Phantom Manor

Chapter 2: The Paranormal Posse

As Robert walked out into the main courtyard, he couldn't help but turn around and marvel where he was amongst the bustle of students coming and going from the main building. The college was located smack dab in the middle of the state of California, a smaller campus than usual, but still attracted many students from around the United States. This campus consisted of 5 main buildings: the main building was used for standardized class lectures. To the immediate left and right of the main building stood the theatre and science buildings. To the back of the lot, the business and sports buildings were located. Rob then looked at the sign. "California State University of Sacramento" it read. Suddenly, Robert was startled out of his trance by the honking of a car horn. He turned around to see Chris in his '94 Pontiac.

"Are you just gonna stand there or are we gonna get some lunch?" he shouted to Rob.

Rob ran to the car and got into the passenger seat. After Robert was securely fastened, Chris drove out from the college lot and onto the streets. Robert looked over at Chris. Chris was still pretty annoyed with Robert for making him miss yet another history class. Noticing Robert, Chris let out a sigh.

"What is it Rob?" he asked.

Rob inhaled deeply. "I'm sorry Chris. I was lazy." He apologized.

"Are lazy." Chris corrected, making a left turn into the shopping district.

"Okay. I am lazy. But I'm planning on changing that by first getting the driver's license." He said confidently.

"When?" Chris asked.

Robert strained his brain. "Uh… the Monday we get back from Thunder Mesa." He answered.

Chris looked at Robert, analyzing him for any sort of hesitation. Sensing none, he continued.

"Okay. Do you even know the first step in getting a license?"

Again, Robert strained his brain. "Just take a test at the local DMV and I get it."

Chris shook his head. "No Robert. The first thing is to get a learner's permit. To get a permit, you need to pass a driving class. Once you get the permit, you are required to have a certain number of hours of driving practice under the supervision of a licensed driver. THEN you can take the test and get your official license."

"That is a lot of steps to take. Are you sure you don't want to keep driving me?" Robert joked.

Chris turned angrily towards Robert. "You see? This is exactly what I am talking about Robert! You are a lazy person that just mooches off of me."

Robert sunk down in his chair, but slowly rose again in fear as the car was speeding up. "Chris?" Robert said.

"Don't talk while I'm teaching you a lesson Rob." Chris shouted. "You never do anything more for yourself. And after your parents died, I was the one who decided to help you through all of this. Why!? Because I was your best friend."

"Chris?!"

"You are talking over me again! When will you ever learn?"

"CHRIS!"

"WHAT!?"

At that point, Chris noticed the car in front of him and slammed on the brakes. The screeching of the tires and the screams of the boys drowned out the honking of the car in front of them. The car lurched to a halt, stopping it 5 feet from the back bumper of a truck in front of them. The driver poked his head out of the window.

"What in the absolute hell were ya thinking, ya damn kids? Can't ya keep your eyes on the gotdamn road?"

Chris rolled down his window. "Sorry sir. Won't let that happen again."

The driver squinted his eyes angrily at Chris. He then looked over at Robert, who sheepishly

smiled back. The driver then turned back to Chris.

"Ya best have prayed to God, because I swear to ya, yous was lucky." He growled.

The light turned green just as the truck pulled out. As it did, the driver gave a dirty hand to the both of them. Both Chris and Robert were silent the rest of the drive to the McDonald's.

At the McDonald's, a group of friends sitting at the booth in the back of the restaurant, talking about the history lesson that had been taught earlier that day. Rosemary, Myrtle Richards, and a boy with flaming red hair and glasses about 18 years old were all looking at a picture of the town of Thunder Mesa.

"I just don't understand Steve." Myrtle said to the red-haired boy. "Why are you even interested in this stuff?"

"Because…" Steve began, "history makes up the world. Sure, science and mathematics are what shaped the world, but history is how we remember what happened before us. If history was not studied, people would continue to rediscover all those laws."

"I don't get it." Rosemary said quizzically.

"Allow me to give you an example Rose. Remember that Isaac Newton thought of the mathematical equation of gravity and its scientific effect on the world. Now, if no one told the history of how Isaac Newton discovered the equation, someone like Albert Einstein would claim that they had discovered the equation and progress would not be made, thus we would not have the technological advancements that we have today."

Everyone looked at him confused. Steve shook his head and gave out a sigh of disappointment.

"In short, no history, no world." He said defeated.

"Oh." They exclaimed.

At that moment, Robert and Chris entered into the restaurant. Rose, spotting them both, waved at them to join them. Robert quickly ran over to Rose and kissed her. Chris walked casually over to the table and sat down in one of the empty chairs.

"Hi Chris." Myrtle cooed.

Chris just waved his hand at her, signaling that he acknowledged her. Myrtle shivered at the response, fluttering her eyelids.

"Such a silent romantic." She swooned.

Steve, noticing something different with Chris, leaned in close to him.

"Something happen between you and Robert?" Steve asked.

"A lot of things have happened today, Steve. Not just between me and Robert mind you." He responded, flashing an angry look in Robert's direction.

Rosemary, who had stopped being all over Robert, then entered the conversation. "So, what did the professor want with you two?" she asked.

"With Robert's constant laziness and my unwillingness to leave him, we are facing a failed history class." Chris said sadly.

Myrtle and Rose gasped. Steve nodded his head. "Is there any kind of extra credit that he offered?" Steve asked.

Robert nodded. "Yep. But it affects our Spring Break plans."

"You mean we won't be going to Disneyland?" Myrtle asked.

Both Robert and Chris shook their heads.

"No." Chris sighed. "Instead, we have to do research in Thunder Mesa."

Steve then perked up. "Thunder Mesa? THE Thunder Mesa?"

Rosemary was confused. "What's so special about Thunder Mesa? Isn't it just a dusty rundown town?"

Steve grinned. "No. It's not *just* a dusty rundown town. It's a dusty rundown town home of the famous Ravenswood Manor. The locals call it Phantom Manor due to the possible sightings of ghosts in the manor. This assignment is the perfect opportunity to finally get a good look at it."

"You saying you're going to Thunder Mesa?" a voice said.

The group of friends looked over to a scruffy looking guy with black hair. It was Burnest.

"Yeah. I'm guessing you were given the same extra credit assignment?" Robert said.

Burnest shrugged. "Yeah. Not that it matters. I'm not even planning on going there."

Robert stood up. "Of course, you do. It may be dusty and old, but I heard it has a haunted mansion there."

Burnest perked up a bit. "A haunted mansion? Really?"

"Sure." Myrtle said. "Maybe we could all go to Thunder Mesa and explore the mansion together."

Chris turned his head. "Wait. You're coming too?"

"Hell yeah!" Rose said. "I always loved haunted houses. I'm really excited to finally explore one."

"I guess it sounds pretty cool." Burnest agreed.

"It's settled then." Robert shouted. "We'll all go to Thunder Mesa, learn about its history, and to top it off, explore the old Ravenswood manor."

"Yeah!" Everyone but Chris cheered. Chris then turned to Burnest.

"By the way, if we're travelling together, I at least need to know your name."

"Brian Burnest." He said casually.

"Okay Brian. Welcome to the Paranormal Posse." Robert announced.