'Listen Sir, it's not funny. We nearly got killed,' Darren said, getting angry.
'You definitely knew what was going to happen there. That's why you put us up there,' Luke said. He was using the force to probe the man's mind and he could find nothing but dark thoughts.
'But I really think you should go inside. Don't you?' the strange man asked.
'Inside? With all those ghosts running around? What do you think we are? Fools? I…I,' Daniel stopped in mid-sentence staring at the object in the man's hand.
'You were saying?' he said and waved the gun at them.
'That a kind of blaster?' Han asked, starting to worry.
Luke put his hand out and the gun came to him. The man was on him in a second and by the time the others pulled him off Luke had rather a bruised face.
'I have the gun!' the man shouted and ran back to the ghostly mansion.
'Now why did he do that? We're not going to follow him,' Leia said, bewildered.
'Oh yes, we are,' Luke said in dismay. 'He's got my lightsaber!'
'Fine. We'll go back and finish this off inside the mansion.' Lando did an about-turn and marched back to the mansion. The others followed.
'I got you inside the mansion again!' the strange man said with obvious glee. He was prancing around the broken chandelier waving the gun and Luke's lightsaber.
Luke put his hand out again calling the gun and lightsaber to him but not only did they not come to him, he felt a pair of invisible hands pushing him backwards. He fell against Han, who fell against Leia, who fell against Darren and Daniel. After all the tumbling was over Lando was the only one standing. He looked down at his fallen compadres.
'Hahaha hahaha,' the strange man laughed. It was an irritating laugh and Lando had a strong urge to punch the man. He didn't try it, though.
'What happened to you?' Darren asked Luke.
'Something pushed me when I used the Force. It happened before. I tried to use the Force to open the door but something kept pushing me back,' Luke said.
'I guess the ghosts in this house don't want us getting out,' Daniel said rubbing his back.
'No they didn't. They told me to stay nearby when you all got out. They were playing with you all,' the strange man said. 'No more talk, now. Upstairs! All of you, walk up to the attic.' The strange man waved the gun at them and they walked up the endless stairs, Han in the lead this time. The man pressed the gun to Luke's back. Luke was the last in line.
They reached the attic. It was large enough to be a bedroom. They went inside and the strange man made them stand with their backs to each other. Then one by one all the ghosts started appearing. The man on the ceiling appeared first, then the little girl with the brains. A lady appeared holding her head in her right hand and was followed by an old man with blood flowing through a wound in his heart.
Darren started sinking to the floor but Daniel pulled him. The ghosts surrounded them on all sides. It was obvious that they were all going to die.
'We got out alive from the Death Stars but we won't get out alive now!' Han said.
'Well, thanks for blowing up the shield generator, buddy! I didn't tell you before, but I thought you weren't going to blow it!' Lando said and stuck his hand out. Han shook it.
'Goodbye, buddy! It was really nice knowin' ya,' Han said.
Leia and Luke looked at each other.
'We didn't get to know each other that well,' Leia said, regretfully.
'Maybe we will now,' Luke said.
'God Almighty, please protect us from the disciples of Satan. We pray to you now at this moment begging you to save us and our souls!' Darren prayed.
Daniel stared at his friend who was now kneeling on the floor, hands folded and eyes fixed on the ceiling. 'Shutup Darren!'
'Hahaha hahaha,' the strange man laughed out loudly.
Han watched as the ghastly ghosts closed in on them. He summoned up all his courage and shouted, 'Now wait! Don't you all have some explaining to do? Why are we going to die?'
'Why?' the strange man said. 'Well, these ghosts as you see were my family. I killed them because I wanted the money but I didn't bury them. They came back to haunt me. Then one day I asked them why they didn't just kill me.'
'We wanted friends. We were lonely. We wanted him to bring people into the mansion so we could kill them,' said the ceiling man.
'WHAT! You deranged… ghosts,' Darren cried.
'We thought you all would be just right for entertainment. You understand don't you?' the lady's head said.
'I'm going to faint. Catch me Daniel,' Darren said as he fell on Daniel.
'Get up, Darren,' Daniel said as he slapped Darren's face a few times.
'No, we don't understand. We refuse to die, so we can be entertainment for you… things,' Leia said shaking her head.
'How many people have you killed till now?' Luke asked.
'Twenty,' the old man with the wound said.
'TWENTY! You should be ashamed of yourselves. I mean really. Twenty people and still not satisfied! You should be damned in hell,' Darren said still rubbing his cheeks from the slaps been delivered to him by his mate.
'Darren! For heaven's sake! You're going to get us killed,' Daniel whispered.
'And what made you think you weren't going to die?' the ceiling man said.
'Uhh…' Daniel said.
'We aren't going to die. What makes you think we are going to let you kill us? We've gone through a lot of strange adventures, we'll just add this one to our list,' Han declared.
