beside an antique desk, piled high with books. Medieval broadswords, axes, and poles were displayed on the dark paneled wall behind the desk, forming an intimidating backdrop. And near the center of the room, a leather sofa and matching chairs were arranged around a small table in front of a stone fireplace. A tall portrait from above depicted what the girls recognized to be the same elderly man that they had viewed in Madame Zora's crystal ball. It was the ominous portrait of Gilbert Grimshaw; the man who helped start the curse upon the estate and became the demon himself. His evil, cold, calculating eyes seemed to watch their every move as they moved around in the chamber.
The shelves were filled with a treasury of rare books and strange artifacts from various cultures around the world. Objects from Africa, Asia, Egypt, Greece, and the Celtic Isles lined the surrounding walls beside ancient statues of gods and goddesses.
"I don't get it," said Grace, breaking the silence. "If there was music playing in here, why don't we still hear it?"
"Maybe the music box is around where we can't see it," Maggie guessed, and looked at the lantern where Madame Zora's face appeared. "Do you know anything about it?"
"Yes, Sierra Grimshaw gave a golden jewelry box for her two children, playing music that helped them to go to sleep every night," Madame Zora explained. "Only the tune was much softer and heavenly before everything changed. Now it's become as eerie and melancholy as the darkness that surrounds the mansion. Her spirit must have turned the key to lead us here."
"Could this be the one?" Mrs. Calloway pointed out, studying a golden jewelry box sitting on a small table, untouched by cobwebs. "It looks like someone opened the lid before we got in here."
The other two came by to examine the object for a closer look. They discovered a small key protruding from the base. And without predicting it, the key started to twist around several times by itself until it stopped and the eerie melody started to play once more, causing the girls to back away in alarm, fearful that an unseen presence knows they are in here and would try to stop them.
"Do not be alarmed ladies," Madame Zora assured. "The music plays every now and then in the library, which is why I wanted you to follow it. Now let's find that secret entrance. One of the bookcases must be hiding it somewhere."
The girls turned their attention back to investigating the library, searching the numerous shelves and drawers if this secret chamber needed a key to be opened, and other clues they might need to know. More than once, Mrs. Calloway seemed lost in a distant reverie as she examined several of the books and various other mystical wonders the library held, that she set her eyes on the first time. The shelf she had found was lined with aged tomes of dedicated to a variety of esoteric topics. The titles revealed secret societies, alchemy, black magic, witchcraft, talismans, charms, sorcery, necromancy, voodoo, astrology, thaumaturgy, and ancient relics of magic and wonder were but a few of the titles among the hundreds of arcane books that filled the tall shelf.
"This Gilbert Grimshaw was quite the insane lunatic to have this many evil books on the forbidden arts," she muttered. "But where is that chamber door?" Then her eyes came to rest on an old black book in the midst of the case. It was inscribed with faded gold letters that read The Key to the Forbidden Chamber. "Is that a real book?" She used her hoof to touch the top of the book and see what happens if she tried pulling it out. And when she did, the book fell on the floor with a hard thud, and opened up to spit out an old skeleton key. "I found the key." She said in triumph.
Before Mrs. Calloway could respond any further, this discovery was interrupted by Grace screaming and falling backwards from the draped windows, calling for her friends. Her voice sounded muffled, but it carried a sense of urgency. Maggie and Calloway quickly stopped what they were doing and rushed over to her. She was all dazed and shaken, as if witnessing something that made her question her own sanity.
"Grace, what happened?" Calloway asked. "What did you see?"
"I saw her, the Lady in Red!" Grace blurted out, her voice trembling in fear. "Just like Willie described her. I was looking for the secret door, but then looked out the window where the fog started rolling through the pumpkins, moving across the grounds, and this figure started appearing, like a woman draped in red that blew from the breeze and then vanished for some time. I only looked away for one moment, hoping it was just my imagination. Yet when I slowly turned back to face the window just to be sure of it, she was right there again, closer than ever, staring down at me through the glass with those soulless black eyes on her pale face only a few inches from mine! It had to be Sierra Grimshaw!"
