Haunting of Serenity Hills

"Serenity Hills used to be a prosperous vacation spot in the fifties, a cottage paradise set on a lake surrounded by mountains. Celebrities and rich people flocked to this beautiful place until rumors began spreading. Controversies of affairs and debauchery gained the attention of the press and after months of searching for this high class paradise they began infesting it. Filming raunchy tape after raunchy tape of notable persons and potentially ruining their careers...if the press themselves weren't too busy joining in. Those that escaped were questioned by authorities and each visitor told of a girl or a woman with black eyes and deep crimson lips, a melodic voice and a compulsion to sin. The government sent a team to Serenity Hills to investigate but after the third day the team went dark. They too reported on hearing a woman stalking in the dark. Losing hope the government closed the only road to Serenity Hills for the past sixty-ish years until famous director 'Savant Savage' requested to film the finale of his legendary horror series here. And now," Pete paused dramatically, turning off the music, "A swarm of dumb horror fans have followed to watch the filming of what might be the greatest film ever made. Is the woman still there waiting? I guess they will find out!"

"Shut up!" Sarah punched him, holding the steering wheel with the other hand only glancing away from the road for a moment. "You're crazy lucky my boyfriend was so keen on taking you with us. This was supposed to be a nice relaxing trip with my friends!" Sarah heard noises of approval from the three girls in the back, "Lissa just got dumped and the last thing we want is a group of guys being assholes."

Pete looked back at the dark haired goth girl and didn't hide his hungry eyes on her body, "Oh I forgot! Sorry about Kip, Lissa he was a loser anyway."

"Pete!" Sarah hissed. "The fuck did I just say?"

"So what? I'm the straw that broke the girl trip's back?" Pete slapped the closed glove box. "There's like three of us you know!"

"One is my boyfriend and the other is Jerry who is also dating someone who is coming." Sarah poked her finger into his shoulder forceful enough to hurt them both and have her wavy blonde hair fall in her face, "You are a horn dog and a narcissistic jerk."

Pete sighed and leaned back in his seat, "Fuck Sarah, you're right. I'm single and looking and so that makes me a bad person. Maybe if you lightened up a bit and were a bit less controlling then you wouldn't need this trip to help your relationship." Immediately he knew he went too far but he was sick of being insulted for the past several hours in the worst road trip he ever had. The car grew quiet for several minutes.

Eventually the soft voice of Fiora squeaked, "Did anyone else see that?"

"See what?" Lissa muttered leaning to look behind them.

"Looked like someone was just standing in the woods..." Fiora realized how silly she sounded and blushed with the context of the silly story Pete had told earlier. "Probably was nothing. Story probably messed with me. Sorry."

Feeling bad and in **** need for some acceptance Pete sighed again, "It's just a story Fawn, some old spooky tale passed down from boomer times because it was locked off. Knowing this part of the country I bet you they just didn't have the budget to pave a road leading to an abandoned town or something. I was just bored and trying to get a reaction, spice up the trip." He looked at her nervous eyes through the car mirror, "I'm sorry."

"So...you made it up?"

"No...Fawn..."

"Her name is Fiora!" Sarah looked at him with fire in her deep blue eyes, "Fio, or Fiora. Stop with that nickname she doesn't like it and we aren't in school anymore!"

"Alright, Alright!" Pete chugged the last of his soda and looked at the shy girl again, "It's something people made up a long time ago and passed on over the years. Like campfire stories. Or Slenderman. It's not real but when you're out in the wild at night it's fun and silly to talk about."

Fio **** a smile at him blushing, "Oh okay. I'm sorry. I don't even like scary movies I don't know why you made me come."

Sarah smiled at her mousy friend, "It's a road trip with the girls and their boys. And Pete...but we don't count him." The girls giggled and he rolled his eyes. Slowly the forest began parting and the small road diverged into a few dirt paths barely big enough for a car. "They said second on the right..." The car bounced awkwardly leaving the paved road and loudly crunching the ground below, the leaves and branches squeaking against the windows. "You'd think the owners would trim the path a bit!"

Pete frowned imagining the odds of scratched paint on his friend's car. It certainly wouldn't help things with their relationship if Sarah messed up the car before even arriving. "I bet you the owners haven't been here since the place closed down. Hell if some of the story is true then I bet you the place was inherited and the old owners are dead or in a home. It was sixty years ago!"

Sarah frowned back some relief in her eyes when the path began widening and the sight of a gigantic cottage up a steep hill was in the distance, "That's true. A shame though this place is crazy! We could get lost in here!"

"Apparently there's a pool and a path to the lake!" the redhead in the middle seat giggled in excitement, "Gonna try and get a tan and not a burn this year for once!"

Even with it in sight the swirling path up the hill took several minutes to drive up and they found themselves the first to arrive. "Damn guess Grant isn't here yet." Pete muttered looking at the impressive mansion, "Who do you think built this place? Elvis? Monroe? Some politician?"

"Someone whose kids thought two thousand dollars for a few weeks was what a mansion was worth," Sarah laughed at the thought, "So someone who doesn't need money or doesn't know how much things cost."

Fiora pulled her travel bag from the trunk and pulled her vest jacket closed, "Or someone who has never been here to know if it's safe."

Suddenly Sarah stepped to the front door and unlocked it with the key she was given, "Fio's got a point. Pete and Lissa, swing around the left side and check if the windows are all shut and locked, Fio check the right side. Me and Mary will meet you guys at the back door."

"How do you know the place has a back door?" Fiora whined.

Sarah smirked and help up a key labled, "Back door."