Here is the beginning of my Phantom Manor story. All characters, except several, are copyright of Walt Disney, who this fanfic is dedicated too.
PROLOGUE
Non Omnis Moriar
That's what is says on the plaque of the old house. The Ravenswood Manor. An old and dark presence roams freely around this abandoned house. The windows are cracked and broken, dark on the inside. The shutters swing wildly and hang from their hinges. Tiles from the house roof have fallen off and the paintwork needs serious refurbishing. The wind wraps itself around the dead oak trees that lay on the manor's overgrown lawn, as if reaching out at something. The front gates are locked up tightly and no one is in sight. But although this place is horribly deserted, a sad story lies behind it. Beauty once lived in this house. This house is The Phantom Manor!
Chapter 1: The History of the Haunts
A full moon shone dimly above the ghost town of Thunder Mesa, dark clouds flying by, a large cloud moved by, blocking out the moon's rays. Three holes formed in the black cloud, making the cloud look like a ghostly head. The cloud soon vanished into the black sky.
Thunder Mesa was once a thriving western town which had its own mining company, which took place on the massive Big Thunder Mountain. Once large boats sailed around the Thunder Lake, but now it was a horrific swampy lake, populated by millions of dead fish.
But the topping of the cake, was the run-down house that stood gloomily at the top of the hill at the north of the ghost town. It was a Victorian-styled house. The manor was three stories high, the house made mostly of wood and copper. The paintwork needed refurbishing and tiles from the roof had been blown away by the strong wind. Windows were black from the inside, but some were lighted by a dim glow, before going dark again. Shutters hung from their hinges and fluttered about in the wind. On top of the house was a lightning rod, which looked like it had been struck by lightning bolts many times.
A guardhouse with a bat carved onto the top stood outside the iron gates of the manor, which were locked shut. On a plaque on the wall read the words:
P H A N T O M M A N O R
NON OMNIS MORIAR
Out of the darkness came to dim bicycle lights. The lights owners then appeared, two teenage boys on a bicycle. One of them had a camera around his neck. The two placed their bikes on the ground and approached the dark gates.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" asked the first boy.
"Yeah, do you want the guys at school to think we're chicken?" replied the other boy.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a bent paperclip. Carefully, he placed the paperclip in the lock that kept the gates shut and moved it about, until there was a sudden click. The lock fell to the ground and the chains binding the gates fell afterwards. The black gates then swung open by themselves, welcoming the two boys into the manor's grounds.
The two boys slowly entered, turning torches on and throwing them about, searching for any signs of movement. There were dead oak trees lying on the lawn and many broken statues stood on walls. The two boys then noticed a rusty gazebo standing on the lawn. It was a fading red in colour, the glass cracked and the door swinging open. The two boys looked inside it, hearing a soft melody. Within the gazebo was a wicker chair with a shawl on it. On a small table were a couple of teacups and a teapot. On another table was an old music box, which played a soft, but sad melody.
The boys moved on, passing a garden pavilion where some moldy statues stood with a sparkling water fountain.
On top of the manor, a black bird flew down from the sky and perched on the roof, a raven. It watched the two boys with red eyes.
The two boys arrived at the front doors and as if by magic, the two doors slowly opened by themselves, creaking loudly. The two boys looked at eachother and the braver one stepped into the house. The second boy followed. They were in a dark foyer room. A small chandelier hung from the ceiling. The wallpaper was red and torn. Hanging on the walls were two mirrors, one covered by red curtains, and it appeared misty within the glass. Standing beside a wall was an old suit of armour, an axe in its grip.
"Okay, we'll just take the picture and then we'll get out of here," said the first boy.
"Okay," replied the second boy.
But suddenly, the front doors slammed shut. The boys gasped and rushed over to the doors, pulling on the handles to try and open the doors.
"We're trapped!" cried the second boy.
Then, the suit of armour suddenly moved. Two glowing green eyes appeared in where the knight's face would have been. The boys swung around and saw the suit of armour lift up its axe. It suddenly charged at the boys. The boy with the camera took a snapshot of the knight, who swung his axe. Screams echoed throughout the house, and up in the attic window, a mysterious figure wearing a top hat and cloak stood. Lightning flashed outside as a sudden storm has appeared. A lightning bolt flashed across the window, revealing a quick glimpse of the man's face, a skull with yellow eyes. Then, a heart-throbbing cackle echoed across the land. But in the horrifying noises of screams, groans, moans and cackling, a beautiful melody could be heard, somewhere within the cursed walls of the Phantom Manor.
