Chapter 6 - Fright Night's First Kiss

Drops of Jupiter – Taylor Swift (Cover)

October 30th 2011

"Damn it."

The words in this thick biology book in front of me wasn't connecting and I was growing agitated.

I looked up at my bed from my sitting position on the floor where Spencer was in the middle with a book in his lap and intently focusing. Every three minutes he would write something in the notebook that didn't sit too far from him and two minutes afterwards he would turn the page.

I tried to look back at my book but scowled at its use of words that failed to be accompanied by a photo aide.

"So...." I stretched, hoping to start a conversation and forget about this stupid test.

Spencer, however, hardly looked interested. He looked up for a quick second and drifted back to the book. "So...what?" he mumbled in response.

"Do you wanna do something stupid?"

His eyes still didn't meet mine, "Ethan, we have a biology test on Monday and you of all people need an A."

I scoffed, "I can pass that test with one hand tied behind my back and my shoes untied."

Spence huffed and shook his head. His short hair managed to hide his face as it bent down a little more into the book.

"Hey," I tried again and regained his attention, much to his agitation. "Can we pick out our costumes for tomorrow night?"

Spencer's eyebrow shot up, "What's tomorrow night?"

I gaped at him, not paying attention to the fact that my knee had just ripped a page out of the book, "Dude, tomorrow is Halloween and we are so going Trick or Treating."

He kept his eyebrow frozen in that same position. His face was layered with skepticism now, "Trick or Treating or do you mean Girl Hunting?"

Hell, how did he know? I snickered, "I mean candy is great, girls are better."

He rolled his eyes, something he had recently picked up and made practice of it whenever I said something that he found 'mundane', as he put it. "So what are you going as?"

"Nothing, I'm going to be studying this weekend."

I gasped. "It's a Saturday and Halloween weekend. You can't just do anything. It's against teen law and you know what happens when you break teen law."

He closed his book in annoyance and hopped off of the bed. "I don't care."

He crossed the room and grabbed his backpack. "Where are you going?" I questioned, feeling a little down that he was choosing to leave so early.

"Mom expects me home before seven." He mumbled, kneeling down and placing his books into his bag.

"Hey, do you wanna go to Old Pine for Halloween instead? Josh told me there was a killer haunted house there."

He looked back momentarily, "There is no such thing as a haunted house but seeing that you will keep bugging me about it...Fine."

I grinned as he agreed. Josh appeared at the door and patted Spencer's head before he came into the room and sat on the bed.

Once Spencer had left, I spun around to face big bro and snickered. "All plans a go."

Josh smirked. "So he has no idea we're going to be pranking him?"

I shook my head, "He's clueless."

-

"No way in hell."

I groaned and stomped a little, "Oh come on, Spence. It doesn't look that scary."

"I'm not going in there Ethan." I looked at the two-story, wooden house. The grass was a light brown color and it was draped in leaves that fell from the large tree that made the backyard its domain.

Lightning ripped through the sky and I felt Spencer's arm tense from the side of me. Why was he so scared? I'd be there. "Spence, I'll be right next to you if you need protection."

He looked over and smacked me in the middle of my forehead with his open palm "I'm not scared Ethan I just don't want to waste my time is all."

'Right' I thought. "Stop being a little bitch and let's go." I asserted, grabbing his hand and pushing open the rusting gates that creaked when they leaned in.

Slowly we walked up the broken stones pathway to the front door that slammed ever so gently against its frame every time the wind blew in that direction.

I didn't faze me though. I spent most of my time in haunted houses every Halloween growing up and had become used to the usually things that were found inside.

I pushed open the creaky door and poked my head inside, "Hello?" My voice bounced off the walls and echoed back at us.

"Yes, Ethan, because the psycho axe murderer always answers back."

I rolled my eyes and stepped in the house. The place was covered in cob webs and rats could be both heard and seen running around. Stairs were sitting directly opposite the door with a notable whole sitting half way up. It was dark but the moon that shone through the broken windows on either side of the front door lightened it up enough so that we could see clearly.

