They met at the gates to the old manse at 10.30pm as discussed in the chat room. Eight strangers who had only ever met online to chat and discuss their own love of scary old buildings, the older and scarier the better. A strong wind was blowing through the gates to add to the danger and mystery of what lay ahead.

Josh, who had set up the meeting, asked if everyone was here, “Yes”, “Think so” came the muted replies followed by a loud whoop from the back. A head count of eight was enough for Josh, “Okay, Lets go”

They all squeezed through the gap in the gates, and headed along the over grown path which in itself was a task with sharp bramble thorns and tall nettles cutting across the path. They clambered there way up to the broken steps until they reached the large, wooden double doors at the front of the manse. They all pointed their torches around until they all lit each member up in a spotlight.

“Remember, We have to stay until sunrise” said Josh “if its not for you or you cant stay right through then this is your last chance, so lets get in there and set up camp!”

Josh led the way up to the doors and knocked on the large gargoyle shaped knocker.

“What!”

“Why are you knocking”

“just go in” came the murmurs from the group.

The door was stiff but moved quickly with a hard push and banged against the inside wall, sending dust flying and several pigeons up into the air from their roosting spot, raising everyone's adrenalin from the start.

“A GOOD way to start the evening”

All the torches were busy scanning the foyer looking to see what was in there and where they could investigate first. There were five doors leading off to the sides and a grand staircase to the back. The dust trickled to the ground through the torch beams giving an earie feeling to the house.

"We should stick to teams of two and check out as much as we before we settle down"

"Grab a partner and we can meet back in the front room at ten to midnight, Okay?"

Josh shone his torch towards the door he now called the front room.

There's plenty of rooms and three floors not including the attic so good luck and happy hunting!"

They all paired off and set off in different directions, slowly moving their torches around looking for anything that would help them to solve the mysteries of the manse. A loud rolling sound came from the main stairway, a door slammed near the back of the house and an ear splitting scream came from the attic space.

"Oh my god"

"What the hell was that?"

Everyone ran back to the front room as fast as they could with torches flying from side to side as they jumped down stairs and crashed through doorways.

"Oh my god, that was crazy "cried Josh, "I am shaking here,"

"Did anyone see anything or"

"no"

"Just heard the scream and took off"

"Is someone taking the piss?

"Is everyone here? Josh shone his torch at each person in the room"

"Me, two, three, four, five, six, seven, is that it?

"I thought we were eight?

"Who came back on there own?

An object being dragged across the floor in the room above caused them all to stop and look up.

Journal Fund

Photo by Nathan McDine on Unsplash