The girls turned over to the window where Grace claimed to have seen the phantom specter, but there was no ghost lady in red to be seen. Maggie went over to peer out into the misty night.
"I don't see anything now," she assured. "But I know that this means we're getting close to finding that chamber. So where did you find that key Calloway?"
"Right over there you two," Calloway pointed to the central bookcase. "It was inside a book, so why don't we try to move it aside and see what's behind it?"
"Come on Grace, pull yourself together," Maggie helped Grace to stand up. "We can't do this without your help."
After taking a second to compose herself, Grace was able to rise from the ground and move over to the bookshelf. Inspecting the edges, Calloway pulled from one side while Maggie pushed from the other until the entire bookshelf creaked away from the wall, finally revealing the secret doorway hidden behind it. The concealed door was made entirely of bronze and a strange insignia adorned its tarnished center like any secret chamber within a dark fortress. The emblem showed a shield with four crossed swords, surrounded by an inscription of a different language only Madame Zora recognized. Scanning the engraved crest, there was a narrow slit in the center, revealed to be the keyhole.
"That's the door," Madame Zora muttered. "Just like I remember it the first time. That is where the troubles started the day I trapped the demon in the amulet. Now it's time to put an end to this nightmare. So remember what I told you about the demon's weakness. He still controls Alistair, Sierra, and all the other remaining spirits that have been corrupted. That is why your friend saw the Lady in Red. It's trying to stop us. But you can't let that happen."
The girls nodded, staring at the foreboding doorway as Calloway picked up the skeleton key and carefully inserted it into the keyhole in a slow and cautious manner. There was no telling what legion of hellish demons lied in wait just beyond its sealed threshold, biding their time to await the arrival of new souls that dared to enter the crypt. The sound of clicking occurred, and with the groan of rusted hinges, the bronze barrier swung open to reveal a narrow stone staircase leading into thick, subterranean shadows.
The girls bravely took a step forward, but Madame Zora stopped them.
"Hold on ladies," She said. "I feel another presence deep in there. Keep the lantern in front if it should be another of the demon's tricks."
Maggie lead the way, holding the lantern above with her tail as the other two followed her into the dismal chambers deep below Grimshaw Manor. The sour scent of dust and mildew filled the air as they descended deeper down the stairs, like entering the belly of the beast. They emerged in a large circular vault that had been quarried from the bedrock far beneath the mansion, coughing heavily at the cold, stale, stagnant air and despite seeing no signs of life, none of them could escape the disturbing feeling that they were not alone down here. The walls and ceilings were stained with red paint that looked more like blood and many twigs and vines protrude out of the walls and breathing as if they were in a deep sleep.
"Well where is this wretched beast anyways?" asked Maggie, looking around in disgust at the macabre mementos of unholy rites which filled the hidden sanctum, remembering what Madame Zora said in where the Dark Knights held their secret meetings with Gilbert, long before passing on leadership to Alistair.
"It must be further ahead," said Calloway, looking around the chamber for any sign of a potential ambush of ghouls and evil spirits.
"You three are making progress," Madame Zora whispered proudly. "Not backing down or letting your fears control you."
"Just as you say Madame Zora, our love for our friends and family kept us going," replied Grace, genuinely smiling as memories of everyone back on Patch of Heaven flooded back into her mind. "Every memory and moment we had together had been the best times of our lives."
"Well you just are sure to keep those memories alive as a reminder to what you're fighting for when we get to our final destination," said Madame Zora. "And don't let Willie take that away from you."
"Oh you can bet that Willie is definitely going down before he knows it," said Maggie, determined and courageous than ever. "Him…and the beast called Gilbert."
Now heading up a staircase and down a hallway, the girls came to a bridge crossing to another circular vault, likely the spot where the Dark Knights practiced their forbidden, evil ceremonies. Stopping for a moment, the girls looked down the opposite side of the bridge, and stood horrified by an ongoing river of what looked like blood, guessing it to be from all the former victims of the sacrificial ceremonies.
