The place was empty and decrepit with the gaping holes in the walls,
In the ceilings, and the floors,
That made it look like a giant, haunted maze…
Where we could get lost forever.
Kiara
Zoe, I don’t think this place is safe.
Kiara
Look at it, the walls are crumbling…
Kiara
But that’s not worrying me the most.
Kiara
It feels like death in here.
Zoe
Stop! You’re freaking me out.
Zoe
We’ve gotta stay focused—
I gripped Zoe’s hand as we stepped out of the foyer and into the grand ballroom.
Kiara
There must be a million places to hide a book here.
Kiara
Hey Zoe? I think we need to go.
Kiara
Because we’re being watched.
There, crouched in a decaying third floor window,
was the silhouette of a person—
Suddenly he vanished out the window.
Bright beams of headlights sliced through the gaps in the walls.
Kiara
Who the hell is that?!
Zoe
Maybe it’s a collector here to buy the book from that boy.
Kiara
Maybe. Miss Maria said it was valuable to some people.
Kiara
But that seems too simple.
Kiara
I mean, she also said people have died for it.
As we heard footsteps coming up the front porch…
Zoe and I pulled up some loose floorboards and slipped underneath them.
The stench of rot filled my nostrils as spiders crawled all over my skin.
Kiara
Shhhh. They’re coming this way.
The footsteps were getting nearer and nearer. I could hear them in the next room.
I held my breath as the stranger entered our room and walked right over us.
The floorboards groaned under his weight.
I clenched my fists and whispered in my friend’s ear…
Kiara
Get ready to fight.
A hand grabbed the floorboard above me, ripping it away and tossing it aside.
I wound up to attack but stopped abruptly.
The face of a tragically handsome gentleman stared back at us.
He flashed us a disarming smile.
Stranger
I take it you were expecting someone else?
Kiara
Yeah. Who the hell are you?
Mr. Archivolt
My name is Igor Archivolt, and I own this place.
Mr. Archivolt
No one lives here. Miss...
Kiara
Don’t worry about who we are.
Mr. Archivolt
Well, you’re on my property.
Mr. Archivolt
I thought it might be nice to know the names of my guests.
Mr. Archivolt
If anything, I’m relieved.
Mr. Archivolt
I was afraid I may have stumbled on a vagrant.
Mr. Archivolt
You’re not vagrants, are you?
Mr. Archivolt
Though, now I’m curious as to why you were under my floor.
Mr. Archivolt
Well, I have to say, you’re the first locals I’m meeting.
Mr. Archivolt
I just got into town and wanted to take a look at what I’d bought.
Zoe
You bought this place without seeing it?
Mr. Archivolt
Yes. It’s what I do…
Mr. Archivolt
I buy historic old places and fix them up.
Mr. Archivolt
Come along, I’ll show you around.
I knew that following this mysterious man wasn’t a good idea…
But my feet seemed to move of their own accord.
And right beside me, with a panicked look on her face,
Zoe took a few leaden steps toward Mr. Archivolt as well.
We moved through the house, room by room,
Until we eventually came back to the place where Zoe and I had been hiding.
Kiara
Shhh Zoe! Don’t say anything.
Mr. Archivolt came up behind us.
Mr. Archivolt
I see you like my book.
Mr. Archivolt
Do you recognize it, girls?
Recognizing my vehemence, I tried to soften my tone..
Kiara
But I uhhh…I wouldn’t mind taking a look at it.
Kiara
May I please borrow it for a few days?
Mr. Archivolt
Not so fast.
Mr. Archivolt
I have a feeling I might have some use for this old book.
Mr. Archivolt
Shall we look at it together?
I tried to speak but instead, my legs carried me across the room.
It seemed that Mr. Archivolt was willing us to move once again.
But just as we were about to turn into a darkened chamber…
A sheriff’s cruiser pulled up outside.
Zoe
Good, let’s get out of here—something weird is going on.
Mr. Archivolt
That’s why I called them when I arrived.
Mr. Archivolt
I knew something was off when I saw the lights on.
Mr. Archivolt
Shall we go out and have a chat?
Sheriff Bracket
You there!
Mr. Archivolt
Hello Sheriff. I’m Igor Archivolt, owner of this estate.
Mr. Archivolt
I called you earlier about a possible trespasser on my property.
Sheriff Bracket
Yes, and would you like me to remove these two girls?
Mr. Archivolt
That won’t be necessary.
Sheriff Bracket
Well I’ll be damned.
Sheriff Bracket
I’d have guessed these hooligans were bothering you.
Sheriff Bracket
Looks like I’ll be letting you be if you’re having a party here.
As the Sheriff pulled his cop car away from the estate, an icy chill crept down my spine.
There was no one who could help us. We needed to go.
But my feet stayed cemented in the ground.
I still had too many unanswered questions.
Mr. Archivolt
Now that that’s settled…
Mr. Archivolt
Let’s get back to our discussion about this book.
Mr. Archivolt
Perhaps you’ll understand it better…
Mr. Archivolt
If I take you to a special room in my home.
Kiara
No offense, but that sounds a little creepy.
Kiara
We’re not just going to follow you into a secret room.
Mr. Archivolt
Oh, but I think you are.
Mr. Archivolt
After all, your friend is already visiting me down there.
Mr. Archivolt
Oh? Is that her name?
Kiara
What do you mean ‘Is that her name?’
Kiara
You said she was a guest.
Mr. Archivolt
Did I say that?
Kiara
That’s it—I’ve had enough of your riddles.
Kiara
Take us to her. I need to know what’s going on.
Mr. Archivolt
I thought you’d never ask.
Mr. Archivolt
See that cellar door over there?
Mr. Archivolt
Kiara, please lift it.
Zoe, eager to see Abby, lunged forward to lift the cellar door.
Mr. Archivolt
Not so fast.
Mr. Archivolt
I apologize if I was unclear, but I do believe I specified that KIARA should be the one to lift it.
Kiara
Look, I don’t even know how you know my name.
Mr. Archivolt
Time will tell, dear Kiara.
Mr. Archivolt
Now won’t you be a dear and lift the door?
Sullenly, I lifted the cellar door and all three of us slipped inside to a dirt room.
With a radiant smile, Mr. Archivolt led us to the mouth of a tunnel.
But we’d only taken a few steps when a hand pressed around my mouth…
And my body was dragged backward, into the darkness.