'How do you think you're going to do that?' the strange man asked.
'I just know,' Han replied.
'Hahahahaha,' the strange man was laughing again.
The ghosts start closing in on them. The little girl with the brain came up to Darren and grabbed his arm.
'Yikes! Get away from me!' Darren screamed.
The other ghosts surrounded the Fantastic Four. Leia stepped back as the lady with her head in her hand came up to her. She felt around in her pockets for anything that she could throw at it. She found a box of matches. She remembered picking it up from the kitchen when they first got to the mansion, wondering what it was used for. She'd obviously forgotten to put it back. She took the box out and pulled out one of the matches and struck it on the box. She'd seen Daniel doing that when he lit his cigarette. The headless lady took a step back. Leia realised that she was afraid of it. Before the headless lady could move another step, Leia flung the match at her.
'Aaaahhh,' the headless lady screamed. She put her arm out and hit the old man with the wound. He immediately caught fire. This started a chain reaction.
After they were all burnt to a crisp, Han said, 'I knew we could do it. We always win.'
'Yeah sure, Han! Sure,' Lando said.
'We? Who's the ''we''? I did everything,' Leia stated.
'We're… we're alive. I can't believe it! We're actually alive! Hurray! Hurray! Hallelujah!' Darren exclaimed.
'You guys noticed that the strange man is nowhere in sight?' Daniel said all of a sudden. Silence followed.
'GREAT! Just when I thought everything was going right,' Han said.
'Hahahahaha,' came that hideous laughter again.
They ran to the attic window. The strange man was standing outside. He had a large container. It was obviously full of kerosene.
'Oh no! He's going to set the house on fire!' Darren exclaimed.
'So what are we still standing here for? Come on,' Lando ran out the door, followed by the others.
They reached the ground floor, and as expected, the door was locked. Luke took a step back and concentrated on pushing the door open with the force. The door flew out and fell on the strange man. Unfortunately he'd already set fire to the house. There was fire everywhere. He'd obviously poured kerosene all over the house during the commotion.
All six of them ran out. They almost fell over each other in the process. But they were out of the house. They managed to pull the doors off the poor strange man.
'Is he okay?' Darren asked. Luke felt for his pulse. There was none. He shook his head.
'Now what?' Daniel asked.
'We walk to the nearest police station and report this,' Darren said.
'Do you think anybody is going to believe you?' Han asked.
'No. But it's worth a try,' Daniel said.
'We're telling you; there were ghosts in this mansion. They wanted us as entertainers!' Daniel explained to the policeman behind the desk.
'Yeah, yeah! Go on,' the man said.
'Look, you've got to believe us! We nearly got killed! The whole place is on fire now,' Darren said.
'Well, all right. We'll check it out later. Now, if you'll please move aside, the next person can speak to us,' the policeman said.
'Check it out later? What do you mean? You've got to do something now!' Darren said.
'Now Sir, if you all don't move we're going to have to move you all ourselves.'
'Luke, do something!' Darren turned to Luke.
'What am I supposed to do?' Luke said. He could use the Force to manipulate the man's mind but there was nothing the police could do now. It was all over and they were safe.
'I told you they wouldn't believe it Daniel,' Han said as they walked out of the police station and to a park that was nearby.
'We lost our clothes and equipment! Now what?' Daniel said.
'Well, you two could try and look for a vacancy in a hotel and get in. We will of course have to stay in the same hotel,' Leia said.
'I would fly you to the moon and back if you'll be…
If you'll be my baby.
Got a ticket for a world where we belong
So would you be my baby?' Darren sang.
Backstage, the Fantastic Four were listening to Darren sing. They quite liked the song. It was better than I Knew I Loved You and Gunning Down Romance. At least they thought so.
Suddenly the black portal opened before them. The four stared at it wondering if they would be taken back home or not.
'It's worth a try,' Lando said. He took a step forward and fell in. Leia, Han and Luke followed. Before he fell in, Luke sent a message to Darren and Daniel through the Force, telling them that they had a lovely time.
As Darren sang, he got the message and smiled. He turned his head slightly and saw Daniel smiling as well. He too had gotten the message.
To The Moon And Back was over soon and Darren started off with Affirmation. Daniel strummed the guitar, happily. He looked down for some strange reason and saw a black shining pool, which had appeared from nowhere. Darren was about to take a step towards the pool and Daniel quickly called out, 'Darren watch out.'
'What?' Darren turned and immediately fell into the pool. Daniel rushed to Darren and grabbed his arm. But Darren was heavier than him and Daniel was also pulled into the pool.
'AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH,' they screamed. They fell on soft grass. Daniel looked up to see Darren. There was a soft rustling of bushes and they sat up. Small, furry creatures came through the bushes holding spears that were pointed at them.
'OH NO!' Darren said. 'Daniel! We're on Endor!'