A sacrificial altar adorned with runic symbols stood in the center of the chamber beside a pedestal supporting a massive tome, with the horned skull of a goat hung and displayed over the front of the ceremonial shrine and five black candles rested on the floor beside the altar. An antique table against the outer wall held several relics that rested undisturbed beneath a layer of cobwebs and dust, untouched by anything for ages. The girls stepped closer for good inspection of the concealed items, revealing stacks of crumbling scrolls, occult books, potion bottles, a row of mortuary urns, and an old wooden strongbox of several tarnished skeleton keys.
"So this is where the cult of lunatics held their wicked meetings," Maggie proclaimed, closing the strongbox and staring at the surrounding walls, inscribed with more of that unfamiliar language none of the girls could make out. Holding the lantern up higher, the light shone on the mildewed walls, revealing a dozen human skulls set into niches surrounding the midst of the chamber. "Did I say lunatics; I mean complete sick minded, whackos!"
Across the room, another passageway led deeper into the unexplored regions of the crypt and continued through another large hall, torches lighting the way, and up a spiral staircase. As the girls walked up the staircase, they were all deep in thought, regarding the journey they had been through. They were grateful to everyone that had helped them from the very beginning when all this had been new and felt hopeless, even rescuing the lost colored stones. All that had been inside the museum, farm valley, plant house, carnival, asylum, school grounds, the bug kingdom, the doll factory, the cemetery grounds, and especially here in the mansion. The first time, the lost souls had given up on being rescued, but the girls might have somehow renewed their hope to be released and finally rest in peace when they get out. And they never gave up on moving forward, no matter or scary or hopeless it all seemed. But they would despair no more.
Those who had threatened them had also given them encouragement and helped along the way, standing as obstacles for the girls to clear in order to overcome their fear and doubt. Some had lost their way and became corrupted in the worst ways, like the Ringmaster, Principal Ratchet, and Gilbert Grimshaw above it all, too late to be saved. Dr. Butcher and the Doll Maker were consumed and corrupted by their own madness and desires, willing to kill anyone who stood in their way. Anything that stayed loyal to the boss enemies and to Willie likely had no value to be concerned with and was beyond all help. And there were those that wanted the girls dead, like the Red Queen, the Harvester, the Giant Venus Flytrap, the Spider Queen, and the two headed dolls from the Doll Factory level. Every former gamer who had entered here and fallen had helped and played their part in the entire journey of this dangerous game, whether good or bad. And now there was only one part of the puzzle left to fill in order for the girls and the lost souls to be free. And all that stood between them and the final enemies were at the end of the tunnel, where an ornate doorway was adorned with the effigy of an evil man and other fiendish faces were sculpted into the sides of the entrance. The name "Grimshaw" was chiseled into the granite above the doorway, while the bottom of the doorframe held an inscription written in the same unfamiliar language. Beside the entrance was a golden fountain to mend their wounds.
When the girls couldn't make it out, Madam Zora translated it.
"Behold the gateway to darkness and beyond," She uttered in a quiet whisper. "That's what the words below mean. We have finally arrived at the entrance to the Grimshaw family crypt, where the final encounter awaits us."
The girls stared up and down at the doors, feeling very intimidated and very scared, imagining that the entrance were opening like the gaping maws of a ravenous beast.
"Are you frightened?" Madame Zora asked.
"Who wouldn't be scared of standing before the doors where something evil waits for us?" Maggie responded, feeling a chill run down her spine. "But I'm not going to run away."
"Neither am I," Calloway agreed. "We're in this together."
"Then I'll still be beside you two," Grace assented. "We've done all we can to help everyone else. And now we end it."
As the girls crept toward the entrance, strange echoes seemed to echo from somewhere within. But the worst was yet to come when the unnerving silence was broken by a distant sound, and an icy chill began to approach along with the unexplainable feeling of sorrow they felt. A haunting refrain echoed through the outer corridor, which the girls recognized as the same eerie melody that led them into the library. Only now it was coming their way, and a dark, manly voiced seemed to whisper their names which drove the girls to pound on the entrance door in a panic, trying to pry it open before the thing got any closer. An unearthly mist steadily creeped toward them, filling the entrance chamber with a pale green fog. Looking back, two dark figures were slowly advancing down the dark corridor, floating through the mist. As it drew closer, they could see that it was a woman, shrouded entirely in red, her black hair and gown flowing behind her like a trail of fire. Grace recognized this specter as the same woman that gave her a fright outside the library window.
