Chapter 2: Going Out
DC's POV
Dude, this is gonna be like so totally awesome! Those losers are so gonna piss their pants when they see a ghost! Then I can look at them and say 'Say, I thought you didn't believe in ghosts'. Nice
I check my wristwatch…4:07. Crap, I gotta get going. I promised the guys I'd meet them at the edge of the woods at 5:00. I slip on my bright red Converse and shove my switchblade into my pocket, then pull on my American flag-patterned hoodie before exiting my bedroom and sliding down the banister of the staircase like a boss.
"Jacob, dude, where ya' goin' kid?" I hear my dad, America, say from behind me as I walk towards the door. I turn around to face him.
"Me and the guys are goin' to a haunted mansion in the woods! It's gonna rule!" I tell him excitedly, pumping my fist I the air. His eyes go wide and his face morphs into one of excitement that mirrors my own.
"Dude, that's awesome!" he shouts "You're so gonna get to see a ghost! Don't wuss out!"
"Wuss out?! Pfft, a hero doesn't wuss out!" I reply and turn to open the door then cross the front porch and walk down the driveway.
"Be back by curfew!" he calls after me.
"'Kay!"
America's POV
I shut the front door and look out the window viewing the driveway, watching my son make his way down the street. I wonder where this 'haunted mansion' is. Hopefully it's not too deep into the woods. Jacob never did have the best sense of direction.
I really hope nothing bad happens. It's not like I believe that there's actually a ghost but an old house like that could be dangerous! It's a good thing I trust my kid so much, otherwise I'd be way more worried than I already am. I'm constantly worried that he'll do something reckless that'll get him hurt or killed. If something like that happened I don't know what I'd do!
He makes his way down the sidewalk and turns the corner, disappearing form my vision. I sigh. I guess nobody can keep an eye on their kid forever.
"…Be safe…"
London's POV
I hold my breath and creep towards the front door of our house, trying to keep my footsteps as silent as possible. All I have to do is get out of the house then I'll be worry free. When my dad shut himself in his office he refuses to leave until all his paperwork is done, which means I have at least four hours to get out and back.
Why did I ever agree to this?! That git, DC, is always dragging me into trouble! But I guess it's not all bad. I mean, at least Paris will be there. I always feel better when she's around. If only I wasn't too afraid to tell her I love her. I've loved her for as long as I can remember, but every time I come close to telling her my throat feels like its closing and my brain completely forgets how to produce words. Why does she have to make me so nervous? Why does she have to be so perfect?! She's too perfect for me at least…
I place my hand over the doorknob, turning it slowly and gently pulling the door open to avoid the hinges creaking. I slip out the front door and close it carefully. Well, time to prove that idiot American wrong. I can't wait to see the look on his face when he realizes that he believed some stupid false rumor. I chuckle a little at the thought of this.
I run down the driveway and past the house to ensure that I won't be seen from the window of my dad's office. If I get caught sneaking out I'm screwed! I slow my pace after I'm certain that I am out of eyeshot and trudge down the street. I swear if I go one more year in this stupid fifteen-year-old's body I'm going to explode! I hate always having to walk every place!
My thoughts are interrupted when I approach the woods and notice that I am the first person here. I check the clock on my phone and read '4:58'. What the hell, DC?! Who in god's name invites somebody somewhere and then isn't the first person there?!
I sigh in irritation and pull a cigarette out of my new pack, lighting it with my silver lighter and leaning against a tree. When that wanker shows up I am going to give him such an earful…!
Ottawa's POV
I take a puff from my inhaler then place it back into my pocket. I'm gonna need it if I'm going into the woods and possibly an old dusty house. Still, I can't help but be excited! I mean, what if there really is a ghost? That would be insane! I wish it didn't have to be in such a secluded place though. It seems…sketchy. Paris really did have a point when she asked 'Who would build a mansion deep in the woods?' It's just odd. Oh well
I should probably bring some sort of protection if we're going into the forest. I pick up my trusty hockey stick and sling it over my shoulder.
I hope I don't get asked where I'm going because I really don't have a backup story planned. I mean, it's not like I can just say 'Gee dad, I'm just going into the woods to see if there's a creepy old mansion that may or may not be haunted. But don't worry, I have a hockey stick and my inhaler~'. Time to go into invisible-mode.
I creep down the hallway and nearly jump out of my skin when I feel a slight pressure on my ankle. After recovering from my mini-heart attack I look down and notice Kumajirou, our pet polar bear, is at my feet giving me a questioning look.
"Who are you?" he asks. Why can he never remember either of us?
"I'm Ottawa." I reply. He doesn't respond. "You know…..Melanie. I live here"
"Oh." I walk to the front door, Kuma padding along beside me.
"Where are you going?" Kuma questions me. Damn. I really should have come up with an excuse story.
"Out" I state simply.
"Wait-" he calls after me as I begin to close the door after stepping outside.
"Yeah, Kuma?"
"Who are you?" I sigh quietly and shut the door, then make my way in the direction of the forest.
Paris' POV
"God I hate it here! I hate you! I wish I was dead!" I yell and slam my bedroom door before banging my head against it in anger, ignoring my papa shouting at me to come out. We got into another argument. He always overreacts about everything! Why does he have to be so damn overprotective all the time?! Why did he have to find my razor blades?!
This isn't the first time I've been caught. The first time I was busted he caught me right in the middle of one of my cutting episodes. I got grounded then too. Seriously, who the hell grounds someone for something like this?! This time was worse though, since now he knows I lied about quitting. I haven't seen him so furious since that time I got suspended for swearing in class.
I curse under my breath and rest my head against the door, finally allowing the tears to fall from my eyes as I cry silently. Only now do I think about what I just said. I can't believe I said that! I'm always losing my temper and saying things I don't mean.
With everything that's happened I can't help but feel like I'm forgetting something. I check the time on my cell phone. It reads '4:45'. Shit! I just remembered I'm supposed to be at the entrance to the woods in 15 minutes. But I'm grounded! Ugh, screw it!
I wipe the tears off my face and cross my bedroom to the window, open it and climb down the side of the house. I've always been pretty good at sneaking out. And even if I get caught, what's the worst that can happen? Super-grounding?!
I walk down the sidewalk, undetected, but then break into a sprint when I remember that I only have fifteen minutes to get there.
I check my phone again as the trees at the edge of the forest come into my vision as well as three figures, meaning I'm the last person to arrive. Crap, I'm late! I approach the three quietly and clear my throat to get their attention, interrupting London, who was previously lecturing DC for something, though for what, I'm not sure, and Ottawa who I'm sure was simply trying to keep the peace. They all turn to look at me.
"Yo, Paris, where have you been? You're like five minutes late." DC questions me.
"Sorry," I reply "I had a little trouble getting out of my house."
"Is something wrong?" London asks me, with a hint of worry in his voice.
"It's fine." I dismiss. "Can we just get going?"
"Yeah, we should probably get there and back before it gets too dark." Ottawa says, but I do notice that she casts a concerned glance in my direction. She is the only person I told about my situation last time I was caught.
"Well, then let's go dudes!" DC cheers and disappears into the trees, followed by London and Ottawa. I hang back for a moment, but eventually follow, ignoring the nagging feeling in the back of my mind that something bad is sure to happen…