“Oh come on, it was just a meaningless bet. And anyways I don't even believe in all this paranormal stuff.”

“Then why don't you prove it.” Zach, Kiya, Brenda and Benny said in unison.

“But it's Halloween and - ”

“No buts Amanda, it was your idea to scare the kids when they came for trick or treating and now look, you have fallen us into deep trouble with their parents.” Mr ‘Zach always agitated pants’ said.

“You say as if you are the only victims in this situation. Even I am busted but I am not complaining.”

“Because you are the one who forced us into this brain popping idea of yours. And plus half of the deal was that if this plan gets backfired, you will do whatever we say. So we dare you to spend the night in the haunted mansion at the end of the street.”

“You evil maniacs! Fine I will do it, but if till morning I get bored out there, then I am gonna tell all your parents, that you guys sneak out of your rooms every night, to go to late night parties.” Oh yeah that was a good one. Now these people will know what it feels to mess with me.

This threat paled their faces. “ yo-you wouldn't do that. Even you go out to party with us.”

“Try me if you want to!!” I sang as I walked away from the spot leaving the four of them standing there with a look of shock on their faces.

Oh, it so helps to be the dominating one sometimes. An evil laughter escaped my lips, seeing them get worried.

~~~~~~~~~~

I wrapped my Nike Windcheater tightly around me, cutting out the cold air supply that was making my body chilly and my nose runny. I wiped my red nose and waited for my friends to arrive at the gates of the ‘supposedly’ haunted mansion to send me on this great and dangerous mission.

It all sounds so freaking childish!

Tightening the straps of my backpack, I saw Brenda walking towards me from a distance.

As soon as she reached me, I started to provide her with specific instructions, “I told mom that I am staying at your house for the night, so please don't go around telling people that I am at some haunted house. Cause before you will know it the news will have reached my mom.”

“Oh yeah sure, don't sweat about it.”

“You guys want to accompany me inside. After seeing that there is nothing haunted there, you people can happily leave.” I asked the others who had joined us a few moments later.

“No, we are good. We don't have any plans on becoming ghost meat, tonight….. Or any night, for that matter .”

I rolled my eyes, “Oh gosh, I have got such cowards for friends. Sometimes it feels like I am taking care of five year olds. Anyways I am going in. Adios amigos! Meet you in the morning.”

I stepped inside the huge rusty gates of the once beautiful mansion. Legend has it that the owner's daughter killed her husband and her father in this huge place, so now their ghosts haunt this manor.

Ahhh and you expect me to believe this nonsense.

Crossing the lawn before the main house, I came in front of the two big doors, probably larger than the ones I have seen in my entire lifetime. They had an eerie kind of look and a lion shaped bronze door knocker attached to them. The eyes of the lion glowed red sending a shiver down my spine, and to calm myself I assumed that it was probably from the cold, but even I wasn't sure if it was.

I looked back, my dear friends(note the sarcasm) had already scurried away and left me alone to deal with this whole situation.

Okay Amanda, let's go in and get this over with. I let out a low breath building up my courage.

I opened the doors, wide and stepped into the house fixing the door stoppers into place so that the doors don't close behind me. The great estate had been closed down a few years ago but all the belongings were still intact. The living room had a couch with a white cloth covering it and a television set parallel to it.

My first instinct was to go and switch on the television, and surprisingly it working.

“This place has a working television too. Sweet! Forget about one night, I'll stay here every night. After graduating from high school, I am shifting to this place. Now I just need to find the kitchen, so I could heat up some popcorn.” I yelled in the entirely empty house. My voice echoed in that large mansion.

“They even have a home theatre system, with the echo effect and all. This place cannot get any better.” The pleasures of happiness that I accepted the dare were now Seeping in and I mentally fist bumped myself.

Halfway through one of my favorite shows, I started feeling sleepy, so I picked up my backpack and the packet of chips lying on the couch and made my way towards the upstairs bedroom. The long flight of stairs were unending and by the time I reached the second floor, I was ready to lie down on the floor. Changing into my pyjamas, I entered into bed, snuggling under the covers to have a good night's sleep and then hurry off home tomorrow, first thing in the morning.

Long lost in my sleep, I suddenly woke up, when I felt someone move the bed. My eyes snapped open, taking in the surroundings and wondering where I was. Realization struck in and I checked my phone for the time.

