Susie stays silent

Finally, after an excruciatingly long time, Susie realised she couldn't hear the cheerleaders any more. She didn't know how long it had been. Maybe they'd left in the first minute, and she'd just been suffering for nothing. Maybe they were still outside, waiting to catch her as soon as she opened the door.

It didn't matter either way. The hands were touching her everywhere, stroking her neck, pulling her hair, caressing her bottom, tickling her sides and the secret sensitive spot in the small of her back where she absolutely hated to be touched. She couldn't put up it, not for one moment longer, or she was going to scream! With a shudder and a moan, she wrenched free of the grasping fingers, knocking the wardrobe door open and toppling onto the floor outside.

Silence.

She climbed to her feet, cautiously, hugging her hands to her body. The cheerleaders were nowhere to be seen.

Bonnie, breathing hard, followed her out, almost tripping over her own feet in her haste to leave the wardrobe. The two girls exchanged frightened glances, shivering in their underwear on the floor of the empty room. Moonlight flickered over their pale, bare bodies. Somewhere in the distance, an owl hooted.

"What the hell," said Bonnie softly, "was that?"

"I think," said Susie, softly, not wanting to admit it, "it might have been... ghosts."

"Boo!"

Both girls jumped as the house's laughter echoed through the room. "Of course it was ghosts, silly! It's a haunted house!"

"But... there's no such thing as ghosts!"

"What's the matter, Susie?" said the house, a note of mock concern in its voice. "You're not scared, are you? Just because the ghosts are out to get you?"

Bonnie wanted to glare at their tormentor, but it didn't have a face. Just the bare four walls of the room, the silent dusty furniture and the tall windows, all of them ringing with the house's disembodied cackles. She settled for putting her hands on her hips and glaring at nothing in particular. "We're not scared of anything!"

"Oh, really? Not even the cheerleaders?"

"No!"

"So you don't mind if I tell them where you are?"

"No! Wait, I mean..."

"They can be back here in five minutes, you know."

"I..."

"Sounds like you're scared," said the house, teasingly. "Tell you what, Bonnie. I won't let the cheerleaders find you if you admit you're scared."

"But..."

"Come on, Bonnie. Do it."

"Fine," muttered Bonnie. "I guess... I guess I'm a little scared."

"Not good enough. Do it properly."