Final doom

We climbed up slowly, careful not to make a noise with our feet, all that could he heard was the pounding Emanating from our heart. We saw an opened door, we made our way into it hoping to find the open window and a rope, that was when we saw the most terrifying image of our life, a corpses of a men, obviously a military personnel judging from their dressing were hanged on the ceiling, five of them, the sight was agitating and the violent clap of thunder and the lightning wasn't helping matters at all.

We all screamed in horror and rushed out of the room, we descended down stairs rushing, stepping on each other and screaming at the top of our voices.

We reached down at the supposed entrance, trying to catch our breath.

"So it's true, all professor frank said is true ". Jesse said trying to catch his breath.

the reality was staring at us in the face, we suddenly become dump, terrified at agitated so say anything, we said we never believed in superstitious things, we considered it a fairy tale given to scare children to make them calm and stay home, or lullaby even, this discovery really hit us at the right spot, but we haven't seen any ghost yet.

"We need to get out, we really need too" I said determined.

"This house is fucking big, we need to divide ourselves into two teams so we can find an escape route".

They all nodded at my advice.

"I and angel will search the left side of the castle, while Beniah, Jesse and ket will take the right way, scrutinize every door and window or tunnel, whistle to us when you find one and we will also do likewise, and please guys, let's make it quick before nightfall" I said.

I and angel made our way to the left side of the castle, searching through our vanity, we went north using the compass I have on my wrist watch, we searched opening every door, cutting our way through the cobwebs, we searched for about half an hour, but our efforts are all absurd, we seemed to be going round in circles as thou the rooms were changing positions.

We suddenly heard screams erupting from not a far place from our position, using the sound we manage to locate our ways there but we saw ket lying on the ground lifeless, with Beniah shaking her violently screening that she should wake up while Jesse was trying to pull him away from her.

"oh my God, what happened". Angel said kneeling down to check her pulse.

"We were busy looking for the windows or exit, when she stopped behind and step into this room as if been compelled to staring at that mirror, she looks calm like she is not herself, she kept staring and the mirror then gasp and inhale deep then fall down just like ". Jesse said crying.

I went to the mirror, trying to check and what got ket attention and put her in this predicament. I light my touch and move closer fearfully scrutinizing the mirror searching for any clue but found none.

I gave up, just when as i was trying to turn back to leave, in a swift move as the thunder claps I saw a terrifying image on the mirror, it was an horrific image of a woman, a pregnant woman, she was wearing a gray night gown, which appears to be stained with blood, her face looked pale with dark circles hovering around her eyes, her lips painted black, and blood was dripping from her fingers, she was looking me in the eyes smiling mischievously, my eyes opened wide in fear I let out a loud scream and fall backward until I touched something liquid with my palms I turned in fear to look what it was and behold it was a blood, obviously the blood that was dripping from that demon's hand, I was shivering, I can't believe that the devil appeared to me, I was still shivering and screaming when Jesse and angel rushed to me leaving Beniah who was still wallowing in tears holding ket's hand on his heart and patting her cheeks, I quickly hold angel's hand still screaming like a lad, well, you can't blame me, this is too much for someone who have never believed in ghost or any other mystical creatures before, it was a huge blow and weight on me.

"Moris, are you okay?". Angel asked while holding my hands.

"It's all true, it's all true, and it's all true.... ". I continued screaming.

"What's true" Jesse asked.

"I saw her, I saw her, I saw her... " I continued screaming.

"Saw who? ". Angel asked again.

"The ghost, the maid, oh my God, professor frank was right, it was all fucking true, I saw her she was standing behind me, I saw her through the mirror, blood was dripping from her hands".

I started dragging myself on the ground backwardly when my left hand touched something liquid i turned to look at it and it was indeed a blood, the blood.

"this blood". I screamed rushing my words and showing them the blood.

"She was fucking behind me, I swear ".