"It's…her, the Lady in Red," she stuttered, shivering in horror at the sight.
But the Lady in Red did not come alone. Beside her on the right was a tall man dressed entirely in black, wearing a Victorian style top hat and coat, wavering like black smoke and his cloak tapered to shadows, and realized that this was the ghost of Alistair Grimshaw, the one who was whispering their names while the Lady in Red hummed that eerie melody.
"Help me push these doors open before they get to us!" Maggie screamed, fear taking hold of her heart while struggling to push the entrance doors open.
"It won't budge Maggie!" Grace responded in a panic. "And I don't see any keyhole anywhere on this thing."
"Hold on ladies, those two are not here to harm us!" Madame Zora revealed. "I believe they are here to help."
The girls were able to calm down a bit, but it didn't change the fact that the two apparitions were frightening enough to make them shiver. Alistair came closer and revealed his ghastly face, horrified at the sight of two gaping holes where his eyes should have been and raised his withered hands out in front, as if reaching out toward them. For the Lady in Red, the haunting chimes grew louder, and a ghostly, child-like voice joined in the melody, with the same recognizable sweet fragrance of lavender replacing the rancid smell of mildew as the two apparitions entered the entrance chamber. Her skin was deathly white and like Alistair, only two black holes were present where her eyes should have been, extending her hands in their direction.
"Move aside ladies, these two will open the doors for us," Madame Zora instructed. "You must trust me on this. Move away from the doors."
The girls did as they were told, moving against the wall reluctantly, yet still frightened by the approaching restless spirits, floating in the air as they watched the two place their hands on the stone doors, pushing them open. And then they vanished out of sight.
"Huh, we didn't even get to tell them 'thank you'," Maggie sighed with relief, thankful that those two were never intending to hurt them. "Maybe there is still good left in them."
"I told you to trust me, didn't I?" Madam Zora tested them. "I had almost forgotten that the entrance to the crypt could only be opened by the former master and mistress of the estate, as long as they are not under complete control of the demon."
"Is there any further advice we need to know before entering?" Grace asked fearfully, on edge from the ghostly encounter. "We might need to hear it."
"While a living mortal from above would take the advice to turn and run at the sight of this door," Madame Zora began. "You three are the most courageous ladies I ever met, and I mean it. Bravery doesn't define being fearless and foolish, it goes for learning to overcome your worst fears, even if you're still afraid. You suffered quite a lot on this journey, but the final challenge is about to put your bravery to the test," she continued. "Don't forget that there is worst to come when we step inside and face the final nightmare. You must win and never back down, no matter what happens. You are stronger than you know."
Gathering their remaining courage, the girls moved away from the walls and looked up towards the darkness beyond the open doors. Remembering everything they had gone through and suffered together, they took turns stepping into the golden fountain one at a time for some extra strength. Now they had crossed the threshold into the yawning tomb, assailed by the foul stench of death and decay, and froze instantly.
The surrounding walls were lined with sealed vaults bearing the graven names of those within, possibly of the ones that lived in the mansion before their death. Morbid faces of stone peered down from archways above each of the graves, adding to the atmosphere of foreboding and eternal darkness. If this was truly a crypt, it looked more like a dark throne room, judging by the flaming torches, some of which were lit on human skeleton heads, lining the walls, lighting the disturbing features of the room. Large horns like appendages were built in the wall, and decapitated skeleton heads were placed on tridents for grim decorating. Skeleton corpses of bats, rats, lizards, snakes, toads, and mice alike lay in corners of the room. Grace felt something slither over her right front hoof and looked down, seeing a black snake-like vine pass by from the open door to the and vanish into the darkness at the end of the throne room. This was like no crypt any of the girls had ever seen or heard about. A rather disturbing chandelier made from bones hung from the ceiling.
