Before starting this chapter I would like to thank anyone who at least attempted to read my story, even if did only get one review...
In answer to that review...
NYITNYIT- first of all, I want to say thanks for reviewing, and that you request has been noted. However, since people have already began to read the story, it'll be extremely difficult, and even more confusing to change the names again. If it does get really confusing, I'll post the character's mini-bio at the start of every chapter, so people can refer to it. And also, I'm planning to introduce the other characters at some point in the story. Anyhow, thanks for reviewing! .
Hikari Sunomoto- The female protagonist from Diamond and Pearl
Erikah Taylors- The female protagonist from FireRed/LeafGreen
Robyn Atlantin- The female protagonist from Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald
Maxwell/Max Hunter- Male protagonist from FireRed/LeafGreen
Kakashi Douroshi- Male protagonist from Diamond/Pearl
Seth Monroe- Antagonist/Rival from Fire/Red
Chapter 2... "Not Enough"...
When the friends turned to face Hikari, they found her shivering. "Hikari, quit scaring us like that. Are you trying to give us heart attacks, not answering for like, five minutes?" asked Seth.
"I don't like this place. It has a strange aura." She answered, avoiding the main question.
"What are you? One of those psychics we saw back there?" said Seth.
"Give her a break." said Max, "She's right. This place seems different from the entire forest."
"Yeah," said Seth, rolling his eyes. "We're inside."
"Cut it out, Seth." said Erikah, "We could all tell that you were scared of entering this place, too."
"Oh, yeah?" he sneered, "That's because I was worried that you might accidentally knock it down."
"Why you-" Robyn cut Erikah off.
"Both of you, be quiet. Do you here that?"
The six friends stopped and listened. A faint sound that sounded like music was coming from upstairs.
"D..do you think someone else is here, too?" asked Kakashi.
"No... they would have heard those two yelling at each other." Robyn answered.
"Maybe it's coming from outside, you know, like a passing worker taking a trip through the forest to get to the city?" suggested Seth.
"No, who would be traveling at this hour- 9:00? Besides, it's defiantly coming from upstairs." Robyn said.
"I told you we shouldn't have come! Why... why did I let you pull me into this!?" Hikari whimpered.
"Stop freaking out, Kari. I'm sure it's just our imagination!" said Erikah.
"Which all six of us are imagining at the same time?" she countered.
"We should check it out..." said Robyn. "After all, isn't that what we came for?"
"I'll go." Max volunteered, and started up the stairs.
"Alone!?" asked Erikah, incredulously. "What about me?"
"I can't let you," said Max. "My aunt will kill me-if whatever's in this house doesn't first- if I let anything happen to you." With that he continued up the stairs, and disappeared into the darkness, the beam from his flashlight growing dimmer.
It seemed like forever in the ten minutes that had passed since Max had left, and still there was no sight of him. Moments later, the music stopped.
"Max?" Erikah called. When her cousin didn't answer, she turned to her friends, a look of worry and fear scarring her face. "What if something happened to him?" She asked, her voice quiet and choked, as if she was holding back tears.
"I... I'm sure he's okay, Erikah," said Kakashi, trying to reassure her-and himself-. "We all know Max, and we all know he's capable of taking care of himself."
Suddenly they heard a yell from upstairs. "Max!?" cried Erikah, starting up the stairs towards his voice. The rest followed suit.
They found Max standing in front of an open door, staring at the far wall.
"Max! Are you okay!?" asked Erikah, throwing her arms around her cousin.
"Why were you gone so long?" asked Seth.
"And why did you yell?" Hikari questioned.
Max blinked, then shook his head. "I must be hallucinating..." he said, "but I could swear I saw that girl in that picture's eyes glow."
"What picture?" asked Seth, glancing around.
Max pointed. "The one in there. Nearest the window... with the girl with the pale blue eyes." he said.
"Well, it looks like just plain paint to me." said Seth.
"It looked real before..." Max said, "but as I said, I must be hallucinating."
Hikari stared at the picture. "Hey, Hikari, isn't this the room you were staring at from outside?" asked Kakashi.
"Hmm...? I guess it has to be... yes." she answered.
"It looks like it was probably the master bedroom." said Robyn, looking around it. The room was big and elegant. It had several pictures on the wall, including the portrait of the girl, and a large feathery bed. There was a dresser-bureau on the wall near the window.
"So, did you find the source of the music?" asked Kakashi, turning to look at Max. He nodded.
"That room down there." he said, pointing down the hallway.
"What was in it?" asked Seth.
"An old television. It looked like one from the mid 1940's. I guess it must of turned on by accident or something, because there was nothing there, just a book on the ground."
"A book?" asked Hikari, taking her eyes of the picture to look at Max. "What kind of book?"
He shrugged. "It looked like an old fairytale book."
"Do you think that the book fell from somewhere and hit the 'on' button for the TV?" asked Erikah.
"Probably, there was a table next to the TV, I guess it fell off there." Max answered.
"But if the TV has power, the so should the rest of the house, right?" asked Kakashi.
"Not necessarily. This is an old house, so the likelihood is that it runs on fuses." said Robyn.
"And fuses can be unreliable, causing only one or more power supplies to shut off, but not all." Seth finished.
"So, if we found the fuse box, do you think we could get the lights working?" asked Kakashi.
"Maybe, I don't know. There could be another reason that the lights aren't working." said Robyn.
"Like what? Paranormal paraphernalia?" asked Seth, rolling his eyes again.
"Well, that wasn't what I was thinking of, but maybe." said Robyn. Seth cringed.
"You're not serious! I thought you were the most sensible one in this group." he whined.
"She was the one who suggested it, remember?" said Kakashi. He turned to Robyn. "But still... could it be ghosts?"
"I don't know. It depends on what you think a 'ghost' is." she answered.
Suddenly a rapid tapping sound started up. "Wha- What's that!?" cried Seth, nearly jumping out of his skin.
"It's raining, genius." said Erikah.
"Great. The perfect horror-story cliché. On a dark, stormy night..."
"Be quiet, Seth!" said Erikah. "It's like you're trying to scare yourself!"
"Guys... it's getting late, could you please stop fighting? We're all in this together, right?" said Hikari.
"She's right," said Max. "and I think that we all need some sleep. It'll be brighter in the morning, and we'll be able to go home. So let's find somewhere to rest, and hope it all blows over."
Kakashi yawned. "Yeah, I'm tired. But... I don't know if I can sleep in this place."
"Just try, okay?" said Max. "I think I saw some guest rooms down the hall."
"How many beds were there?" asked Robyn.
"Two... and there was enough space on the floor to spread out three more makeshift beds with sheets." said Max.
"Oh... but that only makes five..." said Hikari.
"And there are six of us." finished Kakashi.
End chapter two. Are my endings cliff-hanger-y enough? That's kinda what I'm aiming for. Anyway, please review. I know your out there! Please!