Haunted Mansion (Part 4)

Damian looked at the pile of fire extinguishers hidden in the crates broken by his fall. It looked unused with their safety pins still attached. He saw Sylvia rushing over while avoiding the knight.

"Are you alright?" Sylvia asked with concern while extending her hand to him.

"Wow, someone finally cared," he teased, giving a wide grin and accepted her assistance.

"Ah, you're fine and don't need any help," she let go of his hand and he fell back down.

"Ow, I'm joking alright," he stood up by himself while brushing the dust off his clothes. "I found these by the way." He pointed to the fire extinguishers.

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"So according to the plan. Ready?" Damian nodded and started spraying the fire extinguisher. The white dust started to smoulder them and their figures disappeared into it.

They discovered earlier, from the knight's strange awkward movements, it was probably a mechanical golem. All machines would need to be programmed and that would produce a predictable movement from its coding. After several experiments, they found out that it relies on sight and will only be activated when something passes through a certain line.

It was difficult to breathe in the fumes, even more so while running, and time was limited. The knight looked at the origin of the fumes and focused on someone running to spread the fumes. With one swipe, it crushed the source, only to reveal a fire extinguisher with its trigger bound with a cord.

"Oh crap, it discovered it too early. I think we won't make it in time," Damian slowed his pace down. They were running at the opposite side from the distraction but now the knight had found them. "I'll buy some time. Go, Sylvia! Live with my part!"

The knight pushed him back with its shield. Damian tried to dodge as much as possible but not for long. He started to choke in the fumes and his strength began sapping from him.

'At least she got out right?'

Suddenly, Sylvia emerged from the dense fumes and ran up its arm that was still occupied on Damian.

'Wha? Why is she still here?'

She nimbly avoided the knight's attempts to remove her like an annoying fly while she emptied the tank into its visors, hoping to blind it for them to escape.

However, it started behaving erratically like a being possessed. Coarse sounds of machinery getting stuck and sparks began flying out from its joints before dropping down motionless. All light and red dust surrounding it disappeared, proving the loss of its vitality.

Sylvia huffed and dropped the fire extinguisher down. She did not expect that would be the weakness of the knight. With a few hops, she landed beside Damian.

"Why are you trying to be a martyr when you can even help yourself? Stop being such a dramatic person. Nobody should be a hero, just look after yourself or someone else would need to save you," Sylvia shook her head.

Damian was speechless. He couldn't muster any words after looking at her exploits. There's no way he could have done that.

"Stop dreaming there. Let's go!" Sylvia called out to him. She was already standing at the exit.

Compared to the well-lit hall earlier, the rest of the corridors and rooms were dark and empty. They had a difficult time trying to navigate their way.

"Are you lost, kids?"

A man appeared out of the blue from one of the rooms. He was in his late-thirties with handsome chiselled features, his hair swept back and sported a handlebar moustache. His posture and demeanour had an air of authority and nobility. They can't help to notice his peculiar fashion sense. He wore a top hat, a black coat with a maroon vest and cravat tie.

'Who even wears like this anymore? What is this? 200 years ago?' Damian thought.

Sylvia still exercised some caution towards the man but she knew that this man, no matter how bizarre he looked or appeared, wasn't one of the perpetrators.

"Ah, apologies. Where are my manners? My name is Henry Byron, lord of the estate. What pleasure may I offer you, lady and gentleman?" The man introduced himself and gave a bow.

"Uh, we're just trying to find the exit and meet up with our friends," Sylvia replied.

"That shall be taken care of. Follow me and I shall bring you to the main entrance. I shall arrange for your friends to rendezvous there too."

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"What are these things?! Are they still chasing us?" Dexter exclaimed as the four of them ran. A horde of wraiths was in hot pursuit behind them.

Elma laughed behind him. "It's fun, isn't it? This is the true horror house experience!"

All of a sudden, a part of the wall opened and another horde of wraiths appeared. The group split into two to avoid them.

"Let us split for now. Let's meet up at the entrance!" Leo shouted at Elma and Dexter on the other side. It's only Luna and himself now.

Luna's pace slowed down and she heaved for air. "I don't think I... can continue running. This is… my limit."

Leo quickly carried her on his back. "I'll carry you. Let's go"

The adrenaline rush from the pursuit started to wear off. Luna became increasingly conscious of her position and her face started to flush with embarrassment.

'I'm so close to him.'

She looked at the nape of his neck and felt the lean but well-defined muscles of his shoulders.

"Hey, kids. Come here!" An odd man appeared from the corner ahead. He looked like someone belonging from a different time period. Nevertheless, due to the desperate situation, they followed the man.

He led them to a room and shut the doors. "You'll be safe here. Let's wait for a while before continuing."

He saw both of Leo and Luna's perplexed expressions. 'Who are you?'

"Apologies. I should introduce myself earlier. My name is Henry Byron, the lord of the estate. I've met your other friends earlier, um… Damian and Sylvia are they?"

Both of their faces lit up. "You met them? Where are they? Are they fine?" They inundated him with questions.

"Haha, no worries. They are fine. They will be meeting us at the main entrance," he opened the door slightly and peered through the gap. "I think they're gone. Let's go, I'll lead the way."

It did not take long for them to return back to the entrance.

"If you go up the stairs and push open the ceiling, you'll be at the main entrance." Henry directed them upwards.

Leo pushed the ceiling and saw the rest of the group waiting for them.

"Leo, Luna! You got out!" Elma rushed over to them. "Luna, are you injured?" She showed concern as Leo was still piggybacking her.

Both of them realised and Leo let Luna down, both of their faces beet red.

"Uh, no… There are circumstances. I'm fine."

Sylvia and Damian arrived with another old man bound in ropes and his mouth gagged.

"I found the culprit. He's been controlling the ghosts. There is no such thing as ghosts or spirits, they're all robots," Sylvia revealed.

Dexter looked with horror. "Wait, isn't he Principal Byron? He is the principal of our school!" He quickly ungagged him and tried to untie the ropes but he struggled a little with the knots.

"Greetings, children. What a blunder to be captured. I guess you had fun running around with my creations?" Principal Byron laughed.

"We wouldn't have gotten out without Mr Henry," Leo said. "Wait, where's Mr Henry? He was right behind us."

"Mr Henry? The strange man with outdated fashion? He was guiding us too," Elma was baffled. "Right after we got separated, he guided us here."

All of them proceeded to look at Damian and Sylvia.

"Yes… He was with us too," Damian's face started to turn pale. "Could it be…"

Mr Henry manifested from thin air. "Hello kids. I see you managed to get out safe and sound. I have always reminded my grandson not to overdo it but he never listens." He glared at Principal Byron which he could only smirk like a naughty child caught in a mischievous act.

By the time he looked back at the group, they had all scuttled in terror.

"You see, grandpa. Despite all my efforts trying to scare them, your appearance itself always has the best reactions."