So I wrote this rather fast over the past few days. I really am excited about this idea and I hope you all are enjoying it!
Ch.2
Ventus ran and ran until he was back at his house. He carefully snuck back in through the window. The same window Vanitas and he went through earlier, when they decided to go to the mansion. That felt like years ago now to Ventus. He now stood in his empty bedroom, hoping this was all just a dream. Hoping, that he would hear Vanitas coming back any second. Hoping this was all just a cruel joke being played by him. But Vanitas never came.
The tears streamed down Ventus's face again as he ran out of his room. He ran down the hall towards his parents room. "Mom! Dad!" He shouted as he open the door.
His parents shot up from their sleep, staring wide-eyed at their son.
"Ven? What is it?" Ventus's mother asked before Ventus climbed onto the bed and threw his arms around her. He was now sobbing.
"Ventus. Is something wrong?" Ventus's father asked as he switched on the bedroom light.
Ventus tried to speak. He tried to tell them what happened. He tried to say anything, but only sobs came out. He couldn't stop the tears or his pounding heart. He just continued to cry out. He then felt the gentle arms of his mother wrap around him, which did help him feel a little more calm.
"Take a deep breath Ven. It's okay. We're here for you. Deep breaths," his mother instructed in her usual calm voice. Ventus listened and began trying to take in as many deep breaths as he could before he answered his parents.
"V… V-Vani…" Ventus finally choked out after a moment.
"What about him?" his mother asked as she began to rub his back.
Ventus took in a few more deep, though the tears would not stop. His head hurt as he tried to process everything and explain it "We...The… The mansion."
His parents eyes widened. There was shock and also worry forming in their eyes.
"Ven," his father began, "Are you saying you two snuck out to the abandoned mansion?"
Ventus couldn't give a verbal response. His throat hurt too much from the sobs. He just nodded slowly, not daring to met his parents gaze.
His father grumbled, "You two snuck through that hole in the wall didn't you? The workers should have finished closing off that hole to the mansion already. You know you are not supposed to go out there. It's dangerous."
Ventus slowly nodded again. "I know… b-but...Vani..."
"Where is Vanitas?" Ventus's mother asked, concern in his voice.
Ventus raised his head, looking at his parents finally. His eyes red and cheeks puffy. "V-Vani...the mansion…" Ventus tried his hardest to get the words out, but it felt like they were stuck in his throat. "It… it took him."
Both Ventus's mom and dad's mouths dropped open, their eyes totally wide.
After a moment of silence, Ventus spoke up again. He now felt a little more calm. Though his hands still shook, all his current thoughts came flowing out of him. "I'm sorry! I… I didn't want to go. I told him we shouldn't go. I told him it was dangerous. But Vanitas wanted to see it before the hole in the wall was closed off. He wanted to see the mansion and see if it was true. The legend. We went there and he ran inside. And then….then…" The memory of the doors slamming shut on Vanitas came back. Then the sound of Vanitas's screams returned vividly to Ventus head. The haunting painful screams echoed in his head. The tears began streaming down his face again, "I-I'm sorry!"
As his sobs returned he felt the warm embrace of both his parents this time. They held him tightly, but it was also gentle and comforting.
"It's okay Ventus, just remember deep breaths," Ventus's mother replied.
"It's all my … my f-fault! I couldn't stop Vani… It's my fault he's g-gone!" Ventus shouted through his sobs.
"No Ven, don't ever think it is your fault. It's that damn mansion," Ventus's father cursed.
Ventus just continued to sob more. His tears were now seeping into his parents pajamas. He couldn't stop the tears. His heart still couldn't calm down. Not only was it still beating rapidly, but it was also hurting. He couldn't stop thinking of Vanitas, and what could have happened to him. He missed his best friend so much.
"What are we going to do?" Ventus's mother asked as she looked over at her husband. "I know we should call Vanitas's parents right away. But I would hate to bother them at this late hour and have them try to come all the way out here. Would it be better to call them in the morning?"
"I...I don't know. I know though that we need to inform the workers to finish sealing up that hole in the wall first thing in the morning. Once that mansion is sealed away… the better," Ventus's father said as he lowered his eyes.
"W-Will Vani's parents… h-hate me? 'Cause I couldn't stop Vani?"
