It's been a hot minute since I was last here. But life happens and other stories take higher priority.

Happy Halloween! (I type although it's the middle of July when I'm starting this chapter but close to Halloween when I'm finishing it, and Halloween when it's actually going up).

This is a sneak peek for one of my new stories that I will give more information on at the end.

I think a guest user gave me this idea so, so long ago. If it was you and you remember, thank you so much and feel free to tell me in the reviews.


Photo #113: Silence in the Palace

A wonderful feeling surges through Eadlyn's body as she looks at this next photo. She remembers the adrenaline, the excitement, the fear from that moment. Goosebumps form and the little hairs on her arms rise as she replays the memory in her head.

There's no doubt that the Schreave kids shouldn't have been there, but when there is something that feels wrong, that's when it's right.

It was an exciting memory, now that she looks back at it. It was one of the most fun times she's ever had in the palace even if she didn't think so at the time. She and her brothers had their entire lives to be boring and regal so that was the time to have some fun. She can see it in the photo and feel it on her arms like goosebumps. It was almost like she was back in the tunnels again.

Not only goosebumps form on her arms, but she can trace the many tally marks that littered her skin all over her body...

-o-

Eadlyn knew this wouldn't end well the moment she saw her father's camera in Osten's hands.

"It's to capture pictures of the ghosts," Osten explains.

And it will get worse. Eadlyn blinks, unsure which part of that response to ask more about. She would only get confused since it all sounded weird to her. But even if she were to pick a fragment to further inquire, she wouldn't know what to ask.

Osten wanted to go exploring in the castle's secret tunnels. Ever since the decrease in the number of rebel attacks since the caste abolishment, the tunnels were practically non-existent. Now, they served as empty space between the walls and floors.

And Osten thinks they're haunted so that only encourages him even more.

"Don't tell me you're into this?" Eadlyn asks Ahren.

Ahren shrugs. "I got nothing to do. Besides, nothing's going to be in there."

"C'mon, Eady," Osten begs, tugging on the hem of her shirt. "Come look for ghosts with us!"

"I don't know…" Eadlyn mutters.

"Just come with us," Ahren tells her. "We have our entire lives to be boring so we have to be exciting now."

Eadlyn can't argue with that. Besides, the older she got, the less bonding time she got with her brothers since she had more royal responsibilities. She enjoyed seeing the innocent curiosity on Osten's face and Ahren's will to tag along. And what helps their case is that Kaden has a backpack filled with equipment.

What was needed for a walk inside the tunnels? She didn't ask. But at least one of them was prepared.

"Fine," Eadlyn states. As if they really needed her approval. They would've gone with or without her.

Her three brothers cheer as they start walking down the castle halls. Osten knew which door he wanted to enter from so he led the way. Apparently, that was where he heard the ghosts were more likely to be lingering around. Before Osten opens the door, he looks both ways to make sure nobody's nearby (especially their parents). His only concern is the look of disapproval on Eadlyn's face, but he could get over that when they were in the dark and he couldn't see it anymore.

Finally, Osten opens the door and they walk in one at a time. When the door shuts behind them, Kaden pulls out some flashlights for them to use. Looking around, they see a labyrinth that looks like the castle hallways but only the skeletons. The walls and floors were there but not the carpets or the wallpaper. Spiderwebs and dust litter around because why bother keeping this clean when nobody's ever here? Besides, the mess makes the adventure more exciting, doesn't it?

"God, it's been years since I've come here," Ahren says, feeling pumped.

Eadlyn gives him a face. "When have you come here?"

"I just said that it's been years."

Eadlyn rolls her eyes as Kaden pulls out a map. She doesn't bother asking where he got a map for the secret tunnels because she figures that the less she knows, the better. Kaden unfolds the map and holds it out as the siblings point their flashlights at it. As they try and decipher the paths, they argue on which way to go and where to go. They had no destination in mind, even Osten who wanted to come here, which makes it worse. He just wanted to find ghosts which could be anywhere.

Kaden lowers the map so they all look ahead. Pointing their flashlights, they see an empty tunnel going straight ahead.

"We should go right," Osten suggests.

"There is no right," Eadlyn says.

"I mean when there is one later."