"So, ya'll have finally come at last," spoke Willie's grim voice from the darkness. He did not sound quite pleased. "I was afraid you'd never get this far."
"Oh cut the act Ghoul Boy!" Maggie shouted angrily. "Don't pretend that you're pleased to see us. We know all about you!" She raised the lantern to challenge Willie; further angered when they heard he let out an arrogant cackle.
"Foolish, cud-chewin' heifers!" he hissed. "Did yah honestly think any mere weapon is enough to make ya'll invincible? By now, we both know that deep down, you can never defeat me. I am immortal."
"We defeated every tough opponent you threw at us, and we know that we'll do the same to you!" snapped Maggie, taking a step further with her friends following. "You could have used all this time to challenge us sooner instead of hiding behind them like the undead coward you revealed yourself to be all along."
"Coward? Don't make me laugh. Did nobody ever mention it's against the rules for game masters to bring fourth the final challenge when the games begin?" asked Willie gleefully. "But if that's the way ya'll feel about it, prepare to meet your doom!"
A pair of dark curtains suddenly swung open, revealing three arched stained glass windows, bringing a murky light into the room. The girls felt their eyes widen as the darkness melted away, revealing the form not of Willie, but of Gilbert Grimshaw, sitting in a large malicious throne with a pair of curled horns built on the sides of it. The founder of the mansion was monstrous to look at, completely black in color, wearing a black cloaked hood, like the grim reaper, ripped and shredded. His legs were completely covered, his clawed hands squeezing through the sleeves of his cloak. His face was almost featureless, save for two red eyes and a mouthful of jagged teeth. His unnatural white hair was pointed upwards, shaped like a tidal wave. If he even had any skin on him, it was a rotting green. Around his neck was a gold medallion with a shining ruby in the center.
The girls lost their composure and started to cough and hack constantly in disgust. The grim form of Gilbert watched them in interest. Catching their breath, Maggie was the first to get back up and further approach the abomination, looking disgusted at his appearance.
"You haven't seen a ghoul dressed in a cowboy suit come by haven't you?" She said sarcastically.
"So you're the ones who've been causing all this trouble," Gilbert responded, ignoring her question. "Now that you've stepped foot in my mansion, I shall have to crush you before I take your souls."
"If you want us, come and get us," Maggie challenged. "We will never be a part of your collection."
"Then prepare to die!" Gilbert roared demonically, and he suddenly sprang off the throne and levitated in midair.
"I did not see this coming," Grace cried out in alarm before she and her friends raced behind a nearby pillar as Gilbert hurled a shower of daggers out of thin air. Most clattered to the floor and smashed against the pillars.
Maggie timed her preparation, bringing out the Staff of Light to finally see if it will work, leaping out from behind the pillar and pointed it at the monster's face when the beam hit him between the eyes. Gilbert shrieked like a banshee and nearly fell from his position in the air. Maggie moved in for another clear shot, hoping it would work better the second time, but without warning, she was suddenly flung off her feet by an unseen force and slammed hard into the right-side wall of the room. She tumbled to the floor in great pain as her friends rushed to her aid with Calloway handing her a health bottle, seeing as how she ended up with bruises on the side of her ribcage and part of her hide had been scratched.
"Nobody does that to my family," Mrs. Calloway said furiously, hauling herself to her feet as she attempted to use the Staff of Light against Gilbert.
Only when she glared at the abomination for a second, she was the next to go flying off her feet, across the room, and slamming into the other wall, back first.
"Maggie, Mrs. Calloway!" Grace screamed in terror, still holding onto the lantern, unsure what to do against that monster. Or the fact that she was the next to fly across the room and slam hard into a pillar.
Grace gasped in agony, unable to scream or shout, but instead spat out a bit of blood on the floor. She had collapsed onto the floor, still holding onto the lantern. Glaring up at the demonic form of Gilbert, she saw him smile deviously and cock his head slightly.
