2 Chapter 2

The group found their way through two more rooms before they decided it was time to leave. Xin Lumei grumbled, saying that Mystic Mansion was barely worth their money. Cai Shengwei nodded his head in agreement. As they continued to walk, he studied the surrounding area with a dim interest. The others were caught up in a deep conversation about whether or not they should play Dungeons and Dragons over the weekend when something caught his eye.

He flipped his head around to see a pretty young woman smiling and waving them over. "Hey," he called as he tugged at Xiang Hai's blue-jean jacket. "There is a lady over there." His words made everyone pause and look over to where he was pointing. "Should we go see what she has in store for us?"

Xin Lumei glanced at her watch. "We still have some time left, but she may be one of the employees who guide the lost back outside. I say we follow." Everyone thought she had a valid point, so she brought them over to the woman. "Hi!"

The employee giggled. "Hello, children. Would you like to come with me?"

"Yes. We were on our way to finding the exit, but you saved us the trouble. I have to give you my thanks." She gave a dazzling smile which showed her perfect teeth. 'So beautiful,' Cai Shengwei thought as he stared at Xin Lumei's auburn colored hair which twisted into tight swirls. He came back to reality after a few moments and sprinted to catch up to the moving group.

It was strange, though. Cai Shengwei's gut was telling him to avoid the woman at all costs, but he didn't want to be the one to say anything and stayed quiet. The lady had introduced herself, telling the children that her name was Lu Fei.

Cai Shengwei had to say that Lu Fei took the holiday very seriously. She wore ancient robes, the color of snow, which had large hand markings made of 'blood.' Her face also had some dried blood resting on its surface and small portions of her hair were matted up with the liquid as well.

"Nice costume and make-up. Where did you get everything? It's so realistic." He asked.

"Costume?" Lu Fei looked back at him in wonder. "Oh, yes. Yes, this is a costume, nothing more and nothing less. I made it myself, so you can't find it anywhere else in this world." He felt her words were a bit off, but he let it slide. Perhaps it was all a part of her character for the night. "Then, could I have your number so that you may make this costume for my size. I can pay fifty bucks for it."

"Interesting offer, little boy, but this granny here is not willing. After all," Lu Fei replied as she led the group into a hidden room. Xin Lumei and Xiang Hai followed without any hesitation, but the other two paused. They both had an ominous feeling of the place, not just because it was inside of a haunted house. The way Lu Fei presented herself and the way the room was obscured when all the others were in a plain path. "What are you waiting for? The exit is over here." Lu Fei beckoned.

Despite her sweet voice, Cai Shengwei took a step back. This place wasn't right at all. He was able to see something the others couldn't. A scarlet mask on her face as plain as day and a wicked gleam hidden in her eyes. "No! Everyone, come back." He yelled.

Xin Lumei and Xiang Hai, however, acted as though they couldn't hear him. "Xin Lumei? Xiang Hai?" He called their names, but there was no response. In the corner of his eye, he saw Nalan Pong also within the room. "Nalan Pong!"

Lu Fei laughed as she snapped her fingers. His three friends turned around to face him with anguish in their eyes. "Help me!" They screamed, causing Cai Shengwei's body to shake in fear.

"This has got to be a dream. A very, very bad dream. All I need to do..." He pinched himself, slapped himself, banged his head against the wall and purposely fell to the ground but nothing would wipe away his friend's pleas for help.

He wanted to get to them, to wake them up, but all of his attempts had failed. He stood huffing and puffing as he gave Lu Fei a hateful glare. "What have you done to them?" His voice was weak and trembling. It was as though he had given up all hope.

"I see you are finished with your futile attempts to save them," Lu Fei replied as she uncrossed her arms. "You would fit perfectly as a knight in shining armor, trying to save his beautiful princess from the vile dragon and phoenix. In fact, that may be what I will do first..."

She waved her hand and created some force which picked Cai Shengwei up. His heart was unwilling, but his body would not respond as he tried to resist. How in the world did she have this power? This was no Star Wars movie with Yoda saying, "May the force be with you." This was no fantasy world with magic. It was just plain old earth with guns and technology. There was supposed to be no magic here!

Cai Shengwei's mind blacked out, just like the others as the young woman opened up a portal into her personal dimension. She set them up in the roles they were to play on her Stage and waited for them to wake up. She was highly anticipating what story they would bring her. After all, she only chooses the roles they play. As a personal rule of hers, she refuses to interfere with how the characters act.

As for the story she had just set up, she had played it a million times, but she never gets bored. The reason is because of the interesting results she had attained. One time, the knight in shining armor was the villain as he held a grudge against the girl. Some brought about massive wars which destroyed the entire planet while others came together and lived happily.