Those amongst us

“Jesus,Carter! Could you breathe any more heavier?”

Jackson joked while chuckling.

His walking pace was as quick as a toddler’s, excited to see what’s ahead. The breeze blew against my brunette hair as I looked left and right examining the area.

“How on Earth is someone so eager for just us two alone to visit their brought ruined mansion?” I asked curiously while glaring at the miniature, rectangular, front shattered windows. Dust comfortably settled on the windows while cobwebs danced on its edges.

Vines tangled on the broken areas. I focused my attention on the

Thick layered, dusty windows on the ground.

“Jackson, I recommend you not to step on those floor windows for they may appear strong however they are weaker than grass.”

I suggested thoughtfully.

Although, he just laughed loudly at my face.

“Well obviously, this whole area is around two hundred years old Carter!” He exclaimed while laughing hysterically.

Jackson was always so unserious. And well, it was visibly obvious. From the way he combed his blonde,curly hair back into a messy bun to the way he walked as if he were a pigeon on land. Jackson would appear to the queen in a clown suit if he felt like it. Although he is really only my friend because he is adventurous which is something we actually had in common.

It took us around ten minutes to finally approach the gates of the mansion because paranoia ran through my mind at just the look of the architecture. It was so outdated,horrifying yet fascinating.

When Jackson and I entered inside, our noses got attacked by a wrecking mossy smell coming from ahead. We stood in the large hall coughing violently. I then looked up at the ceiling. Gold was decorated in the middle of the marble design. The gold was in a swirled shape. I reckon the Dalca family adored the idea of creativity. Unfortunately, the dust once again laid on the marble and gold area making the ceiling appear an odd dull colour.

Many crystal white pillars were randomly placed through the halls as if they were meant to confuse the visitors. Also various, U shaped mirrors were placed on the marble walls. So it seemed like the room was slightly crowded.

“Is this some sort of illusion?” Jackson chuckled out.

I nearly forgot he was next to me.

Later on we spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the building. It was very extraordinary and nicely decorated. It seemed like the original owner had an obsession with swirls due to them being planted at every corner.

As the evening approached, we realised we both had explored twenty three rooms which were very unique. It’s heard that the owner had nine children and then their next generations also lived in the house. So each month, a new room was built for an addition to the grand family. Unluckily, one time they were at an outing, a terrorist attack occurred and it burnt their whole family due to them all being present there. That incident ended their bloodline but it is rumoured to say that their souls still remain in this house because they phrased “Once the Dalca name claims you, the house will claim you too, and it will never let you go.”

Jackson kept on repeating that sentence over and over again to scare me but I remained fearless. That is what I expressed but truly inside I was trembling as if I was a little girl.

“Jackson, this room should be the last room we are entering before we leave.” I informed him.

“Why? Is it because you are frightened?” He mocked while smirking.

“No, because we only paid to explore twenty four rooms.” I stated firmly.

“All right but at least let me use the toilet first and when I’m done I'll return back into this room.”

“I want to really explore it because it was owned by a four year old girl named Lady Emilla and I want to examine how children's rooms were decorated back then.”

After he left to find a functioning toilet or maybe just a bush he could urinate into.

After waiting for three minutes, I couldn’t wait at the front of the room anymore, I was very impatient. So I gently opened the tall, oak wooden door and entered late lady Emilla’s room. It was perfectly wide and had a nice light crimson floral pattern on its walls. Many pictures were on its walls but at first I forced on her double tall bed. It had a curved wooden headboard. The bedsheets were surprisingly laid, however I really didn’t think it was new and fresh for it had dirty creamy white sheets that grew a little moss on them and there were ants crawling on it too. It also smelled strongly like metal. Curious, I touched the duvet and pulled it down to relieve a shiny metal doll in the shape of an eye. Shocked, I stabilised back. Why was it clean? Why was the paint on it still visible? Adding to my fear was that it reflected my image too. I was so done with seeing mirrors so I turned away from it and looked at the crystal chandelier too. From afar, it looked fine but when I leaned in to look closer, I noticed that it was cleaned too and very shiny. With my fingers, I touched it and rubbed my thumb on its edge. It was plastic. Plastic chandeliers in a mansion?