Eadlyn blinks as Osten takes the lead. They're so going to get lost in here or kidnapped by the ghosts, which may or may not exist.

Led only by their tiny flashlights, they venture into the thick of the tunnels.

Ahren walks beside Eadlyn. "This is some horror movie stuff."

"I'd rather be in a horror movie," Eadlyn whispers back.

The four of them stop at a three-way division, almost knocking over like dominos. Each of them looks down each path, not seeing much ahead. All the possible ways to go look like they lead to the same place: nowhere. It's too dark for them to see anything, even with their flashlights. And there was no way they would split up.

"Left, right or straight ahead?" Ahren asks, pointing his flashlight in the respective tunnel when he suggested them.

Eadlyn says left, Osten says right, and Kaden says straight ahead in sync. As the designated tie-breaker, Ahren pulls a coin out of his pocket. But when he tries to catch it, he misses. The coin bounces away and disappears in the tunnels. Eadlyn gives Ahren a face and now he doesn't know how to make the final decision.

"I say left just so we can say we made a turn," Ahren says.

"Here." Kaden slings his backpack onto his front. He pulls out markers for everyone. "We need to keep tallies of where we turn or how many ghosts we encounter."

"Why can't we keep track on the map?" Eadlyn asks. It only seemed more reasonable that way since it was a layout of the castle's tunnels. Besides, why mark up her skin when she could use a sheet of paper meant for directions?

"I dropped it and I think a ghost stole it."

Eadlyn can't even react at this point. She walks past them, marking her arm as she strides.

She leads her siblings down a set of stairs, holding on to the railing to avoid slipping. Once they're back on level ground, they jump at the sight of something in the corner. Eadlyn screams a little, jumping back. After they mark their arms at the possible demon sighting, they shine their flashlights in that direction and see that it's only a spider in its web.

After more turns and tallies, Ahren, Eadlyn, and Kaden see something move ahead of them in the shadows. Screaming, their flashlights fall to the ground. The siblings hug themselves tightly as a flash fills their faces. They're momentarily blinded and willing to sacrifice themselves to the ghosts if it means they'll regain their sight. It makes no sense but they're not thinking straight at the moment. But all fear turns into annoyance when they see a flashlight shine on a laughing Osten with the camera in his hands. He's the only one laughing. His siblings are mostly confused because they thought Osten was behind him. But if there are any ghosts available and wanting of a redhead…

Ahren draws some tallies on Osten's face.

"Stop it," Osten says, swatting Ahren away. "We need to keep quiet."

"Why?" Eadlyn asks.

"So the bad guys won't hear us coming."

"But if they hear voices, maybe they'll think the palace is haunted and run away," Kaden reasons. Osten looks at his older brother as if he's a genius.

Eadlyn is too tired and done to point out everything wrong with that reasoning. Ahren hasn't bothered this whole time and now she understands why.

"If only it worked like that," Ahren mutters.

After what felt like forever, every inch of visible skin on their bodies is covered with colourful tally marks. They're not sure which ones are for directions or demons, but that didn't matter. Maybe the real reason why rebels didn't attack the palace anymore is because the crevices of the castle were too spooky to enter. Or their home is under spiritual protection.

"A door!" Eadlyn exclaims, running up it like the holy grail.

Her brothers run behind her. Eadlyn reaches the door and opens it. Once the light hits her face, her brothers collide into her from behind. They fall to the ground in a pyramid formation with Eadlyn, Ahren, and Kaden as the base and Osten as the top point. Osten rolls off, lying on his back beside his siblings. The Schreaves look at each other, smiling in relief that they're out of there. They notice all their messy markings on their bodies as Eadlyn slams the door shut with her foot.

"I hope nobody sees us like this," Eadlyn says. She just doesn't want to explain what she experienced.

"I thought we would be across the property," Kaden says, looking around disappointedly.

Even after their trek through tunnels with all its twists and turns, they somehow ended up back where they started. That was the real scary part of their journey.


I enjoyed this more than I thought.

And now for the story:

Silence in the TARDIS- The TARDIS malfunctions and the Doctor goes to fix it. When Bill's attacked while waiting, she notices strange tally marks on her body and forgets what happened the moment she looks away. As she tries to find the Doctor, she runs into people from his past who are also covered in tally marks. (Short Story)