"No they won't think that. We'll let them know it wasn't your fault," Ventus's father said as he gently stroked Ventus's head. "I think… we should call Vanitas's parents tonight. I don't think I would be able to sleep otherwise."
"I agree," Ventus's mother added.
"You two stay here, and I will make the necessary calls," Ventus's father said as he got out of the bed and made his way out of the bedroom.
"M-Mom?" Ventus asked quietly as he tried to wipe away some tears.
"Yes Ven?"
"Is dad going to also call the police? Can't they do anything?"
Ventus's mother sighed as she placed a hand on his face. She thought of her next words carefully, as she did not want to worry her son any more than he already was. "Oh the police have tried before to deal with that mansion. Many different people have tried...but it always ends up the same way."
"The mansion takes them and they are g-gone?" Ventus asked, his eyes still filled with sadness.
Ventus's mother nodded in response, not having any more words to say.
"Why… Why does a place like that exist? It's such a scary place."
"I don't know Ven. Yes it is a scary place, and I have no idea why that place is even there. It's awful to think about. You and Vanitas really should not have gone out there." Ventus's mother said. She wanted scold her son a little further, for going to such a horrible place, but she saw the terror and sadness still in his eyes. She had never seen her eleven-year-old so shaken up before. With a sigh she wrapped her arms around him again and pulled him close. "It's okay Ven. You're going to be okay."
Ventus wanted to believe that. He wanted to just forget this night ever happened, but the screams still lingered in his head. He knew that he would never be able to ever forget that. The cries of pain Vanitas let out as Ventus had just sat there helplessly would never leave his mind.
It scared him to think that there must have been something so terrifying that it scared Vanitas. He had always known Vanitas was very brave, far braver than he ever was. But something in there was so bad that it actually had scared Vanitas. Something so horrible or scary was inside that mansion, and Ventus never ever wanted to find out what it was.
"Can I sleep with you and dad tonight? I don't think I can sleep in my room… alone tonight," Ventus said, having finally calmed down enough.
"Oh of course you can. I wouldn't let you be by yourself after something like this."
Ventus thanked his mother as he got under the covered and cuddled up next to his mother. She stroked his back and she hummed a sweet melody to him, easing his tension more. Ventus slowly closed his eyes as he drifted off to sleep. Hoping, for one last time, that this was all a dream, and he would wake up to see Vanitas again.
Though as much as Ventus wished for that to be true, he knew it wasn't true. Vanitas was gone, and he would never be seen again.
14 years later
Ventus sat at the kitchen table. He sat there and waited. But he didn't hear any sound from upstairs. After waiting several more minutes he sighed and headed upstairs. He made his way down the hallway to one of the bedrooms. He opened the door and peered inside.
The lights were still off and the curtains were still closed. And buried under the sheets of the bed was his younger, look-alike brother; Roxas.
"Roxas are you awake?" Ventus asked, stepping into the room.
A faint mumble came from the lump of sheets.
"Roxas you gotta wake up already. It's almost eleven."
Another mumble came, but no actual words.
Without another word, Ventus switched on the lights and opened up the curtains, causing Roxas to shift under the sheets further.
"Let me sleep…" Roxas muttered from under the sheets.
"No you gotta get up. You can't sleep the day away. You got a big fun day today."
"I don't wanna get up," Roxas said.
"Well if you don't get up, you are going to miss your friends coming over," Ventus said as he stood over Roxas's bed.
"I'll get up before they come over…" Roxas responded.
"Yeah, you are going to get up right now. Come on, you already missed breakfast."
"No…" Roxas simply responded.
"Well if you aren't going to get up, I guess I will just have to stay here and wait for you to get up," Ventus said with a smirk on his face.
He sat down on the edge of the bed, and then a second later laid back. He laid back right on top of Roxas, who started to squirm.
"Get off Ven!" Roxas said as he tried to kick and hit his older brother off of him.
"Not 'till you get up and ready for the day," Ventus casually responded.
"Fine! Fine! I'll get up! Now get off of me!" Roxas shouted, still trying to push Ventus off of him. "Get your stupid, heavy body off of me!"
Ventus laughed as he stood up from the bed and ripped the covers off from Roxas. "Good morning then."
Roxas looked up and shot a quick glare at his brother before sitting up and stretching. "Why do you gotta be so annoying?"