THE END
'You definitely knew what was going to happen there. That's why you put us up there,' Luke said. He was using the force to probe the man's mind and he could find nothing but dark thoughts.
'But I really think you should go inside. Don't you?' the strange man asked.
'Inside? With all those ghosts running around? What do you think we are? Fools? I…I,' Daniel stopped in mid-sentence staring at the object in the man's hand.
'You were saying?' he said and waved the gun at them.
'That a kind of blaster?' Han asked, starting to worry.
Luke put his hand out and the gun came to him. The man was on him in a second and by the time the others pulled him off Luke had rather a bruised face.
'I have the gun!' the man shouted and ran back to the ghostly mansion.
'Now why did he do that? We're not going to follow him,' Leia said, bewildered.
'Oh yes, we are,' Luke said in dismay. 'He's got my lightsaber!'
'Fine. We'll go back and finish this off inside the mansion.' Lando did an about-turn and marched back to the mansion. The others followed.
'I got you inside the mansion again!' the strange man said with obvious glee. He was prancing around the broken chandelier waving the gun and Luke's lightsaber.
Luke put his hand out again calling the gun and lightsaber to him but not only did they not come to him, he felt a pair of invisible hands pushing him backwards. He fell against Han, who fell against Leia, who fell against Darren and Daniel. After all the tumbling was over Lando was the only one standing. He looked down at his fallen compadres.
'Hahaha hahaha,' the strange man laughed. It was an irritating laugh and Lando had a strong urge to punch the man. He didn't try it, though.
'What happened to you?' Darren asked Luke.
'Something pushed me when I used the Force. It happened before. I tried to use the Force to open the door but something kept pushing me back,' Luke said.
'I guess the ghosts in this house don't want us getting out,' Daniel said rubbing his back.
'No they didn't. They told me to stay nearby when you all got out. They were playing with you all,' the strange man said. 'No more talk, now. Upstairs! All of you, walk up to the attic.' The strange man waved the gun at them and they walked up the endless stairs, Han in the lead this time. The man pressed the gun to Luke's back. Luke was the last in line.
They reached the attic. It was large enough to be a bedroom. They went inside and the strange man made them stand with their backs to each other. Then one by one all the ghosts started appearing. The man on the ceiling appeared first, then the little girl with the brains. A lady appeared holding her head in her right hand and was followed by an old man with blood flowing through a wound in his heart.
Darren started sinking to the floor but Daniel pulled him. The ghosts surrounded them on all sides. It was obvious that they were all going to die.
'We got out alive from the Death Stars but we won't get out alive now!' Han said.
'Well, thanks for blowing up the shield generator, buddy! I didn't tell you before, but I thought you weren't going to blow it!' Lando said and stuck his hand out. Han shook it.
'Goodbye, buddy! It was really nice knowin' ya,' Han said.
Leia and Luke looked at each other.
'We didn't get to know each other that well,' Leia said, regretfully.
'Maybe we will now,' Luke said.
'God Almighty, please protect us from the disciples of Satan. We pray to you now at this moment begging you to save us and our souls!' Darren prayed.
Daniel stared at his friend who was now kneeling on the floor, hands folded and eyes fixed on the ceiling. 'Shutup Darren!'
'Hahaha hahaha,' the strange man laughed out loudly.
Han watched as the ghastly ghosts closed in on them. He summoned up all his courage and shouted, 'Now wait! Don't you all have some explaining to do? Why are we going to die?'
'Why?' the strange man said. 'Well, these ghosts as you see were my family. I killed them because I wanted the money but I didn't bury them. They came back to haunt me. Then one day I asked them why they didn't just kill me.'
'We wanted friends. We were lonely. We wanted him to bring people into the mansion so we could kill them,' said the ceiling man.
'WHAT! You deranged… ghosts,' Darren cried.
'We thought you all would be just right for entertainment. You understand don't you?' the lady's head said.
'I'm going to faint. Catch me Daniel,' Darren said as he fell on Daniel.
'Get up, Darren,' Daniel said as he slapped Darren's face a few times.
'No, we don't understand. We refuse to die, so we can be entertainment for you… things,' Leia said shaking her head.
'How many people have you killed till now?' Luke asked.
'Twenty,' the old man with the wound said.
'TWENTY! You should be ashamed of yourselves. I mean really. Twenty people and still not satisfied! You should be damned in hell,' Darren said still rubbing his cheeks from the slaps been delivered to him by his mate.
'Darren! For heaven's sake! You're going to get us killed,' Daniel whispered.
'And what made you think you weren't going to die?' the ceiling man said.
'Uhh…' Daniel said.
'We aren't going to die. What makes you think we are going to let you kill us? We've gone through a lot of strange adventures, we'll just add this one to our list,' Han declared.