I couldn't help but smile. The place was so authentic and realistic looking and the perfect place to scare the crap out of Spence..

"Thanks big bro." I murmured to no one in particular and stepped in to survey the home a little more.

Spencer walked up next to me and looked around, "So, what's the story on this place?" he asked.

"Mother murdered her children in 1976."

At least that's the sotry Josh had told me to mention to him. I'm sure it wasn't exactly true.

"Oh, so the usual psychotic bitch."

"Gatta love em." I responded grabbing his hand and turning left. We walked down a long hall with huge, seemingly never ending windows that sat on the right side of us.

Spencer would jump on instinct when he heard a crow or saw a rat scurry pass with food trapped between his teeth and I laughed every time. It was so bizarre seeing him jump and squeal at every little thing that went bump through the night and try and play it cool afterwards. Nothing ever rattled Spencer or at least he didin't show it.

When we finally approached the end of the hall, I finally decided to set my plan into motion. I slowly opened the door and stepped into what seemed to be a kitchen.

I covered my nose immediately. The stench that was floating around was horrid.

"Christ, it smells like your gym socks in here." Spencer gagged, covering his nose and walking in front of me. He placed a hand at his hip and surveyed the room.

"Something's not right." he mumbled and looked back at me.

I hid the smile just in time so he didn't suspect anything. "What ever do you mean?"

He crept closer to a pot that was set on top of the stove. It seemed empty until he touched it.

His hands recoiled back amazingly fast and he groaned in pain. I shot up closer to him and grabbed it. That wasn't somethign I planned.

It wasn't too badly burnt but it was turning red and by the way he was moaning and breathing, I could tell that the pain was searing.

I kept his hand in mine, "What the hell just happened?"

He looked up to meet my worried eyes with a gaze filled with shock and pain. "It...was on." He seethed through clenched teeth.

I gaped at his reddened finger, "On?" Did Josh go the extra mile for this one and secretly turn on the pot? He only could have...it's not like somebody else lived here or anything.

Why did I say that? Something bad always happened when someone says that.

I narrowed my eyes as he brushed back passed me and exited the kitchen but standing very close to its entrance. He was still holding his injured hand and I got the overwhelming need to get him the hell out of here but I spent so much time planning the practical joke that it would be a bummer not to go through with it.

"Something's not right."

It got quiet. "You're starting to scare me, Spence."

He looked over with worried eyes, "I'm starting to scare myself." He murmured.

He really did look scared and I was starting to believe that the story that someone lived in this house wasn't as made up as Josh made it seemed to be. Or maybe that's what he wanted, to scare us both.

"Did you hear that?"

I listened but heard nothing. "Hear what?"

His eyes searched the ground, bouncing from one end to the next, "It sounded like a woman."

I snorted, "If you're trying to scare me, just forget it."

He rolled his eyes and stepped back into the kitchen, "As fun as that sounds, I'm not."

I swallowed and pulled out my phone, scrolling down the contacts until I came to Josh's name. My hands were slightly shaking but I kept it cool, I didn't want to look scared in front of Spencer...he might not ever let me live this down. If we were alive after this that is.

I pressed the call button and waited as the phone rang and rang and rang; growing agitated every time that stiff, boring buzz rang through my ears.

"So, did you scare him, bro?" Josh immediately said once he picked up.

I bit my lip and looked over to Spencer who was still surveying the scene with his hands loosely placed on his hips.

"Is there any truth to that ghost story you made up?"

Josh snickered, "Don't tell me you're falling for your own bullshit."

I scoffed, "No I'm not." I lied but only slightly, "Dude, did you sneak in and turn on the stove or something?" I whispered, careful not to let Spencer hear any details of the conversation.

There was a brief silence followed by a chuckle, "No. I haven't even gone near the house since we rigged the staircase with the fake bones in the hole."

"The stove was on."

"What do you mean the stove was on? There is no power." Josh answered, sounding confused.

"It was on Josh and Spencer claimed he heard some woman."