"Because I am your older brother, and that is what older brothers are for," Ventus replied smugly as he ruffled Roxas's hair. "Now come on, get ready for today and be downstairs soon and I'll start making some food." Ventus then headed out of Roxas's room and walked downstairs.
"Yeah yeah…" Roxas said as he stood up and started heading over to his closet.
After gathering his clothes for the day, and taking a brief shower, he was dressed and ready for the day. Just before he headed downstairs, he went over and checked his laptop. He opened it up to his email, and as he expected there was 1 new email, an email confirming that his friends were coming today. Excitement filled him as he ran down the stairs and entered the kitchen.
Ventus was already cooking something at the stove, the smell and sound of bacon filled the air. While Ventus was finishing making the food, Roxas went over to the fridge and got out the jug of orange juice. After pouring himself a glass he went and took his seat at the table.
Just a few minutes later, Ventus brought the pan containing the bacon over and set it down on the plates set at the table. He then also grabbed another pan and set down some scrambled eggs next to the bacon.
"Thank Ven," Roxas said before digging into his food.
Ventus nodded, "You're welcome."
The two of them ate their food without saying much. Once they were almost done though, Roxas spoke up, "Do you really need to stay here and watch us? I think I am old enough to have a sleepover with some friends on my own."
"You should be thankful mom and dad are even letting you have this sleep over while they are out of town," Ventus said before taking a bite of his food. "If I wasn't available to supervise you guys, I am sure they wouldn't allow this.
"I still don't think we need you to babysit us. I'm fourteen! I'm old enough to take care of myself," Roxas protested.
Ventus chuckled, "Almost fourteen. You still got a few more months to go."
Roxas rolled his eyes, "Whatever. I don't see the issue of leaving us alone. We aren't little kids. It's not like we are going to raid the snack cabinet when no one is around."
"Yeah," Ventus agreed with a chuckle. "Instead you and your friends are young teenagers. And it's never safe to leave young teenagers alone. Especially when three of them are boys and one is a girl."
Roxas stuck out his tongue in disgust. "We aren't going to do anything like that!"
Ventus raised an eyebrow, a smug look coming across his face. "Are you sure about that? Don't you like this girl? What was her name again… Kairi?"
Roxas's cheeks reddened slightly, "Get your head out of the gutter Ven! It's not like that! She is just a good friend."
"And what about her two other friends?" Ventus asked, keeping the smug look on his face.
"Riku and Sora have been friends with Kairi since they were little. They wouldn't do anything that you are thinking. So stop asking about that stuff!"
"Alright. Different topic then. This is Kairi's first time visiting Twilight Town right?" Ventus asked as he gathered up the dishes and brought them over to the sink.
"Yeah. Ever since we became pen pals, she kept always telling me how she wanted to come here and visit one day. Especially after I went to visit her and her friends in Destiny Islands a little while back."
"So I take it you will be showing them all around town right?" Ventus asked as he began to wash the dishes.
"Yeah of course. I wanna show them everything around here. Especially the great view from the clock tower. That is going to be one of the best spots to show them. We will go there as one of the last places, so we can all enjoy the sunset and everything."
"Sounds like you got it all planned," Ventus said as he started scrubing one of the glasses clean.
"Yeah. Though…" Roxas paused as he leaned back in his chair. He stared up at the ceiling, lost in his own thoughts. "The hardest thing to try and show them would be that old, abandoned mansion."
The sound of glass shattering drew Roxas's attention back into focus.
He sat back up straight as he looked over at Ventus. "Ven? What happened? You okay?"
Ventus looked down to see that he had in fact dropped the glass. Shards of glass were scattered all over the sink. Not only that, but his hands… they were shaking. His head started to ache as he slowly turned around.
"What… did you say?" he asked.
"I asked if you are okay. The glass didn't cut you or anything did it?"
"No. I mean before that… What did you say… about that mansion?" Ventus asked, his breath slightly shaky and his heart pounding.
"I just was saying that it will be hard to try and show Kairi and everyone the mansion. Though maybe we can get a good view of it from the clock tower."
"Don't go anywhere near that place!" Ventus said, raising his voice. He stepped closer to Roxas, a serious look in his eyes as well as in his voice.