"Jezz, I knew we should have been here in the first place, I always trust my instinct ". Jesse said

Angel helped me up from the ground, but Beniah stood up and punch me in the face, I staggered back and fall on the floor again, he grasp my collar screaming in my face.

"It's entire your fault" he said.

"It's all your fucking fault "he screamed at my face and punched me again.

Jesse held him from behind and pull us apart, angel rushed to my and helped me up, I touched my bleeding lips and in pain, but the pain was nothing compared to the guilt staring up inside me.

"We wouldn't have been here if not for his idea, my ket won't have died". Beniah screamed pointing his hands at me trying to reach me.

"Hit me, hit me Beniah, if that's what you want, if that's what will make you find ease in your heart, fucking hit me, it's nothing compare to what's hitting me inside "I said pointing at my chest on my last word as I approach him.

Beniah made a move to hit me again when angel stepped in between us and pushed us far apart

"Are you all nuts?, can't you see what's happening? "She asked looking us both.

"We are been hunted here by a century old ghost, seeking for revenge, and you two mature babies are fighting?". She asked incredulously

"Don't you all understand that all have to pay for the sin of one?, we can't keep fighting among ourselves, we aren't alone in this mess, Moris is also here with us, instead of wasting time on argument let's look for a way out of this devil's abyss we got ourselves in, Beniah I know you are hurt, we all are she was our friend too, ket is death and we don't know who is next". She broke into sober, my heart melted for I have never seen her in such state before, it makes me feel more guilt.

We bowed our head in shame, she engulfed us in a group hug, all of us were crying, we were there for about a minute when we heard an ear deafening pitch laughter from nowhere and everywhere, we broke up and turned looking around for it seems like the whole house is shaking, we covered our eyes with our hands, the sound is excruciating to the ear and capable of driving a person to insanity, it lasted for half a minute then we heard foot steps from behind, we turned and Ket's body was nowhere to be found.

"Where is ket". Jesse asked frighten.

"I don't know, she, she, she was lying there just a while ago". Beniah stammered.

"Did she just disappear?, no, this can't be happening " Jesse said.

"Guys, we have to move and not waste anymore time, for now our life solemnly depend on it "I said.

We made our way out this time together we searched for an exit, we searched again in fear for hours, we got tired an decided to take a rest on the stair case, we sat in quietness each lost in his own thought, I was staring up at the ceiling with tears dripping from my eyes, feeling guilty for putting myself and my friends in this God forsaken death trap, as if reading my thought angel hold my hands and gave me an assuring smile.

"It will all be okay". She smiled

I just nodded my head, praying in my mind that it should indeed be okay, but looking at her face I can't help but feel more guilt on the realization that I'm causing her nothing but pain.

Jesse stood up as if he had seen something and made his ways pass me and took a picture from the ground, his eyes widen more in horror.

"Guys, you all need to see this" he called on us.

We rushed to see what it was, we were dumbfounded by this discovery, it was the picture of the old and strange looking man we saw on our way to the castle.

We all turned and looked at each other.

"It's him, the same man we met on our way here that warned not come here which we neglected, if only he had been more open and specific in his words" I said.

"It all made sense now". Angel said recalling the man's words

"Only a fool walks through the valley and shadow of death and beckon on death and doom for his soul".

"It's obvious that he was among the two servants killed along with the royal family by the ghost, he probably had something to do about her death too" Beniah said reasonably.

We heard footsteps descending from the stairs we waited anxiously in fear waiting to see who or what it was, to our horror it was ket, she was smiling mischievously at us her eyes were black, her hair loose, and she looked pale and not herself because we just confirmed her dead just a while ago, we broke into scream and ran for our dear life, together we ran and closed ourselves in one of the rooms, we were gasping trying to catch our breath.

"Are you all okay? " I asked still gasping for air.

"Yes". Jesse replied

"But where is beniah? ". He asked

We turned but didn't saw him.

"oh heavens, we must have ran and left him behind or he probably ran a separate way" angel replied.

