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Chapter 1

"Welcome to our humble mansion." Reyn said as we enter the western looking mansion. It's their ancestral house and as planned we went here for our vacation. It was a great idea, my shows and guesting were a bomb that I badly need a breather.

The mansion preserved it's vintage look although it is more than fifty years old. Julie was clinging on my right arm while I was pulling my luggage on my other hand. Her head was almost turning 360 degrees. She was admiring the ornaments inside the mansion. Her mouth will always turn 'o' whenever she sees something that amuses her.

"Girls' rooms are upstairs, at the end of the alley." Reyn said pointing above the grand staircase.

"Do you have a jacuzzi?" Julie asked.

"Roger that." Reyn said winking at her.

The staircase too was made of hardwood. After it was a long alley with vintage pictures on both sides. The pictures were black and white, it would pass as a Halloween decor. I stopped to look at one picture. Their dresses were quite old. I'm guessing that they took it way back before digital cameras were invented.

Julie and I got to share rooms on the second floor while Ethan and Reyn shared the room next to ours. Our room was pretty spacious; it has two four-poster beds, an entertainment area, and also has its own walk-in closet that's half of the size of the room. Maybe I did underestimate this mansion.

"This place is cool! What do you think Dahlia?" Julie asked while we were unpacking our luggage, compared to mine her luggage is much bigger. What did she bring? With that size, I bet she brought her entire closet.

"Yeah cool." I replied. She clung to me once more and pinched my both cheeks. I removed her hands on my face, she wasn't offended. She knows very well that I don't like that much skinship.

"Come on! Loosen up boss bish." She raised her hands waving like a lunatic that made me laugh. She was copying the steps of our dance break but it didn't suit her.

"There! You look better when you're smiling."

"And if not? I'm ugly?" I crossed my arms.

"You're never ugly. Even your fans know that." We both laugh "You just look constipated if you don't smile." We even burst into laughter after what she said.

Julie and I we're friends since middle school; same with Ethan. Reyn is my childhood friend. We share the same interests tho —Performing Arts. We are all in a singing and dancing group, beside Julie for she preferred to be a solo artist rather be in a group.

And having an escapade like this after our tiring and busy schedules is rare so we do our best to relax and make the most of our vacation. It was already dark when got here so Reyn called us for dinner. We both went downstairs where the boys are.

Something caught my attention while looking at the windows. A pair of muddy boots at the back gate an indiactaion that there's someone here beside our group. Right! maybe the maids are here too. Of course a mansion this big needs maintenance so I guess the maids are here too.

"We're gonna play games later right?" Ethan said that made Julie excited. I was busy feasting at the steak Reyn prepared for us. I haven't eaten steak for a long time. I'm always in a diet and my manager was pretty strict about it.

"Ooh! Dahlia is good at games, right?" Julie said poking my shoulder. They were fully aware of me having a huge crush on Ethan. Though it's a top-secret for us for we don't want the media to feast on that issue. We both have our dating bans so I don't validate my so-called crush for him. Besides, it was nothing serious, to begin with.

"It depends on the game that we'll play." I said while taking a spoonful of the meal in front. After dinner, we went back to our rooms. We had a total of five hours traveling from my agency to this mansion. So I went to the bathroom and showered. I wore my red checkered button-down sleeves and a black pair of shorts. Julie braided my hair and applied light make up on my face. Pushing me to look good in front of Ethan.

"You look pretty!" She exclaimed.

"Whatever." I rolled my eyes and chuckled.

"Get that guy! Fighting!" She said with a clenched fist supporting me.

It was seven in the evening when Reyn called us in the living room. I sat beside Ethan —he was wearing a blue printed oversized shirt and a pair of black Taslan shorts. He looks good with his healthy biceps. Julie was seated opposite of me wearing a yellow Sunday dress Reyn was beside her wearing a green hoodie and a pair of sweat shorts.

"Who's up for spin the bottle?" Reyn said. So that explains the empty bottle on the coffee table.

"Us!" Julie excitedly exclaimed.

Reyn spins the bottle. But even before the bottle stopped indicating the start of the game the lights went off. I heard Julie screamed so I went to reach her. She's absolutely afraid of the dark so I caressed her shoulders to calm her.

Ethan and Reyn searched for candles or anything that lights but we heard a loud crash that made me and Julie worried. I couldn't leave her so I stood up, still caressing her.

But before we could even take a step away from the sofa a handkerchief was placed on my nose that made me dizzy. I struggled with all of my strengths but whoever was holding me was much stronger. I struggled until I felt my body felt numb.

The next thing I knew, darkness dragged me out of my consciousness.