"You know we can't really do that. All the original entrances have been blocked off over the years. It's impossible to reach now. Well… as far as we know. I wanna believe there has to be some secret entrance into that place."
"Roxas. You are not to go anywhere near that mansion. You know that right? Mom and dad wouldn't wanna hear that you tried to go out there," Ventus replied, his voice still dead serious.
"Why are you being so uptight about it? It's just a old mansion," Roxas replied back as he stood up from his seat.
Ventus grabbed onto Roxas's shoulders tightly. "It's not just an old mansion! That place is dangerous and you know it. Don't go anywhere near it!"
Roxas flinched from Ventus's tight grip, "Geez what's your deal Ven? Don't tell me you still believe those stories about the mansion being haunted. Those are just old stories. There hasn't been any stories about that place for years."
"That's because they blocked it off from the public," Ventus said, gritting his words through his teeth. "Thankfully no one has been able to get to that mansion since they closed off all ways of getting to it."
"Either way, those stories are just lame old ghost stories to try and scare us. There is no curse or anything. There is nothing to be afraid about it."
"Yes there is!" Ventus shouted as he dug his fingers into Roxas's shoulders. "That place is really cursed! I know that for a fact! I don't want to hear anything more about you trying to go there! Do you understand?"
"Ven...you're hurting me…" Roxas said as he grimaced from the pain of Ventus's grip.
Snapped out of his anger, Ventus quickly let go, "Oh… I'm sorry Roxas. But please...please promise me you won't try to go near that place."
"You can't tell me what to do…" Roxas muttered as he rubbed his shoulders, now slightly sore from Ventus's grip.
"Yes I can. Mom and dad left me in charge. So I can tell you what to do and not do."
"Why does it matter so much to you what I do?" Roxas grumbled in annoyance.
Ventus averted his eyes for a moment, he could feel his hands trembling again. With a deep breath he looked back at Roxas. "I… I lost one of my best friends to that mansion. Back when I was just a few years younger than you."
Roxas stared at Ventus with a puzzled look. He knew Ventus didn't have a whole lot of friends, but he had never once heard of a friend he lost to the supposed cursed mansion. As far Roxas knew, Ventus only had two super close, best friends, and those two were Terra and Aqua. Roxas knew that those two were still around, so who was this other friend Ventus mentioned? It just didn't make sense to Roxas.
Roxas scoffed, "Yeah right. You're just saying that to mess with me. Trying to scare me or something. Well it's not working."
"I'm not lying Roxas…" Ventus said as he stared right at Roxas.
Roxas was going to retort something back at Ventus, but he noticed the seriousness in his eyes. It wasn't too often that he had a serious look quite like that. He also noticed that Ventus's hands were shaking slightly. Was he actually telling the truth? Roxas still found himself to be in disbelief about what was being said.
"If it's true, how come I never heard about this before?" Roxas asked as he crossed his arms.
"I don't… like to talk or think about it…" Ventus said as he lowered his head. "The event...still haunts me today."
Roxas stared wide-eyed at Ventus. He never had seen his older brother so distraught. But Roxas still didn't fully believe it. He didn't believe in ghost stories or curses or legends. The stories made up about the mansion were just fake. Nothing real about them. He didn't understand how a mansion could apparently take people. It just didn't add up. But something must have happened when Ventus had gone there.
"Maybe whatever happened was just a coincidence with the mansion," Roxas thought. "It still sounds rather odd though…"
"Roxas… please… don't go near that mansion okay? I don't know what I would do if… if it got you too."
Roxas almost felt like laughing at that comment. It just sounded silly again. But Roxas didn't want to make Ventus upset again, he already looked pretty down from whatever must have happened back then.
With a sigh, Roxas nodded. "All right… fine. I won't go near it."
"Thank you…" Ventus sighed with relief. "Now I gotta clean out the sink. You should probably get ready. Your friends should be here soon."
"Okay," Roxas said as he turned to head back upstairs. Once he was upstairs and back in his room, he was left to his thoughts.
"You may not want me to go to the mansion… but now I am more curious about it. Now I really wanna know if the legends are true or not."
And that wraps up a nice long chapter 2. Yes I did intend from the start to have that time skip, I got many things planned for this. Let me know what you guys think and I will see you guys in the next chapter or in one of my other stories. Thanks for reading.