Chapter Three

"Do you think the shape shifter's in here?" Zoe asked, her voice low yet it carried around the room.

"How the fuck am I to know that? "Aria yelled out.

They looked around in the dark, straining their eyes to see whoever or whatever was in the house. The darkness hunted them adding an airily feeling of fear.

Aria was scared, but even more when a thought occurred. "I don't think I found this house by accident".

Amos looked towards Aria. "You're not saying..."

"You didn't find the house, the house found you... us". Spencer interrupted.

"Why would someone want us to find the house?" Zoe whispered.

"Eh... I don't know. Maybe to murder us". Sawyer said, ignoring everyone's stares. "We should leave, at least find another way out of this dead hole".

"He's right. There's no way am going to stand here and wait patiently for my death. We have to find a way out". Amos said, already searching around. Though it was proving more difficult, because of how dark the house was.

Spencer walked around as quiet as possible. "So, we all agree, whatever's happening to us isn't normal".

"Yeah". The group chorused.

"Maybe, this is all a dream". Zoe said silently, wrapping her jacket tightly around her.

"A dream, we are all in together. I don't think so". Aria commented.

Zoe ignored her sister, Aria was always a negative person. No surprise she used a lot of swear words. Humming to herself, she walked slowly around the room, hoping to find a way out. She searched around blindly. Zoe closed her eyes, as it was dark and she had no use for them. She read somewhere, doing this would help in concentrating and you would be able to access your other senses.

Although, now that she thought about it, that made no sense.

She felt something, it was solid and strange. Very strange, it felt like a door but not a modern door. Slowly, she searched around for a knob, and she twisted it.

The sound it made caused everyone to panic, but Zoe merely giggled at them. "That was me, guys chill out".

"That wasn't funny Zo, and what was that?" Amos asked, already following the sound of her voice.

"I opened a door, or I think it's a door". Zoe used her hand to search around the room. She found a switch, and as she flicked it, as she did all the lights came on.

Looking around, Spencer marveled at the timeless elegance of the interior, though worn out by the passage of time still held a captivating sense of magnificence. Moving further into the castle, they discover series of lavish chambers, each with its own unique characters and story to tell. The walls were adorned with faded draperies portraying scenes of ancient noble gatherings.

"Wow". Spencer marveled. "How did you find it?"

"I don't know, guess my hands found it".

"Let's find an exit people". Sawyer tried the door again, but it was locked shut. He raised his hands in frustration.

The other teens tried searching the beautiful house for a way out. They opened every door in the house, but none was an exit.

"How can all these doors not lead to a way out of here?" Aria banged a door behind her. She turned her eyes to her friends but she caught a figure.

"Did you guys see that?" Aria asked.

"See what? What's wrong with you all and asking that?" Sawyer shouted.

Aria ignored him. She walked to where she saw the figure, and stood there. "It was a man, he stood here. He was staring at us, watching us. I swore I saw him".

Sawyer laughed. "Next, you're going to tell us, you saw a fat man with a white beard, dressed in red, sharing gifts to everyone".

Amos looked at Sawyer closely. "What's your problem man?"

"You guys, this is serious. I felt someone touch me and I'm sure Aria saw someone". Spencer looked behind Aria and she gasped.

Aria seeing the fear in her friends' eyes, she turned to see what scared them. She jumped away and stared at the door.

The wall she stood a few seconds ago, had transformed into a magnificent white door. She opened her mouth to say something but Zoe beat her to it.

"Oh shit".

"Should we go in?" Aria asked everyone.

"Nice question. What do you do when you see a magical door? Do you enter and possible die or do you stay here and pray for salvation"? Sawyer uttered.

Spencer looked at her boyfriend. "Gosh, you're such a coward". She opened the door and stepped into the room with the others behind her.

Everyone but Sawyer. He disagreed with Spencer. He wasn't scared, he was just being cautious especially after everything he had experienced this night. Staring after them, he decided to stay here and wait for them to come back. But as he looked around, the house felt hunted and empty. "Maybe, I'll just go check on them". He took a step and ran closer to his friends.

"I am guessing, the man was here". He heard Amos say. He looked around and saw the room was no different from the others. Still an enchanting feeling to the room.

"If he was here, where is he now?" Zoe asked.

"Don't know, don't care. All I want is to find a way out of here". Sawyer muttered.

"Yeah, but if we can find the man, maybe he can help us find a way out of here". Amos replied to Sawyer.

The room they group were in was smaller than the others, by the side of the room was a large fire place, burning so high they could feel the heat so close on their skin. It was obvious to them someone resided here recently.

Amos looked around the room closely, and that's when he saw it. In between the two giant pillows on the bed was a book.

Zoe watched as Amos picked up a book, and being curious she strode closer to him. "What's that?"

"Ah, I think it's a journal".

Hearing him, Aria quickly took the book from him. "You think? It's either a journal or not a journal".

A little insulted at Aria's comment, he snatched the book back and opened it. "Do I look like I've seen a journal before? This is the twenty first century, who still writes in a journal?"

Before Aria could reply, Sawyer yelled out. "Just read the damn book already".

Amos nodded. He had to admit, that was the smartest thing Sawyer's ever said tonight. "Okay, I'll read it". Amos cleared his throat and began.

Day one

I was imprisoned for defending my people. Locked away for no just cause. The people I tried to protect, has forgotten me and turned my life into a mere story.

A myth you could say. A fiction, to them but a past to me that hunts me each day

If I could go back, I would. If my pleading could be heard, my life would be different.

My entire being would not be a folktale, told at night for children who do not even believe of my existence.

Some would say, never ageing is a blessing. No, it is a curse to me.

As loneliness hunts me each day.

"Does this sick psycho believe he's what, immortal?" Sawyer asked.

With a shrug Spencer answered. "Maybe".

Everyone turned to her, but it was Zoe that spoke. "You can't possible believe this. Right?"

"Come on guys, have you forgotten what killed Ryan. Or that we saw what was once a wall turn into a door. Trust me when I say, this is not our normal perfect life. This is a different world. I don't how or why but this whole thing has gone beyond normal".

"Maybe, but I refuse to believe it Spence. I can't".

Spencer looked at her best friend Aria in pity. "I don't think we have a choice". She turned to Amos. "Continue".