It was almost evening and the Tipton was quiet, yet Zack was not himself and neither was Cody. In that time Zack had noticed a few things, strange mainly as everything so far had appeared in his dream, for example a dirty old torch was found in the elevator and no one had lost it, also the words Stay Away would appear and disappear, just like his dreams had said.
"So what you boys doing tonight." asked Carey as she got ready for her performance
"Oh just the usual, watch TV and stuff," answered Zack, Carey smiled and looked at him
"Right, just don't cause any trouble, you not want to ruin the chance of going down the cave." answered Carey, Zack looked at her and nodded as he looked at Cody who stared at the table, Carey also noticed
"Cody, you ok," asked Carey
"Yea fine, just going to watch TV with Zack," said Cody snapping out of his trance
"OK, well behave." said Carey as she walked out
"So you want to tell me what's bothering you" asked Zack
"No." answered Cody it was then again silence crept on, and it lasted till they drifted to nap land
Thursday – Gregory's Tale
The walls where solid as rock lined the corridorrs, water dripping from the cracks. Zack lead the way his yellow torch casting enough light to see the way, but something lay ahead, a boulder but there was something else, on it was markings, mainly warnings but some where in symbols, he called for Cody but there was nothing but darkness and the rock was crumbling above him, he then heard the scream, a scream that sent shivers through his spine, but then he realised it was Cody, he screamed for him
"What's going on," asked Carey as she entered the room to see both boys sat upright, facing each other and screaming.
Fear was on Cody's face yet relieve was on Zack, they all comforted each other and as they explained they realised they had had the same dream, Carey comforted them both saying it was proberly a mix of nerves and excitement, yet she had no idea of the full story
Although the day started on a High Pitch Note, it was going ok. The first group of kids who would be going into the cave arrived with their parents and all where in high spirits. After settling in they where all sent into a room and introduced to all especially their guides Zack and Cody.
"Ok this is Zack and Cody, they will be leading you all down the caves along with another adult guide, we will be doing a briefing before we descend but today I thought we just cover the basics of what's going to happen just what to expect." Explained Gregory, one of the People who helped with the restoration and he knows its history.
Yet it wasn't long before a hand was raised
"yes Freddie" asked Gregory
"Is it true that the cave is haunted after a tragedy" asked Freddie, Zack was alert as he wanted to ask this, he listened as the story unfolded
"OK, well since your parents are in the room and if they ok with this Ill tell you what we know, however I must stress that its now safer than before." Answered Gregory, he looked around and all nodded
"It was 100 years ago, when the Tipton was only a small place, the cave was accessible and was used for storing things and sometimes people would hideaway in them. However there was one evening when the night was cold and rain poured like Niagara, it was a horrible night. Tipton was full with guests and those who had took shelter. Anyway the manager had decided that since it was full he allow the children to access the cave, in fact they requested it. Now there was 6 children, two where twins and 4 others. There had been rumours that night of some bank robbers and evil people who where being hunted, anyway as the night went the kids where lead into the cave by one of the staff. An Hour they remained in there, but it was a very bad night, water and winds caused flooding, no one realised but the cave was not holding up and part of it collapsed. Sadly only 3 children escaped and the staff, oh also one of the robbers. The twins and one child died along with 4 other robbers. Now the story has changed many times, some say it was the weather, others say it was dynamite that caused it to collapse." Explained Gregory
"But what about the haunting" asked Jimmy
"Now that's the interesting part, you see the Tipton continued to thrive, and the cave was re opened, well they had to get the bodies out so they re did the cave to make it stronger. However no one really went down, those who did would only get so far until things happened. As some said they would reach a boulder, on the boulder was markings, mainly warnings, they would then hear a scream, a loud echoing scream." At this moment Zack and Cody looked with shock and horror as they realised this was their dream.
"Many would see a small blonde boy. Some workers would come out with stories of writing appearing, shadows and voices. But the sighting, the warning and the blonde boy where the most popular, they even appeared within the hotel. There is one person who knows what happened down there, but he never found or told anyone." Explained Gregory as he passed a piece of paper around that had a picture of the group that went down. It was a normal picture, however what placed fear in Cody was the Picture of the blonde boy.
The group asked Questions and Zack Listened, yet Cody was feeling strange, he had started to feel cold and lonely, he knew something was happening, could the spirit be warning him. Gregory had finished and they all went different ways
"That was spooky" said Zack after walking quietly with Cody into the Lobby
"Yea, so what you think of the story and the dreams" asked Cody
"Just coincidence bro, ok so it was spooky but ghosts, sorry but that does not work for me." Answered Zack looking into a worried face.
"Maybe, but something's going on, like you said you've noticed weird things happen," said Cody
"Yea, but it doesn't mean there is, or it's a ghost, anyone could have written the note, did the writings." Answered Zack as he walked pass and to the elevator leaving Cody in centre of the Lobby, as the doors opened he felt eyes staring, as he looked over his shoulder he saw the old man again, they met eyes and Zack got a feeling he seen them before, he shook the thought away and walked into the elevator, yet missing the small Blonde boy who left.