A black car rolled up to a tall skyscraper. Out of it stepped a young man in his 20's. He had black spiky hair and green eyes. He quickly dashed into the building.
"Zeke, I've got a very important case for you," said Mr. Goo.
"What have you got for me this time, sir?" asked Zeke.
Zeke was a supernatural detective, only most of the mysteries he'd dealt with were really just criminals dressed in monster suits. Zeke had a daughter named Hilary.
"Well this case is actually pretty close to you. It's the Ravenswood Manor," said Mr. Goo.
"What? My family heirloom which I've never visited before?" said Zeke. "What's wrong with it?"
"Well, people in Texas, where your heirloom is, say that the manor is haunted," said Mr. Goo.
"Haunted?" chuckled Zeke. "What stories have they told?"
"We've had reports of people seeing a young woman in bridal gown, a skeleton dressed in a top hat and cloak, floating candelabras, weird lights and noises coming from the windows of the house, and we even have a photo of what looks like a suit of armour attacking some kids.
Goo handed Zeke a blurred photo of what looked like a suit of armour swinging an axe.
"Did the kids make it out?" asked Zeke.
"We don't know. They went missing and haven't been seen," said Mr. Goo.
Goo reached into a drawer of his desk and pulled out a few papers that were stapled together.
"My wife looked on the internet for me last night, since I don't even know how to click a mouse on a computer, and printed out the history of your manor," said Mr. Goo, and handed the papers to Zeke, who read them carefully.
Ravenswood Manor was built by Henry Ravenswood, the owner of the mining company in Thunder Mesa. He lived there with his wife Martha, and young daughter Melanie. Henry loved Melanie very much and would do anything for her. The day came when Melanie would have to choose a groom to marry. She fell in love with an old friend, Eric Plutocrat, a railroad worker who went to school with Melanie when they were younger.
Several months before the wedding, an earthquake hit Thunder Mesa and Henry and Martha Ravenswood were killed. Melanie was heartbroken. But eventually, her grieving disappeared and her wedding day arrived. The guests arrived, the wedding was to take place in the grand ballroom, and Melanie arrived. But as she waited, a mysterious villain named The Phantom materialised in the manor and killed Eric, but hanging him with a noose from an attic rafter. Melanie then vowed from that day that she would wait in the manor, never taking off her bridal gown or taking the wedding decorations down, not until her groom returned.
Rumour has it that Melanie aged, still waiting for her groom, until she died in the wine cellar. Her soul wanders the halls of Ravenswood Manor, waiting for her love to return to her. As for The Phantom, people have seen him in the graveyard and attic window of the manor, laughing evilly. Many ghosts have been seen also. Rumour has it that the manor is not populated by 999 ghosts.
"Wow!" said Zeke, looking impressed. "I'll get on it right away."
"Good for you! Now, get this mayhem off my desk before I go insane!" said Mr. Goo.
"Yes sir," replied Zeke, and he stepped out of the office.
A school bell rang and millions of teenagers filed out of Louisiana High School. Among them was a blonde brunette girl, about 15 years old. She held hands with a tall brown-haired boy.
"I'll see you soon," said the boyfriend, kissing his girlfriend on the cheek.
"Bye Luke," replied the girl and watched her boyfriend wander off into the crowd.
The girl made her way through the crowd and she spotted Zeke in his car waving at her.
"Hey Hilary, hurry up," called Zeke.
"Hi dad!" replied Hilary and got into the passenger seat beside her dad.
"How was school?" asked Zeke.
"Fine," said Hilary. "Got a new case?"
"This one is very interesting. Our family estate, Ravenswood Manor, is said to be haunted," replied Zeke. "I'm going over there tomorrow to sort things out. Do you want to come?"
"Well… Luke is going out of town, and I've got nothing better to do…so…okay," replied Hilary.
"Great!" cheered Zeke. "Now let's go home."
Character Cards
Zeke Ravenswood: A supernatural detective. After losing his wife to cancer, Zeke has worked around the clock, juggling his job and looking after his daughter, Hilary. Pretty soon, Zeke must travel to his ancestral home in Texas, to solve a supernatural case that involves his ancestor, Melanie Ravenswood, and a mysterious villain called The Phantom.
Hilary Ravenswood: Zeke's single daughter, Hilary is a popular girl in school and her boyfriend is named Luke. Hilary misses her dead mother deeply, but hides it from her dad. Hilary has a role to play in this story, but what it is yet is unknown.
Mr. Goo: Zeke's hot-headed boss. Goo is not skilled with a computer, but has a caring wife. He likes Zeke, but dislikes his wise cracks.