"That's impossible. The power breakers were out."

"Well I guess it's running on ghostly electricity or something because Spencer burnt his hand."

"There is so way humanly possible that house has any power unless someone really does still li-"

Josh stopped talking all of a sudden and nothing could be heard on the phone...not even static.

"Josh?" I swallowed and moved the phone from my ears, cursing through the darkened mood that rested heavily in the room.

"What's the matter?"

I turned to meet Spencer. "I tried calling Josh but it looks like I lost my signal." I answered, raising the phone above my head, searching for even any whiff of a connection.

"I told you to switch from T-Mobile a long time ago." He chided, rolling his eyes and brushing passed me.

"Hey!" I shouted after him as he exited the kitchen again. He didn't bother turning around but I was sure he was listening. "Where are you going?" I frantically wailed as he started down the long hall again.

"I left my phone in the car, I'm going to get it and get us the hell out of here."

My eyes shot open. Didn't he watch the horror movies? He nearly rounded the corner when I shouted after him, "Hey, wait for me asshole!"

I chased after him until I caught up, panting and out of breath. We walked quietly back to the front door but when he goes to open it, it wouldn't budge. Not even slightly. I watched a he tugged against it but to no avail. He huffed and backed up a bit.

"Stop playing around Spence, open the door."

He growled and sharpened eyes in my direction, "I'm not playing around Ethan; the door won't budge." He snapped.

"If you want something done." I mumbled and moved closer, rolling up my sleeves and rubbing my hands together. After a brief moment of staring, I shot my arms forward.

"Open sesame!" I shouted after a second and turned to meet Spencer's annoyed gaze. His hands were folded over his chest and his lips were slightly parted.

"Even if we weren't trapped in some run down, rat infested and most likely unstable house that still wouldn't be the slightest bit funny."

"Oh come on," I teased, "SpongeBob references are always awesome." I laughed.

My phone caught me off guard by buzzing in my pocket.

I fished it out immediately. The number was blocked but Josh must have been calling from another cell.

"Hello? Josh?" There was just static. "Josh, are you there?" Spencer was eyeing my facial expression carefully and stepped closer.

"Is he talking or not?"

"All I hear is static. Damn it." I cursed under my breath, "It must be the bad signal."

Spencer looked around cautiously until his eyes landed on the stairs, "Try going up the stairs and be careful not to fall into the hole."

I looked at him with wide eyes, "What if I fall in?" That would suck.

He rolled his, "Then you won't have to worry about being trapped here forever; so go." he shooed.

Reluctantly I jogged up the stairs only stopping when I heard Spencer hiss my name.

I looked down at him, "Be careful you idiot, this place must be fifty years old."

I nodded stiffly and stepped carefully up the stairs watching for the bars to climb on my phone while concurrently checking to make sure Josh was still on the line. Half way up and just in front of the big gaping hole that led into a thinly lit abyss, a bar appeared.

"Spence I got one!" I cheered before placing it to my ear. "Josh can you hear me?"

'Get out.' An ominous, scratchy – almost possessed female voice urged on the other end of the line.

I took a moment. "Josh, dude, now is not the time to be playing games. Spencer and I are stuck inside this hell house and we don't know how to get out. We have to abort."

'Get out' the scratchy voice repeated. I could hear Spencer climbing the stairs but he stopped almost as soon as he started to. "What's the matter E?"

I looked down at him with the phone still strapped to my ear, "Josh is playing with us."

He rolled his eyes, "Tell the freak to stop and send someone to get us the hell out of here."

I swallowed, "Josh, I'm not kidding. We have to abort this one; I'm really starting to get freaked out."

'I said get out!'

I squealed at the high octave the person on the other end hit and mistakenly dropped the phone. It slid and most likely broke upon hitting the ground but that wasn't enough.

It got too close to the hole and fell in, but it made no sound that indicated it smashed to pieces onto the ground below.

"What the hell, Ethan!" Spencer boomed from a few steps down.

I was freaked out. Majorly freaked out. This was never in the plan that me and the guys planned. This was...real.

