The Mysterious Mansion--Part 4--

“Aaaaaah!”

Relena screamed and pressed herself against a wall. However, at second glance, the goblin was little more than a mask dropped from above with some string. Clutching a hand to her chest, she forced herself to move on.

She had managed a few feet before something else jumped out of the shadows. With a muffled cry, she stepped back. Then she realized it was just a grotesque dummy loaded on a spring. With a shaky smile, she continued forward.

Ever so often, something would drop from the ceiling or jump out from a wall. However, after each encounter, she grew less frightened. Finally, as she reached the end of the passage, she was laughing at the cheesiness of the tricks.

Once again, she was faced with a choice of doors. The one on the left was locked, leaving her only the door on the right. Hoping it would eventually lead upstairs, Relena opened the creaky door and made her way through.

* * * * *

“Relena!”

He paused, straining his ears. Once again, he found himself surrounded by silence. ‘Where the hell could she be?’ he fumed, continuing down yet another dimly let corridor.

‘If she hadn’t chosen this stupid thing,’ he continued, ‘I wouldn’t be in this mess. Why could she just let us go home? Why does she keep bothering me anyway?’

‘Well, she didn’t even invite you. Noin did,’ part of him countered, making Heero frown. He really didn’t know why he had come. Whenever Relena was involved, he became confused.

Which brought him back to his current problem. Where was Relena? He wanted to find her and get out of this god-forsaken house.

The corridor ended. At the conclusion, the wall contained two doors. The one on the left was locked, while the right one was opened.

“Enough of this,” Heero growled. The thin wood splintered under the force of Heero’s kick. With a smirk, he proceeded through the now opened left door.

* * * * *

Frank gave a shout of protest as he watched the young man destroy the locked door with a kick. Still gaping, he sat back in his seat, his eyes glued to the monitor. “Well, I definitely didn’t expect him to do that.”

The older couple had made their way out of the house several minutes ago, leaving the young man and his companion the only ones left inside. He knew that if the couple didn’t make it soon, their friends would become anxious. Yet, he smiled. Fred would be the one who would have to deal with them.

“I’m not finished with you two just yet,” he murmured. He located the girl on the monitor, pinpointing her location. She wasn’t that far from her friend, thanks to the boy’s unexpected detour.

“Let’s see how you react to this.” Still grinning, he moved to a console covered with buttons, lights, and switches. He threw two switches and hit a button. Chuckling to himself, he leaned back in his chair and prepared to watch the results of his handiwork.

* * * * *

With a sigh, Relena reluctantly leaned against the dingy gray wall. She was lucky the last door had led her to an ascending hallway. She had climbed up about two floors, and she desperately hoped that put her near the floor where she had left Heero.

Then the wall shifted. Relena fell backwards and hit the ground with a jarring thud. “I’m really getting sick of this!” she cried, dusting her clothes off once more.

There was a slam as the wall closed back in place. She was encased in darkness for just a moment before the lights flickered to life. Thankful, Relena looked around.

She was in a room that was hidden by the wall. Yet another door was in front of her, the only means of leaving the room. To her right, there was a window or a mirror.

Curious, she slowly walked toward it. She could see a dimly lit corridor as well as a faint reflection of herself. It was a one-way mirror.

Without meaning to, she placed a hand against the cool surface. As she was about to leave, she thought she saw a shadow move. Peering closer, Relena realized it was Heero and her heart twisted.

“Heero! Heero, it’s me! I’m in here!”

Her cries echoed back, flooding the small room with sound. However, beyond the glass, Heero seemed oblivious to her presence. Frantic, she began to beat her hands against the mirror.

“Heero! Please, turn around! I’m in here! I’m right here!”

He had reached the end of the passage, facing yet another set of doors. One proved locked while the other was opened. Relena continued her pleas as she watched Heero break the locked door down with a kick.

As he proceeded on, she became silent. He was gone. She had been so close.

“This is not the time for self-pity, Relena,” she said aloud. “Enough of this. Go find Heero.”

With a defiant flip of her hair, she opened the door and left the room.