"We can't risk it base on assumption, we must have to look for him" I said.

"But what if that thing is still out or probably at our door". Jesse asked terrified.

"You both can stay here, while I go look for him" I said.

"No, I'm coming with you ". Angel said.

We turned and looked at Jesse, well,

He had no choice but to nod in agreement.

We all made our way out and manage to reach the place, and behold we found to our astonishment and horror, Beniah was kissing her, she must have him hypnotized under her spell.

We stopped abruptly, she turned broke the kiss and looked at us with her dark eyes, clearly possessed, smiling mischievously at us.

"Beniah, get away from her ". We all screamed at him, but he didn't make a move at us or even turned to look at us.

She made her way upstairs with Beniah tailing behind her, we kept screaming at him to come back, but he was obviously hexed.

"She is obviously using the bond of love that Beniah shared with ket and compelling him by using Ket's body, she have him under her spell already ". Angel said worriedly.

"What should we do then "I asked looking at angel.

"I don't know, we may have to drag him away from her which will be difficult". she said

"But we have to try". I said as followed them up, screaming and throwing things at Beniah, but he kept following her, they reached the tip of the stair and her feet left the floor and hung on air from above and a bit far from the stairs compelling and gesturing with her hands on Beniah to come, he moved like he had no control over his body.

"Oh no, she is trying to throw him from above "angel screamed.

Ket's body kept moving backward while on air and Beniah followed her.

"Beniah, stoooooop".

I screamed at him and ran towards him with all the strength and speed I could gather, but it was too late just before my hand could reached his he fall from the stairs and landed on the ground, laying lifeless in the pools or his own blood.

Everywhere became quite, perhaps only in my head except for the laugher coming from ket's body, a laughter of victory, then her eyes turned normal and her corpse fall too on the ground beside Beniah.

Angel and Jesse turned their eyes way from the horrific sigh, angel vomited and Jesse cried, I stoop at the top stairs looking at the corpses of my dear friends, I seems to loose my voice, i stood motionless with tears dripping from my eyes, the sight was hunting my conscience.

"He is death, Beniah is death". That was all I could hear ringing in my head.

Another weight of guilt descended on me, I turned and look at Jesse then angel.

"Oh my God, who next will die because of this madness". Was all I could think of, we were like that for a while, I descended the stairs and walk pass angel and Beniah who were beside the corpse, I went and sat down resting my back on the pillar looking at the bodies unable to cry, the pain surpasses crying, it eats up from within. Anger was steering up from within too.

I stood up in anger

"Show yourself, you coward, I said show your fucking self" I screamed.

"What have we done to you to deserve all this madness, we weren't the ones that wrong you" I screamed.

Angel and Jesse turned away from the corpses and looked at me.

"All shall pay for one you said, but we aren't the ones that did this to you, this is so cruel and unfair" I screamed again in anger.

"Please, just let us go "I said kneeling down as I broke into sober crying hard.

"Please". I pleaded

We heard laughter all around erupting, although the rain was calm but the sound of thunder claps and lightening mixed with her horrific voice was overwhelming and scary, the wind was wheeling and intense, the laughter was that of victory, although we can't see the person but we were scared to insanity, we covered our ear with our heads down, it lasted for a while then everything suddenly went quit again.

Angel stood up looking, looking at us with tears in her eyes.

"No one will have to die again, no one". She said with arm akimbo.

"Let's leave, now" she said, but Jesse made no move to stand up, he sat with all hope lost.

"What's the point?". He said.

"We are all going to die anyways, we keep going round in circles".

"Don't say that". Angel screamed.

"I warned us, I always trust my instinct to know when something is amiss, I know too from the look of this house that it contains dark omen but you all fucking insist, now look at our friends ". He said pointing at our friends' body.

"I don't want to die, i don't want to die" he said as he broke into tears.

"Shut up Jesse and be strong, you can't lose hope, we must escape, all of us, kapish? ". She said.

