Eric's head felt as it was going to split in two and it was still dark. It was then that realized that she still had her eyes squeezed tightly shut. Opening them it was almost as dark as when they were closed. "That's funny, the candles are out" she said blinking several more times as her eyesight began to adjust to the dark. No reply came and she looked around her to see Alex and piper, but neither girl was there. She was alone, in the dark.

"Don't panic maybe they went to get so matches," Eric said out loud. But then why hadn't she heard them? Had she been knocked out? She began to get nervous, and stood up to try and get a better look at room. It was bigger then she remembered and there was no furniture. "Alex, Pip, this isn't funny anymore, where are you?" She was getting scared and no one answered her call. Taking another look around, she spotted a little box of matches on the floor. She bent down and snatched them up opening the box in a rush. The box was covered in dust and had a new kind of design then she was used to. There were only two matches left and pulling one out she lit it.

It flared to life and she could see if only a fraction better. In the far corner of the room was a single candle that was half spent and covered in dust like the match box. Careful not to let the match go out she ran for the candle and hastily lit it as the match began to burn her fingers. She flung the match away from her as the wick took light. Her fingers were slightly burnt and she stuck them in her mouth to sooth them. But it was worth it now that she had a light to guide her.

Walking to the kitchen she saw that everything had been removed except for the basics that can with the house. There was dust and cobwebs everywhere as if the house had been empty for years. Then she heard it, the creek of the floor boards above her and she almost screamed. "Who's there? Answer me!" She called a slight quiver in her voice.

"Is that you Eric?" Came a reply a few moments latter followed by a loud thud. "Ouch, who turned off the lights?" It was Pip who was up stairs, Eric recognized the voice. "Don't move I'll come up to you," Eric swiftly walked out to the stairs. "Is Alex with you?" She asked coming up the steps that groaned with her weight. "No, how did I get upstairs?" Pip was shuffling about so Eric could find her by following the sound. Eric found Pip in the guest bedroom where there was an old mattress on the floor and a broken up box. No sign that anyone had been there but Pip in a long time just like the rest of the house.

"We have to find Alex and then we have to find out what happened" Eric held out her hand for Pip. Once Pip took her hand their fingers entwined and they left the room. On their way to the stairs they looked in the other rooms for Alex with no avail. Then crashing could be heard from down stairs. It sounded as if someone was breaking in as a door somewhere in the house was being hammered on. "Help! Eric, Pip help!" They heard the muffled cry from Alex and took off at a run down the stairs. "We're coming Alex hold on!" Eric shouted loudly hoping Alex would hear. The pounding continued as they tried to find the source. They were lead to the kitchen and Eric relived Alex was in the basement pantry. "Hold on We'll get you out" Eric handed the candle to Pip and unlocked the door jerking it open. Alex almost fell out but Eric was there. "What the hell happened, I came to in the dark, in the basement" Alex looked at Pip then Eric. I don't know but we are going to find out as soon as we have a little more light" Eric took the candle back. At lest that would be the plan.