'How do you think you're going to do that?' the strange man asked.
'I just know,' Han replied.
'Hahahahaha,' the strange man was laughing again.
The ghosts start closing in on them. The little girl with the brain came up to Darren and grabbed his arm.
'Yikes! Get away from me!' Darren screamed.
The other ghosts surrounded the Fantastic Four. Leia stepped back as the lady with her head in her hand came up to her. She felt around in her pockets for anything that she could throw at it. She found a box of matches. She remembered picking it up from the kitchen when they first got to the mansion, wondering what it was used for. She'd obviously forgotten to put it back. She took the box out and pulled out one of the matches and struck it on the box. She'd seen Daniel doing that when he lit his cigarette. The headless lady took a step back. Leia realised that she was afraid of it. Before the headless lady could move another step, Leia flung the match at her.
'Aaaahhh,' the headless lady screamed. She put her arm out and hit the old man with the wound. He immediately caught fire. This started a chain reaction.
After they were all burnt to a crisp, Han said, 'I knew we could do it. We always win.'
'Yeah sure, Han! Sure,' Lando said.
'We? Who's the ''we''? I did everything,' Leia stated.
'We're… we're alive. I can't believe it! We're actually alive! Hurray! Hurray! Hallelujah!' Darren exclaimed.
'You guys noticed that the strange man is nowhere in sight?' Daniel said all of a sudden. Silence followed.
'GREAT! Just when I thought everything was going right,' Han said.
'Hahahahaha,' came that hideous laughter again.
They ran to the attic window. The strange man was standing outside. He had a large container. It was obviously full of kerosene.
'Oh no! He's going to set the house on fire!' Darren exclaimed.
'So what are we still standing here for? Come on,' Lando ran out the door, followed by the others.
They reached the ground floor, and as expected, the door was locked. Luke took a step back and concentrated on pushing the door open with the force. The door flew out and fell on the strange man. Unfortunately he'd already set fire to the house. There was fire everywhere. He'd obviously poured kerosene all over the house during the commotion.
All six of them ran out. They almost fell over each other in the process. But they were out of the house. They managed to pull the doors off the poor strange man.
'Is he okay?' Darren asked. Luke felt for his pulse. There was none. He shook his head.
'Now what?' Daniel asked.
'We walk to the nearest police station and report this,' Darren said.
'Do you think anybody is going to believe you?' Han asked.
'No. But it's worth a try,' Daniel said.
'We're telling you; there were ghosts in this mansion. They wanted us as entertainers!' Daniel explained to the policeman behind the desk.
'Yeah, yeah! Go on,' the man said.
'Look, you've got to believe us! We nearly got killed! The whole place is on fire now,' Darren said.
'Well, all right. We'll check it out later. Now, if you'll please move aside, the next person can speak to us,' the policeman said.
'Check it out later? What do you mean? You've got to do something now!' Darren said.
'Now Sir, if you all don't move we're going to have to move you all ourselves.'
'Luke, do something!' Darren turned to Luke.
'What am I supposed to do?' Luke said. He could use the Force to manipulate the man's mind but there was nothing the police could do now. It was all over and they were safe.
'I told you they wouldn't believe it Daniel,' Han said as they walked out of the police station and to a park that was nearby.
'We lost our clothes and equipment! Now what?' Daniel said.
'Well, you two could try and look for a vacancy in a hotel and get in. We will of course have to stay in the same hotel,' Leia said.
'I would fly you to the moon and back if you'll be…
If you'll be my baby.
Got a ticket for a world where we belong
So would you be my baby?' Darren sang.
Backstage, the Fantastic Four were listening to Darren sing. They quite liked the song. It was better than I Knew I Loved You and Gunning Down Romance. At least they thought so.
Suddenly the black portal opened before them. The four stared at it wondering if they would be taken back home or not.
'It's worth a try,' Lando said. He took a step forward and fell in. Leia, Han and Luke followed. Before he fell in, Luke sent a message to Darren and Daniel through the Force, telling them that they had a lovely time.
As Darren sang, he got the message and smiled. He turned his head slightly and saw Daniel smiling as well. He too had gotten the message.
To The Moon And Back was over soon and Darren started off with Affirmation. Daniel strummed the guitar, happily. He looked down for some strange reason and saw a black shining pool, which had appeared from nowhere. Darren was about to take a step towards the pool and Daniel quickly called out, 'Darren watch out.'
'What?' Darren turned and immediately fell into the pool. Daniel rushed to Darren and grabbed his arm. But Darren was heavier than him and Daniel was also pulled into the pool.
'AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH,' they screamed. They fell on soft grass. Daniel looked up to see Darren. There was a soft rustling of bushes and they sat up. Small, furry creatures came through the bushes holding spears that were pointed at them.
'OH NO!' Darren said. 'Daniel! We're on Endor!'
THE END