"we are going home again". She said as she cried and hug him while the cried on each other's shoulder.

I watched them, thinking Jesse have a point although I hate to admit it but he was right, record which we ignore shows that no one, have ever escaped before, but I have to assure them otherwise, we have to stay strong.

"Guys, I know we are all brokenhearted, but we can't give up, as long as there is life there is hope, surely, there is light at the end of the tunnel we have to keep searching" I said determined.

"I can't just stay here and die like a coward, I rather die trying to escape". I continued.

They all nodded in agreement.

"Let's leave". I said urging them.

We kept searching for a possible exit, frantically of course, we never gave up on our search, Jesse took out his phone again pointing it upward checking any sign of network so that we can make a call, angel and I looked at him expecting a good result, he turned so us and nodded sideward, we all exhale in disappointment.

"Wait guy, isn't this the same chamber we saw that lamp and mirror? ". He asked.

"Yes, it sure is, look over there the lamp has not extinguish yet" I said pointing at its direction.

Well, considering what we experienced and our ominous adventure the whole lamp thing isn't as odd at our sight as it was.

I turned my gaze to the two sided door with ashes sprinkle over the floor and two my amazement the room formation was restored and i saw a light shining through the curtain.

"guys look". I shouted in delight.

"Oh my God, the door has opened ". Angel said in joy and hugged me

"Let's leave quickly before something funny happen again".

We rushed to leave but stop abruptly and turned only to see Jesse staring intensely at the mirror.

"Jesse, come on hurry up before the door close again". I said gesturing him to come fast.

But he stood immobilized.

"Damn it, come on already ". Angel called on him too.

"Angel, I think something is amiss".

I said hoping in my mind that I was wrong.

Jesse turned and we gasped in horror for truly he wasn't himself, his eyes we're black like that of ket and Beniah, he seems clearly possessed.

"Oh my God, let's run, I hold angels hands trying to drag her out through the opened ashy door, but she obliged.

"I can't leave him, I told you no one will die again under my watch". Then she turned and looked at Jesse.

"I know you are in there, I know you can hear me, this isn't you, you have to fight this, I know you can". She spoke calmly as she approached him fearlessly.

Jesse turned to his left and picked us a scissors on the table beside the fire lamp.

"Angel, don't go any closer ". I shouted, but she ignored me, just as she was about to make a move forward, Jesse quickly use the scissors in his hand and stab his neck with it.

"Noooooooooo". Angel and I shouted in unison.

Everything went blank again.

We rushed to him, blood was gushing out from his neck as he choke unable to breath. We rushed and hold his body before it reached the ground, our cloth were painted red by his blood.

Angel kneels down beside him and out his head on her lap as she used a rag to close and out pressure on his wound.

"Don't worry Jesse, we will get you out of here alive, please don't die on us". She cried.

I stood there scared to say or do anything, I turned to the door but it was closed again.

"Oh heavens, we are dead "I said with hands on my head.

"Angel the door is closed ".

Angel turned quick and with terror, to confirm what I said, she seems less terrified now, as maybe she have given hope on out escape by now, she turned back her gaze on Jesse, but unfortunately Jesse wasn't breathing again. She stared at him patting his checks hoping he will wake up.

I went and patted her on the shoulder to comfort her, we ended up crying together as we hugged each other swimming in our pool of tears.

Then suddenly, the fire on the little lamp started to grow larger and fiercer then the fire took shape of a human, the same lady I saw from the mirror but this time looking more dangerous and scary. we fall back in horror scare out of our wit, we began dragging ourselves back frantically. she began to laugh obviously satisfied by our facial and body expression, she laughed in victory with her head up feeding from our fears, she then looked at us.

"You humans, allow me to welcome you to your own death, you have come in greed to seek what not yours and today you shall dies like all those before you" she said with a scary voice.

"Please kill me instead spare her, I beg of you". I pleaded.

"Hum, love, I see" she said giggling.