Part IV “Aaaaaah!” Relena screamed and pressed herself against a wall. However, at second glance, the goblin was little more than a mask dropped from above with some string. Clutching a hand to her chest, she forced herself to move on. She had managed a few feet before something else jumped out of the shadows. With a muffled cry, she stepped back. Then she realized it was just a grotesque dummy loaded on a spring. With a shaky smile, she continued forward. Ever so often, something would drop from the ceiling or jump out from a wall. However, after each encounter, she grew less frightened. Finally, as she reached the end of the passage, she was laughing at the cheesiness of the tricks. Once again, she was faced with a choice of doors. The one on the left was locked, leaving her only the door on the right. Hoping it would eventually lead upstairs, Relena opened the creaky door and made her way through. * * * * * “Relena!” He paused, straining his ears. Once again, he found himself surrounded by silence. ‘Where the hell could she be?’ he fumed, continuing down yet another dimly let corridor. ‘If she hadn’t chosen this stupid thing,’ he continued, ‘I wouldn’t be in this mess. Why could she just let us go home? Why does she keep bothering me anyway?’ ‘Well, she didn’t even invite you. Noin did,’ part of him countered, making Heero frown. He really didn’t know why he had come. Whenever Relena was involved, he became confused. Which brought him back to his current problem. Where was Relena? He wanted to find her and get out of this god-forsaken house. The corridor ended. At the conclusion, the wall contained two doors. The one on the left was locked, while the right one was opened. “Enough of this,” Heero growled. The thin wood splintered under the force of Heero’s kick. With a smirk, he proceeded through the now opened left door. * * * * * Frank gave a shout of protest as he watched the young man destroy the locked door with a kick. Still gaping, he sat back in his seat, his eyes glued to the monitor. “Well, I definitely didn’t expect him to do that.” The older couple had made their way out of the house several minutes ago, leaving the young man and his companion the only ones left inside. He knew that if the couple didn’t make it soon, their friends would become anxious. Yet, he smiled. Fred would be the one who would have to deal with them. “I’m not finished with you two just yet,” he murmured. He located the girl on the monitor, pinpointing her location. She wasn’t that far from her friend, thanks to the boy’s unexpected detour. “Let’s see how you react to this.” Still grinning, he moved to a console covered with buttons, lights, and switches. He threw two switches and hit a button. Chuckling to himself, he leaned back in his chair and prepared to watch the results of his handiwork. * * * * * With a sigh, Relena reluctantly leaned against the dingy gray wall. She was lucky the last door had led her to an ascending hallway. She had climbed up about two floors, and she desperately hoped that put her near the floor where she had left Heero. Then the wall shifted. Relena fell backwards and hit the ground with a jarring thud. “I’m really getting sick of this!” she cried, dusting her clothes off once more. There was a slam as the wall closed back in place. She was encased in darkness for just a moment before the lights flickered to life. Thankful, Relena looked around. She was in a room that was hidden by the wall. Yet another door was in front of her, the only means of leaving the room. To her right, there was a window or a mirror. Curious, she slowly walked toward it. She could see a dimly lit corridor as well as a faint reflection of herself. It was a one-way mirror. Without meaning to, she placed a hand against the cool surface. As she was about to leave, she thought she saw a shadow move. Peering closer, Relena realized it was Heero and her heart twisted. “Heero! Heero, it’s me! I’m in here!” Her cries echoed back, flooding the small room with sound. However, beyond the glass, Heero seemed oblivious to her presence. Frantic, she began to beat her hands against the mirror. “Heero! Please, turn around! I’m in here! I’m right here!” He had reached the end of the passage, facing yet another set of doors. One proved locked while the other was opened. Relena continued her pleas as she watched Heero break the locked door down with a kick. As he proceeded on, she became silent. He was gone. She had been so close. “This is not the time for self-pity, Relena,” she said aloud. “Enough of this. Go find Heero.” With a defiant flip of her hair, she opened the door and left the room.


The Mysterious Mansion--Part V Back to Short Fanfics