The chandelier

'Code medal, Baker, it looks like there is something to look for after all.' Belle's voice beeped over the earphone.

Baker gasped, a little too much, that the grandma passing outside peered at him, with a weird look.

'kids these days.' the woman uttered and left. After he agreed to help them find mutants or whatever, he did some research as she asked him to, sorry, begged him to. He found nothing, except a blogpost saying someone run a cult there with meetings, and someone performing a ritual to summon the devil himself. Instead, they were all disappointed by dust gathering around their little circle and some fake blood they poured inside.

It was funny to read, but except that, no creepy incidents or hauntings. Just that, no one comes near it, because there have been no buyers that are wealthy enough to buy it. There had been one potential buyer about ten years ago, but at that time it couldn't be approved by the officials, because there was too much going on in the town, like a chain of fire, and protests about some water issue. All these did say something about the condition and history of the town.

The town, on the other hand, has some really weird history. He realized it was not about the house that the buyers wanted to avoid, but the town.

'Copy. Tell me what you see.'

Belle looked around with her flashlight, and she saw some kind of metal trapdoor, standing out from the rest. It had a metal handle, a very thin one, one you could barely notice. 'I see a trapdoor, right under the chandelier. The rumors were true!' She smiled to herself, proud that she believed them.

'I'm going to open it!' she impatiently reached her hand out to the trapdoor, when suddenly:

SNAP!

Something pulled all three of them behind, pushing them to the darkest corner behind the window. There was a window, with a dimly lit moonlight, shedding some kind of light on one spot of the floor. They saw a shadow creeping behind it. It stepped over the window, and over to them...

'AAAH!' Misty was the first to scream.

'AAAH!' followed by Artemis and Audrey in a corner somewhere. Artemis couldn't believe his eyes. It was true, wasn't it? There was someone there, and that someone is going to end them all in this spot, and they will be here forever, stuck and rotting in this dust, probably be turned to ghosts, and be lonely forever like those pantsy losers in horror movies.

'The shadow neared them every second, making their hearts pound faster and faster until it reached the light, where they could clearly see it. It was Audrey.

'Artemis!' She ran to her brother, and they both exchanged a warm embrace. 'You are so dead.' he whispered as he hugged her.

'I know.'

'Oh my god, are you guys doing? Why did you push us?' she exclaimed, biting her tongue. Her patience was indeed running out.

'Huh? I didn't push you?' she added.

The three of them exchanged weird looks with each other. 'Ummmm, are you ok?' Audrey asked, concerned for Orange sleeve's well-being.

'You pushed us. Period.' she declared, trying hard not to get scared a second time.

'If it was you, then who-'

TAK!

The chandeliers boomed open. It was about time, thought Misty.

Artemis could see his wounds more clearly now, and he honestly wished that he didn't have to see it. A piece of glass was stuck in it, so deep, and it was still bleeding, and little bubbles were popping beside it.

'That can't be good.'

'What in the world happened to your hand??' Audrey flinched.

'It's all because of you. I've nearly been run over by a car, and now I smashed a grandfather clock and have glass stuck in my arms.' he groaned. So much misfortune in one day. This can't be good.

'What's going on there? I heard screaming. Are you dead?' Baker asked over the earpod.

'Ugh, we're not dead, Baker, the chandeliers turned on, all by themselves.' Audrey stated, still not over the shock.

All in all, the place looked abandoned. The furniture moved in every inch is very visible now, and when they moved sideways acutely, they could see it formed a maze. They somehow clashed and avoided the traps, finished the maze, and found the trapdoor.

Well, everyone except Audrey. She failed all of them.

'Ah! We're going. This is over.' Artemis cried and snatched Audrey's hand.

As much as Audrey wanted to stay and see what is inside, her brother was badly hurt, and she had no choice other than to go back. Besides, she was starving, Mom might be worried about them, and there are a lot of spiders roaming this area.

'Ugh, are you kidding me? Leaving us in the middle like this? You are an idiot after all.' she snorted.

'Go away!;' he cursed, and dragged her with his good hand.

'I-I'm sorry.' she cried.

He didn't utter a word on their way back. He clenched his hands as tight as possible, a groan or two could be heard now and then, but it was dead quiet.

In the bleak distance, a lone tree stood in isolation. The sky was dark, and gloomy, its blanket spread covering the bright side of life. All the night creatures were out. She could hear faint chirping of crickets in the distance somewhere, and a soft hooting of an owl. Everything was quiet. The chill air hit her like a steam-powered trail, sending shivers down her spine.

'Am I in trouble?' she opened her mouth, her head feeling dizzy from hanging upside down for too long. Cold air escaped from her mouth to her lungs, filling her body with nothing but coldness.

'I don't know.' he blurted.

Cautiously, they made their way out of the desolate street as the icy wind howled.

'I didn't mean for all the things to happen to you. I'm sorry.' she apologized again, and again, hoping to reverse the effects of today.