The haunted house.

(chapter originally by Teraton at writing.com)

"The haunted house sounds like it could be fun," Thomas replies, finding it on his map. Melissa huffs at his response, and Jill doesn't seem to care much, but Jack's and Rachel's faces light up, beaming at him.

"Fine," Melissa sighs, "Haunted house it is, I suppose..."

"Great!" Jack shouts, "let's go!"

The haunted house itself looks exactly like Thomas thought it would; a mansion-esque building, with thick vines of ivy clinging to the walls. The windows are mostly dark, but every so often one lights up and a shadow crosses in front of it. The siding is missing in certain spots of the house, and as you approach the iron gates to the attraction, you notice gargoyles hanging on the ledge of the roof.

This might be more frightening, Thomas thought, if it wasn't 10 AM, in the middle of spring. At least we don't have to wait.

As you are let through the gates (which, though they have been made to look rusted, Thomas notices they swing open just fine), Thomas takes a look at his friends. Jack and Rachel still look excited, and Jill doesn't seem any different, but Melissa seems to be faltering a little, looking back to the gates even as she starts up the front steps.

"You okay, Melissa?" Jill asks.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Melissa snaps, "I just want to get this over with."

"So you're not scared?" Jill smirks.

"Of course not."

"Mm-hm."

Letting the two of them bicker, Thomas takes a look around the front entrance. It's a small room, with paintings all around the walls, their eyes shifting back and forth. There's a large double door in front of the group, flanked by a suit of armor on either side; besides that, there are two doors to the left and right. As Thomas tries to open the door, he finds it's locked; trying the other two gives him a similar result.

"Alright," Jack starts, "now what?"

As if in response to his question, suddenly...