Duncan

Duncan stood up, unsure of what had just happened. He found his footing a few seconds later, regaining balance. At first glance, the basement he was in didn't have much to offer on his wherabouts. A moldy couch in the corner, a mirror beside it. But as he looked around more closely, the gruesome details settled in. The walls were rotting, parasites could be seen crawling in and out of the woodwork. Splatters of blood covered the floor as if flung by a mad painter. "Is that...my blood...?"

"No...well most of it isn't."The distorted voice was inside his head now, fusing with his own thoughts and memories."Where are you? You said you could help me get Gwen back!"Duncan raised his voice, searching the basement for anything else that could talk to him."I'm on your face. You put me on...allow me to introduce myself...or yourself."The voice laughed, a deep echo inside Duncan's skull. Suddenly he felt the force from earlier controlling his body, moving him to the mirror. With no free will at the moment, Duncan gazed at what he had become."I'm a frigging monster!"He shouted bluntly.

The steel hockey mask blocked most of his face, but the rest of his body had been heavily altered. His already punk clothes had become more tardy and raggish, dirt and holes covering his skull tee and cargo pants. His muscles were so much more defined...yet still retaining the same body build from before. His skin held a ghastly pale glow though. The strangest and creepiest part...little bone spikes jutted out of his arms and legs, protruding just barely an inch or so out of the skin. Flecks of drying blood dissapeared around the bones.

The voice laughed once more."I am...simply the Terror Mask. You put me on...so now you and I are one being, the same."The Mask explained.

"Nuh-uh! I didn't sign up for this horror show!"Duncan grabbed at the hockey mask, trying to pull it off. It was useless. The mask felt like it was part of his own skin now. It was painful to just try and budge it."Don't be so pissed...you did sign up for it once you placed me over that pretty little face of yours."The Terror Mask mocked. Duncan rolled his eyes. Who knew supernatural artifacts had senses of humor.

"Do you remember that other voice? The force that had stolen Gwen?"The Mask asked.

"It was...ancient. A voice that sounded old..."Was all Duncan said in reply.

"That was dear old Doctor West...well his spirit anyway."The Mask continued.

"Here's the deal, Duncan-boy: You can't take me off until Gwen is safe in your arms...and the ghost of West is sent back to Hell."The Mask's voice sounded furious and bitter at the end of the sentence.

"Until then...we're pretty much stuck together."Another laugh.

"I hate puns."Duncan muttered.

Duncan began his ascent up the stairs. He didn't plan to spend the rest of the night in the basement. From what the mask had told him, he would have to fight his way through the Mansion. He didn't know what he would be fighting though, the Mask gave no clear description.

Opening the door into the sub-level hallways, Duncan cautiously walked out. He was tense. With each step, it was like the very house itself was watching him. Coming to the end of the hallway, Duncan found himself in a maze. Hallway after hallway, with no doors into any rooms in sight."Turn around."The Mask ordered him. Whirling around on his feet, Duncan watched as his first fight came up.

As if the walls were made of liquid, bodies began to ooze out of them, solidyfing in the shape of humans. They let out moans and slumped towards Duncan like zombies. He let out a sigh of relief."I thought this would be challenging, just not a few slow zombies."He grinned, walking forward and grabbing the nearest undead. He smashed it back into the wall, making sure there was a nice crunching sound. He continued this process, easily picking up the zombies and smashing them back to wherever they came.

Gwen

She gasped fo beath, struggling against a force that threatened to suffocate her. That ancient voice from before spoke once more."Hush my girl...I will ease your fears..."

She was stillin utter dakness, but the suffocation stopped. It felt rather...calming now. But no, Gwen was not satisfied. She had to find out where she was, and if possible, escape. She feared for Duncan. Was he already...dead? The single word brought up images of his shredded corpse laying in the basement of this God-Forsaken Manor. Suddenly light flashed in front of her eyes in the form of a lit torch.

A kind-looking old man greeted her in the flickering firelight. He was tall and lanky, clad in a dashing tuxedo. His figure was stooped over slightly. He was balding, but his wrinkly face made him look gentle. It was his voice that offset his appearance. "My dear girl...I'm terribly sorry about earlier..."It was the ancient voice that came from his mouth."I am Doctor West. Consider me your host, curator, and entertainment for the night."He bowed.

"Where's Duncan?"Gwen asked immediately, crossing her arms."Is he still alive?"She tried to sound menacing, but the ancient voice replied with power that she could only dream of ever having."He's still alive..."Doctor West sounded annoyed at the Punk's survival."You'll be seeing him soon...but until then, I have accomodations for you."He moved to the side, opening up a heavy oak door behind him. It lead into a Master Bedroom."Fit for a Queen."Doctor West gave a toothless grin.

Gwen felt lured into the room. Before she knew it, she had woken up from her daze, inside the bedroom, and the door locked.

Duncan

Finally an exit had shown itself. Wiping zombie flesh from his hands, Duncan began walking up another set of stairs."I'd hurry up those stairs, boy."The Mask warned once again. Duncan shrugged his shoulders."What's the big deal? It's just a bunch of stupid, slow, zom..."He drawled off, turning around."...Bies?"He finished with a gulp, seeing a horde of zombies, all pushed up against each other, scraping the walls with their filled mass to reach Duncan."On second thought..."With that, Duncan rushed up the stairs, hopping up three at a time to escape the pursuing horde.

He soon reached the top, opening the door and slamming it shut once he was safely on the other side. Strangely, the horde did not procede any farther."Now you're in the kitchen area...proceed with caution."The Terror Mask continued to guide Duncan.

"Sweet, I'm starved. Near death situations can leave a guy hungry."Duncan replied, looking around at his new surroundings. The Kitchen was massive, considering it's size relation to the house. Doctor West probably had hundeds of servants to cater to his every whim, most of them spending their time in this kitchen."Tough luck then, Duncan-boy. With me on, you no longer need to eat, sleep, or have any use of other human needs."The voice in Duncan's mind moved along with his thoughts.

"Shit..."Duncan muttered to himself. He continued on, the threat of the house was ever constant.

Creaky floorboards hindered his movement, giving away his location to anything alive, or dead, within the Mansion. Just curious, Duncan opened up a bread oven nearby to peak inside. A dozen bloodshot eyes stared back from inside the oven.