The group walked up the stairs. The door was shut. Troy reached out and turned the knob. "It's not locked"
"Let's go then." Casey said.
"Maybe we should split up." Kira said.
"I don't know if that's such a good idea." Gabriella said.
"We'll cover more ground that way." Troy said.
Ryan sighed. "Allright fine"
"Me and Gabi we'll check the inside. You guys can check the outside." Troy said.
"Ok." Ryan said.
Casey jumped the rail, while Kira and Ryan took the stairs down. The looked around. There was a tangle of thorns towards one side of the house.
"Someone needs to call a gardener." Casey said.
"Oh yeah. I'm sure Bathory calls them every other day." Kira said.
"Look. A gate." Ryan said, pointing to a big black gate.
"Oh gee Ryan, act like you haven't seen one before." Casey said sarcastically.
Ryan rolled his eyes and started walking. "C'mon, let's go see what's behind it"
Kira and Casey followed. "Watch there be nothing there"
"Probably." Kira said.
Ryan pulled the gate but it didn't move. He pulled it again. "It's locked"
Casey rolled his eyes. "No, you have to push it"
Ryan pushed the gate and it opened. "Oh"
Casey walked into the gate. "Honestly Ryan sometimes your so-" he stopped.
"So what?" Ryan asked.
Casey fell to the ground and Bathory was standing right in front of him. Ryan and Kira jumped back.
Bathory stared at them then turned and walked off.
Ryan stepped closer to the gate. "Her bodies in that big black tower"
"How do you know?" Kira asked.
"Call it a hunch." Ryan said. He knelt down to Casey and rolled him over. He had a long cut in his stomach. Ryan checked for a pulse. There wasn't one.
"Dammit"
Kira stood at the gate and bit her lip. "I'm sorry Ryan"
He shook his head. "C'mon lets go to Gabriella and Troy."
They walked back to the house and found Gabriella and Troy looking around in the living room. They looked at them and Gabriella looked around them. "Where's Casey"
Ryan hung his head. "Gone, but I know where Bathory's body is"
"Where?" Troy asked.
"There's a black tower in the back." Kira said.
"Let's get this over with." Gabriella sighed.
Ryan and Kira showed them the way to the gate. Gabriella closed her eyes when they got near Casey. Troy looked away. They continued on towards the tower. Ryan stopped suddenly, causing everyone to bump into each other.
"Oof. What's up?" Troy asked, grabbing Gabriella so she didn't fall over.
"Does anyone else hear hooves?" Ryan asked.
Everyone listened. "Uh-oh."
They started walking faster. The galloping was approaching them. They started to run. Troy's foot fell in a whole and he tripped. He groaned and pulled his foot out. He looked up, no one noticed he wasn't with them. He looked the other way and saw a carriage.
Ryan slid to a stop at the tower. Kira and Gabriella leaned against the wall.
Gabriella eyes went wide. "Where's Troy"
Kira looked around. "I don't know. He was right behind us"
"We have to go back for him." Gabriella said, starting to go back.
Ryan grabbed her arm. "Gabi, no"
Gabriella jerked her arm away. "We can't leave him"
"Gabi, the best thing we can do for him now is get in there and burn her body." Ryan said.
Gabriella sighed then nodded. "Fine."