12:26 a.m. Thirst had made my throat parched and a sip of water was all I needed. I went to the ground floor, half asleep walking and half tumbling down the stairs until I reached the kitchen. This place needs an elevator, I groaned. Reaching the kitchen, I pressed the switch but the lights didn't turn on. Now I was fully awake. Ignoring the lack of light I put a glass under the tap, turned it on and filled the glass with the liquid to quench my thirst.

Putting it to my lips, I filled my mouth with the fluid, when a metallic taste hit my taste buds. It definitely wasn't water. Turning on the flashlight of my phone, I saw the red blood bubbling in the transparent glass.

Shock filled my senses, as I spat the dirty blood out. Well after this incident, my thirst was long gone.

Walking out of the kitchen, I spotted a figure in the shadows. But as I blinked the shadow disappeared. The whole house was in complete darkness except me and my phone. I was lit up with the light of fear and my phone with the light of the flashlight. Duh!

Even though these things disturbed me a little bit, I did not back down because you should know one thing about me that I always complete my dares.

I entered the washroom to wash my face, getting rid of the sleep that was left in my system. This was gonna be one long night and I don't think I was going to get any sleep with the things happening around. After a couple of splashes on my face, I looked into the mirror only to find a man staring at me intensely.

My heart rate increased as I stared back at that man.

1

2

3

4

5 minutes into the staring contest and neither of us was ready to back out. Both our egos taking over our consciousness and all that was left was competition. Eventually, taking my restless nature into consideration, I got bored and turned around only to find him gone.

I met a dead man in the haunted washroom when I was going to pee. E-X-P-E-C-T-E-D

It always happens in movies, why didn't I see that coming.

Tying my hair into a tight bun, I got out of the washroom to find a candle and matchbox in this old, abandoned building.

The minute I entered the daughter's room I felt the air supply being cut off and I guarantee you, it wasn't the Windcheater this time. An invisible hand wrapped around my neck and started choking me till all the oxygen wqqdrained out of my body. My mind began to get dizzy and my face became all red from the lack of air. I got pushed towards a wall, nails digging into my neck due to which tears started picking my eyes. Pain and muffled screams took over me while I tried to free myself but none of it was working.

I could technically see death through my eyes, the call of the devil could be heard throughout the house. I had never felt so intimidated by anyone before. My phone fell from my hands and all the urge to have adventure and fun was now out of the window.

Slowly the hand released my neck and I fell to the ground. I crawled out of the room and sat, resting my back against the wall, composing myself.

Currently I was sitting in the hallway when I saw a lady in white walk towards me. She did not have any features except for her eyes which were also closed. A candle in one hand, the other hand was not capable of holding anything as it was MISSING. She walked closer and closer, and the sweat on my forehead increased and increased. The adrenaline rushed through my body, making my body shake with terror.

Somebody come and save me, I was so done with this dare. It was either a matter of fight or flight. And the amount of fighting I had done in one night was enough to last me an eternity.

I stood up, my feet still buckling underneath me but I didn't let that faze me as I rushed towards the living area. I knew that I would get a scolding if I left my stuff here but at this moment when my life was at stake I was ready to risk it. Reaching the living area, I could still see the main doors open and the sun rising above the horizon beyond it.

Yes, this was it, I was finally about to be free, Plus I completed that stupid dare.

But that definitely wasn't it, the highlight of the night was still waiting for me at the doorsteps.

The sun shone and I could finally see the face of the figure standing right in front of me. I stumbled upon seeing her, my throat being choked up once again, my oxygen supply cut, my face turning red, the perspiration trickled down my entire body and my arms and legs became numb and weak.

Standing there was a tornado that could not be stopped from destroying everything in its way and control all the things it wants. That ferocious being was my………...mom!

Apparently my idiot friends had already ranted about me sneaking out of the house to my mother, so here she was, waiting for her prey to come out alive A.K.A me. Couldn't these people understand the meaning of an empty threat. Ughhh!

And as the story continues, I got grounded for a whole month. No television, no games, no friends, no parties only school and home.

There was just this one lesson that I learnt that day never to do something out of the ordinary especially when I am in my mom's domain because believe it or not that small act of rebellion can turn your life into your worst nightmare.

That one lonely Halloween night brought my greatest fears to life and made me realize that......... I NEED NEW FRIENDS!