Ch. 5 Arriving at the mansion
The next hour, Rick managed to calm himself down just enough to sing very off key along with his brother to some ac/dc and Elvis… Peter was right, he did feel a lot better after putting aside all the doom and gloomy foreboding for a bit, but then his brilliant archaeologist/historian older brother often had some pretty good ideas to share.
"We should be just about there…" Peter murmured as he flicked on his headlights to cast twin golden beams across the ever darkening forest road "It sure is getting darker way soon than I anticipated, I'm glad we brought those head lamps… good call too, little brother, you were pretty smart to insist on stopping by that dollar store to grab all those extra batteries… doesn't look like we're gonna be counting on much moonlight tonight, especially with these thick tree tops"
Rick nodded "I threw the tent in the back of the car too, just in case…"
Peter cast his brother an odd look "Why the tent?"
"Peter…" Rick said, giving his brother a 'screw you if you disagree' expression "I am not closing my eyes in that mansion, no way in hell. If we stay, we are sleeping in the tent… outside"
"In the wilderness of Virginia?" Peter asked "Dear brother, I do not fancy being Yogi's next meal"
Rick scoffed at that "At least Yogi is made of flesh and blood, Yogi can die… whereas I have no idea what to expect from anything in that creepy ass house"
Chuckling, Peter nodded "Alright, alright, but I am haunting your ass right alongside Rosalyn if I get eaten by a bear or some shit out here"
Rick was about to respond… until the scene before his eyes stole his full focus… as they reached the end of the dirt road and entered into a massive clearing, a huge Victorian style mansion loomed ahead… miles upon miles of estate stretched out from either side and from behind as well more than likely…
"This is… huge… wow, these people really lived it up…" Rick murmured "I bet this was all really beautiful in it's day"
Peter nodded and began looking for a spot to park up closer to the mansion, he eventually chose to park fairly close to the porch… after all, it wasn't like his vehicle was in anyone's way, no one else had permission to be out here without earning themselves a night in the slammer for trespassing on a historical landmark.
Pulling the mansion key from his pocket, Peter passed it to his brother "Go ahead and get the place unlocked, I'll get the gear sorted"
Rick nodded "Yeah, alright. You sure you don't need any help, man?"
"I'll be fine, just get the place unlocked and then come on back and get your stuff" Peter replied before exiting the driver's side and shutting the door behind him.
Shrugging, Rick exited the vehicle as well and made his way up the creaky steps of the huge porch… though if he was being honest, it was most of like a really big deck… the ornately carved wood columns made the whole thing look like it might have been something really pretty to look at around the turn of the century.
Approaching the door with the cold metal of the key clutched in his right hand… Rick felt the most peculiar sensation… like he had made this walk a thousand times before... like the old paint chipped door felt just a little bit too familiar to him…
"What the hell is the deal with this place…" Rick whispered to himself before shaking his head to dispel the strange sensations and slip the key into the lock, turning it until he heard the locking mechanism click free…
He reached forward and grasped the handle, his heart began pounding like a mad drum of war as he turned the doorknob and pushed it open, a loud whiny squeak filling the air from scarcely used or oiled hinges…
"You got it open, buddy?" Peter called, his front end still inside the rear of the suv as he sorted through the gear he felt they'd need "Come on back down here then, grab your stuff"
Rick only barely registered his brother's voice however, his eyes were glued dead ahead towards the dark foyer, the sensations of deja vu returning a hundred times stronger, he stepped forward across the threshold… why did this place feel familiar like this? He'd never been out here before and he hadn't seen any pictures of the mansion's interior, maybe because of the dreams? Even then… he only ever found himself in the ballroom…
"Ethan? Is that you?"