A challenge and a bet

"I've got an idea for Halloween," Chad says, rapping his ring on the table to get attention. The rest of you look up from your conversations to his position at the end of the table. There are ten of you having drinks and sharing nachos at a student pub after classes on a Thursday night. Chad and five other guys from his fraternity, and you and three of your sorority sisters.

Seeing he's captured the group's attention, Chad smiles around the table. He's a pretty charismatic guy, and thinks of himself as a natural leader, although you regard him as kind of a jerk, and way too fond of himself.

"So you guys know about the old Thurston mansion, right? The place on the hill at the east side of town, the place with the huge grounds?" Several of your friends nod, encouraging him to continue.

"Well, you know the place is supposed to be haunted, and it's been sitting more or less empty for the last five years since the last Thurston died. The estate is all tied up in probate, really confusing shit, and no one's living there now, although a caretaker comes in a few times a week to make sure the place doesn't burn down." He looks around the table, seeing he still has everyone's attention before going on.

"So here's my idea. My older brother is articling with the law firm that's dealing with the estate. I can get a key to the place."

"What, you want to break in and have a Halloween party in a "haunted house?" your friend Brianna scoffs. "That's not only lame, but it sounds like a good way to get arrested for burglary or trespassing."

"Hear me out now," he laughs. "I've got a much better imagination than that. I'm putting out a challenge to the ladies here, the brave young women representing their fine sorority, that they will not spend Halloween night, from sunset to sunrise, in the mansion without leaving. Further, they have to be able to prove they explored the house, by taking time stamped selfies on every floor."

"Piece of cake," Brianna scoffs again. "But what's in it for us except a night sitting in a drafty old house when we could be slutting it up at a kickass Halloween party."

"Fair question," Chad smiles. "To make this worthwhile, and convince you that sacrificing a night of wearing slutty costumes and downing shots has value, my fraternity brothers and I, some of them unable to join us here tonight, have collected a pot of cash. This is to be awarded to the young lady or ladies who manages to stay in the house for the required period of time, and can produce the pictures to show that she explored it in detail."

"How much cash?" your blonde friend Steph asks.

"Each of us kicked in a hundred dollars, including the four who aren't here. A grand, ladies. Yours for the taking, if you have the courage to try. But let's be clear. There are a few rules. You are allowed your phone, so you can take pictures, but you are not allowed to make or receive calls or send texts while you're in the house. Your call log and messages must show no activity for you to claim the prize. In addition to your phone you are allowed a flash-light, and nothing else. What do you say ladies? Are you woman enough to take the challenge?"

"What if none of us last the night?" you ask, finding yourself intrigued and a bit excited by the idea.

"Ahhh, well then you will each have to pay a forfeit, as determined by my fraternity brothers and I." He leers around the table, raising an eyebrow.

"I can imagine what he's got in mind," your friend Amy mutters beside you. "Complete horndog."

"I don't really know much about this place," you say. "What's the big deal? It's just an old empty house, right?"