"How could you do all this?" She asked, getting up, but wobbling unsteadily. "What did those lost souls ever do to you?"
"You still know nothing of the worlds from beyond!" He responded. "Who needs a simple, mortal lifestyle when power and control are the key to cheating death? It was only after I found the perfect host to carry out the rest of my deeds, to continue where I left off. He strongly desired a realm of games where it becomes the real thing. So I gave it to him, and found new ways to quench my hunger. Fear and misery is a best dish served when it's fresh."
"That is beyond sick and disgusting, even for you!" Mrs. Calloway hissed, rolling on her stomach.
"Yeah, is that why you ate all your daughter's boyfriends?" Maggie shouted, still on the floor in pain.
"Their interference and presence would have led to the discovery of my cult leadership once they started snooping around the library without me knowing," Gilbert argued. "And they would have stolen what rightfully belongs to me."
"Children are not possessions!" Grace cried out, nearly infuriated at the wickedness of the demon. "You don't own anybody!"
"Wrong my dear, everything in this mansion and this world is mine," Gilbert argued back. "It seems you can't accept that you stand no chance against me!"
"We may not have the same powers as you do, but we will never cower before you!" shouted Maggie, now fed up with Gilbert's attempted mind tricks and grabbed hold of the Staff of Light and aimed the beam at his face, chest, and stomach.
The demonic Gilbert screamed, falling to the ground. The girls immediately recovered off the ground where they had fallen before and rushed over altogether to jump on Gilbert, losing control and wrestling with him while he was defenseless. Yet the one who was nearly losing it had been Maggie, screaming like a lunatic and punching Gilbert severely, countless times in the gut.
"Coward, coward, coward, coward, coward!" She roared with rage.
Gilbert used his telepathic power to hurl the girls off of him and across the room, the lantern rolling out of their grasp. They watched wearily as their nemesis slowly rose up, breathing heavily. Gilbert roared in agony and flew through the air, and in his hands, he formed a raging ball of fire, eyes enraged.
"Give me your souls!" he shrieked.
But Maggie recognized this move that the earlier enemies had used before. The time had come. She encouraged her friends to dodge quickly when the first ball of fire came, rolling for the lantern altogether, clutching onto the handle. And out from the lantern shot an energy beam at Gilbert, who did not have time to react as the blast blew apart a chunk of his body, obliterating the lower half, and both his arms. Gilbert crashed to the floor, his face smashing down hard, tumbling across until he stopped a few feet from the girls, motionless. The girls sat there in confusion, holding the lantern cautiously.
"Is it over, is he finally gone?" Grace was the first to ask that question.
"I don't know," Maggie replied. "What do you think Madame Zora?"
"Don't be so sure of it," The lantern spoke. "And I wouldn't get so close to him. It might be a trick."
When none of them wanted to get so close to see if Gilbert was still alive in any way, they jumped back in fright once the beast awoke and lunged at them, but his strength left him and he fell lifeless once more and melted away into a pile of ashes, leaving behind the amulet. The girls were speechless, wondering if it was over this time.
"Looks like that amulet is ours for the taking," Maggie said with relief.
Just when she was about to reach for it, the amulet flew off the floor and into the wall where the throne room sat, exploding outwards, as the chair disintegrated as someone, or something burst out of the wall, grabbed the amulet and pulled it backwards. Gilbert's ashes disappeared, causing the girls to leap up and see the entire wall collapse. The girls looked on in horror when a cloud of black smoke emerged and a dark form appeared in the writhing shadows. At first it looked like the appearance of Alistair when they could have sworn there was a top hat and cloak coming out of that smoke. But as it stepped further into the throne room, its ghastly features were illuminated by the eerie green glow. It was Willie, only this time he had taken on a different frightful appearance, wearing the same red amulet around his neck. The girls watched, terrified to know that this battle was not yet over.
AN: I tried to update this yesterday, but our internet connection was down and we had to have somebody come and look at it. Well now that it is working again, I can finally work on the last two chapters that are coming. I hope some readers and watchers enjoyed this story and it's been fun doing it, and all good things must come to an end.