Okay, this is pretty funny *awkward laugh* We've started the new year and I'm still working on my Halloween special ;)

Anyways, ENJOY the next chapter! :D

Chapter 3:

Slowly and -for some of them- reluctantly, the four siblings started their way down the left hallway.

"Ugh, this smell is killing me!" Bree exclaimed after some minutes of walking. "Please tell me you have something for that, Leo?"

"Of course I have." Leo said proudly and pulled up a small object from his bag. "I brought clothespin."

Bree glared at him with a dead expression. "I think I'll pass."

"Oh, I want that!" Adam exclaimed and snatched the clothespin and turned to placed it on Chase's ear, which resulted in loud protests from the smaller boy as he slapped Adam's hand, and the clothespin as well, away. Chase quickly pushed himself forward so he went ahead of the others, causing Leo and Bree to separate him from his older brother.

"So, what's the plan, Leo?" Chase questioned, trying and failing to keep the irritation out from his voice. "Just walking around in this dark, smelly place until the door miraculously opens again?"

"Don't be silly." Leo said with a frown. For a funny exploring trip, everyone sure was in a bad mood... Well, except Adam. "I'm sure there's a backdoor somewhere. I mean a mansion like this got to have more than one door. They probably even have trapdoors!"

"That's supposed to make this better?" Bree asked and Leo looked back at her.

"Yes, of cour-" he cut himself off as he walked straight into his brother.

"Chase!" Leo complained, but they older boy held up a finger.

"Do you guys hear that?"

There was a moment of silent as all siblings l listened closely.

"Is that a rat?" Bree exclaimed and took a step towards Adam as she eyed the wall warily.

"Well, duh. This place is like ancient." Leo said, but Chase quickly tuned out from his sibling conversation. Sure, he had heard the rats, but that wasn't the sound that had caught his attention. It was a low creaking sound.

Chase whipped around rapidly as he located the sound just as the big chandelier in the ceiling fell.

"Look out!" he shouted and jerked Leo towards him out of harm's way as Adam accidentally jumped into Bree, causing them both to crash into the nearest wall.

"Aaah!" Adam and Bree screamed out in unison as a part of the wall disappeared and they fell into a secret passage in the wall.

Chase and Leo exchanged a look for a millisecond before they dashed forward to the still open trapdoor.

"Adam? Bree?" Chase called out as he looked into the hole. He could see the tunnel twist and turn and was even able to tell it led downwards, to the basement possibly, but he couldn't see the end.

"We're fine!" Bree shouted back, though Chase could hear his brother whine.

"Think you can climb back up?" Leo asked.

"No." was Bree's immediate response.

"You sure? Can't you try?" Chase questioned.

"Nope." Bree replied and Leo gave Chase a questioning look. "Let's just continue, we'll met up with you guys later!"

"What?" "That's dangerous!"

"Well, we can't get up! So unless you want to jump in and cuddle with all those spiders yourself there's not much of a choice!" Bree shouted and both Chase and Leo took a step away from the wall. Chase sighed defeated.

"Okay, just be careful!" he said

"You too!" Bree called back and he could hear the very faint echoes of their footsteps somewhere beneath them.

"Come on, let's go." Chase muttered and turned his flashlight to the hallway and broken chandelier.

This place is awesome! Leo thought a while later as he and Chase turned another corner. Well, if you don't count the smell, the moodiness of his brother and the animals.

Glancing over at said brother, Leo noticed Chase had slowed down and was looking around with a frown.

"Chase, what's wrong?" Leo asked, seeing his brother's tense posture and wide eyes.

"I... I thought I heard something." the bionic boy replied and Leo laughed.

"Oh, and all this time I thought you didn't have the sense for horror houses, Chase."

"I'm serious, Leo!" Chase protested and his brother sighed.

"Yeah, yeah, stop your complaining."

XxXxX

Adam and Bree had walked for about ten minutes in the cold and smelly basement -how could the smell even be worse!- when Adam suddenly stopped.

"Oh, do you smell that?" he asked and Bree rolled her eyes. Did she smell that? Of course she did!

"Yeah, and it stinks." Bree muttered and continued forward.

"No, it smells like food... Yummy food!" Adam exclaimed.

"Adam, we don't have time for-..." Bree cut herself off as she turned around and was met by emptiness.

"Adam?" Bree asked and shone her flashlight around the room, trying to locate her brother. "Adam!"

XxXxX

It was yet another minute of quietly walking ahead of his brother that Leo felt his blood freeze as he suddenly heard his brother scream.

Spinning around at a speed that could compete with Bree, Leo felt his heart speed up as well as the scream abruptly stopped.

"Chase...?" Leo questioned as he stared around the room. His brother was nowhere to be seen...

"Come on this isn't funny!" he shouted as he took a step away from the now empty hallway. "Chase?"

The fear gnawed at his insides as Leo looked around the room, frantically searching for his brother as well as... something.

Leo felt watched, he felt exposed, and he did not like it.

Suddenly a vase -that he wasn't even remotely near- fell to the floor and Leo ran. He ran as fast as he could as he felt the panic grow. He turned another corner and...

screamed!

TO BE CONTINUED...

Hope you liked the chapter! Reviews are always appreciated! :D

Also, I've put up a poll on my profile about forthcoming stories, I would be grateful if you could take your time and check it out :)

Until next time! :) /Libra