"Love have made me what I am today, love is what put me in this predicament, love is the feeling I promised to eliminate, king Titus loved his wife and in order to preserve his love he sacrifice me and my poor child ". She shouted like a maniac in fury and the fire glows more violently as she shouted.

She laughed again and continued " I loved him, I wanted to be his wife too, but he never looked at me more than a mere servant, I know I'm not from a valuable background but I still don't deserve this". She said looking sad again.

"He killed me, the only man I loved killed me like a worthless animal, I vowed to kill all those who love as long as my fire continues to burn in fury, I was heartbroken and all have to pay". She said and made a sign with her hand and Angel began to choke holding her neck as she gasps for air.

"What are you doing, please have mercy and let us go, I know you were wronged by the man you love, he was a coward, please save her and take me instead, please let her go". I continued to beg.

"Never, you all must pay, all of you as long as my fire of fury continue to burn and my mirror that sees you all, then you will understand that even hell have no fury like a woman scorned". She screamed, I turned to look at angel and she was still choking.

"What should I do to make this stop". I thought in my mind, and then her words vibrated in my head

"As long as my fire of fury continues to burn and my mirror that sees you all, then you will understand that even hell has no fury like a woman scorned ". I replayed her words in my head, fire of fury and mirror that sees, it all began to make sense, ket was possessed by looking at a mirror and so was Jesse, I turned my gaze and stare at the mirror, how come i didn't notice that it was the same mirror that ket stared at, it must have teleport back, and thinking deeply only this mirror and fire looks alive in this century old castle, now it makes more sense it's this mirror and fire that kept her living and seeing, it all makes sense.

I looked at her she had her flaming head up laughing in victory, I stood up and ideas echoing in my head, I looked around and saw a stick.

She turned and looked at me, her smile disappeared suddenly already knowing what I was planning to do.

"No, no, no, no, nooooo". She screamed in fright and took a huge form of a fire ball heading towards me, I gathered courage and threw the stick, it made its way through the fire and hit the mirror shattering it to pieces, she let out and ear deafening pitch cry before the cry went silent. The stick fall down and hit lamp which made it fall down on the curtain and set it ablaze, immediately the mirror shattered angel was freed, she lied down on the floor trying to catch her breath, the fire ball that made its way to me hits me on the chest and the impact send me crashing on the wall, everything went blank and i passed out.

"Wake up Moris, you can't leave me, please, ". she said as she cried, I woke up and saw angel hitting my hest and crying too, I coughed out in pain.

"Ouch, don't hit me that hard it hurts". I said weakly.

She laughed in delighted and hugged me tightly "you are alive". She broke into tears of joy.

"What happened" I said looking around, the house was burning, but that wasn't really my problem.

we disengaged from the hug, I turned and looked at angel, she was looking at me incredulously like it's a form of a miracle that I survived the hit.

"I never knew you can hit hard, you should have been a boxer ".

"You idiot" she said smacking me as she laughed.

"We better leave before we burn to ashes, save the love for later ". She said as she helped me up to my feet, we made our way out of the castle to Beniah's car, we sat down on the ground and lean at the car watching the castle burn, a fresh pain stirred up from inside me at the thought of my friends body that must be burning in the fire, I failed them woefully, I orchestrated all this, the guilt was overwhelming inside of me, I feel like I should be the one in death instead, since it was my ideas, I turned as looked at angel who smiled at me with pains, sorrows.

We stayed there for the whole night, angel slept with her heads on my shoulder, I couldn't sleep we sat on the ground as we leaned our back on the car, Beniah's car, I couldn't sleep at all I just sat as I watch the castle burn thinking of what next will become of us what are we to tell our friends parent when they ask of their children, although I feel good and grateful to heavens for being alive but a small part of me wish I wasn't when I think of what to tell their families about what has became of them.

We stood the next morning and drive home in silence, all lost in thoughts, I know from now things will never be the same again.

....... The end........

Story written by : MORIS PAUL(KING)