Then I looked at the wall. On it was a picture of a little girl wearing a long, white dress while holding flowers in her hand. Her facial expressions were stern and serious. Her hair was tied up into a decorative bun. At the bottom of the picture. It wrote “Emilla Dalca” in a sharpie pen. Surprised once again I tried rubbing it off and successfully erased the “ca” part. Under my breath I swore that the recent buyer of the house said that none of the mansion has been cleaned or fixed to keep the originality vibe. However sharpie is definitely not two hundred years old. This better be a damn lie or I’ll suffocate in the dusty cellar.

BANG!

Startled, I quickly turned to see Jackson return with a stern expression on his face.

“What is the matter Jackson?” I questioned, confused.

“We must leave now Carter because I am hungry, like extremely hungry that my inside is eating itself.” Jackson declared,frustrated.

I rolled my eyes then stared deeply at him.

“Jackson I thought u were about to confess you ruined a belonging for a moment.” I chuckled.

“Don’t you still want to examine this room first because you were eager to explore it before” I reminded him.

Annoyed, he glared at me and stated,

“Do you ever shut up Carter, I said I am hungry we need to leave before I begin chewing on the walls right now!”

I leaned back by his rudeness because I was unfamiliar with it.

“Okay okay but first let me just look at her small vanity for a second before we leave.”

Before he could disagree, I ran over to her vanity and explored its dark wooden design.

“This is so angeli-” Then I mistakenly pressed my finger on a random broken bit.

“Oh damn, I never saw this broken piece,”

I turned to look at Jackson and he was already behind me although looking down at my shoes. I didn’t question his odd behaviour instead I informed him on how the room is quite creepy with modern bits secretly added to it. When I was done with my statement, he walked back to the door to leave and for the last time I looked at myself and fixed my hair in the vanity mirror. Through the mirror, I tried to look at Jackson, but he didn’t appear in it. Confused at first, I looked behind me but he was still near the mirror view. Then I looked back at the mirror but he didn’t appear in it. Horrified, I looked at him for the second time and he was still walking to the door in the mirror’s view but he still didn’t reflect on the mirror. A small gasp escaped my lips.

“I will be waiting outside this door, Carter.” Jackson called out.

When he was out my mind was racing. Why wasn’t his reflection not showing? Then I remembered looking at the mirrors in the hall downstairs. Jackson wasn’t visible either on those mirrors. Now I froze still silently whispering prayers. I walked slowly to the door wiping my bloody fingers on the dark wooden headboard of the bed. Whatever Jackson is or has become, I could sense that he will truly reveal himself as soon as I open this door.

Eventually, I opened the large,oak door slowly as possible. With my own eyes, I experienced Jackson leaping onto the wooden headboard of the bed then sucking onto my blood I wiped on it. Truly terrified, I screamed and ran as fast to the end of the upstairs hall aiming for the tiny broken window. I forcefully squeezed my body into the small window and managed to get out and landed on the first roof. Without hesitation, I landed on the second roof with a thud and a huge ache on my back then I landed on the last roof with a half broken arm. Now, all i needed to do is fall on the ground alive and run for my life. So I scanned for a bush at least and found one. Instantly, I landed on the bush although a few thorns struck my cheeks however I didn't even notice it yet.

With my heart leaping in my chest,I ran for my life, passing the fountain and passing the dead garden. Finally I reached the entrance gates and ran out successfully. I then looked back briefly and saw Jackson screaming which shook the gates, his teeth flashed like knives, his hands clawing with unnatural length. The iron bars rattled, but he could not pass. The curse held him fast. I ran, but his voice — his voice followed, echoing curses.That was when I realised Jackson was somehow related to the Dalca bloodline right before we entered the mansion. The word he always said was “Once the Dalca name claims you, the house will claim you too, and it will never let you go.”