"Ethan!"

"S-something was on the other line!" I finally shot back.

He cocked his head to the side with a confused expression latched onto his face, "What do you mean something?"

"It didn't sound human, bro."

He kept the same confused expression on his face and narrowed his eyes, "Is this a joke?"

"No." I thought, "I mean Yes." I thought again. "I mean No." I placed my hands on either side of my head and rubbed my temple. This was giving me a migraine.

"You set this up? You are such a douche bag." He scorned.

I kept my hands at my temples but met his eyes, "I did set it up but I was just supposed to scare you by getting you see the fake bones in the attic. The pot thing, the woman, the locked door, the ghost call wasn't me at all."

His face was laced with concrete doubt, "You are so dead when..." Spencer trailed once we heard a creaking sound. He spun around to face the front door as did I.

The front door's knob started shaking almost as erratically as my heart started to beat. The door itself started to bang and boom against its frame. Whoever was on the outside of it was trying their best to get in.

"Ethan, if that's you; you better stop." Spencer warned, neglecting to take his eyes off of the door.

"How can that be me when I'm standing behind you?" I questioned.

Spencer's body grew stiff and he stepped down a step towards the door.

Almost on instinct, my feet went down one as well, "Spence, get your ass up here now." I growled.

He waved me off, "I'm not buying this, Ethan." He scolded, "Josh, if that is you, I swear when I catch you I'm going to rip your balls a new one!" he shouted towards the door.

The door rattled one last time before the knob out right fell off its hinge and collapsed to the ground. It rolled to the end of the staircase and Spencer – always having to be the Velma of the pack – stepped down and picked it up.

"Spencer, get your ass up here, please." I pleaded. If anything happened to him because of me, I'd kill myself.

"It's just a door knob, Ethan." He stated, stood up with it in his right and spun around to face me. "It can't hurt..." he trailed when the door creaked again. Only this time, it was slowly opening.

Spencer slowly turned around as the door came to a full open.

"What the hell?" I mumbled.

A figure's black silhouette was standing directly in the doorway with a very long, possibly metal object in its clutches. Its hair was stringy and long and I was sure it was a woman.

That could only mean that stories...the ghost stories...they were true. They had to be.

"Ethan...if this is you, now would be a great time to say so." His voice shook and I could tell he was scared and yet he still doubted that this was real. God knows it wasn't a hoax and I wasn't behind it.

"Spencer, get your ass up the stairs right now before I have to come down and kick it." I begged one last time.

This time, he opted to listen and started slowly climbing the stairs backwards, not taking his eyes off the ominous figure.

It stepped into the house and slammed the door close. 'Get Out'

I nearly chocked when it spoke, "That's the same voice that called me."

Spencer had finally reached where I was, "Ghost use phones?"

I shrugged, "Well, maybe it's the Cool ghost."

Spencer took his eyes of the shadow for a split second to peer up one step at me, "What the hell is a cool ghost?"

I shrugged again, "You know, like the cool mom who knows how to use gadgets and stuff. Maybe the ghost has learned the ways of the new century."

"If we survive this, remind me that I owe you a back handed slap."

"Noted." I muttered.

The creature took a deathly step forward but we couldn't go back anymore. If we did, we'd fall into the hole below. Coming up here wasn't such a smart move.

"What do we do, Spence?"

"I don't know." He answered.

The rotting floor board under my feet creaked. It was becoming obvious that the both of our weights were too much for it to support.

"Spencer, we have a problem."

He looked back, "Bigger than the one in front of us?"

I nodded, "The floor board is breaking." It cracked again; this time I could spot the spot where it was cracking. It rippled from my legs all the way to Spencer's.

He sighed, "I hope you go to hell."

I made a face but didn't have time to verbally respond. The floorboards gave way and we fell through.

I didn't really know what was happening. The only thing that was clear was that I was screaming and falling. I expected to land much more badly than I did but something fluffy broke my fall.

I stayed in the position on my back for a while...just huffing and puffing in shock.