CHAPTER 02 - It’s a matter of survival

As I walked, gazing at the dilapidated dwelling. I shivered as if hail had replaced my spine. The chilly gust wrapped the entire body. 

Even the added layers of clothing couldn't protect me against the deathly numbness. 

The windows were all tiled up as if what was inside was too terrifying to witness.

The stairs leading up to the entrance cracked with my one touch. 

Terrified, I moved back and rested my hand over my chest. 

It was just the beginning of this rollercoaster ride, yet my heart pounded out as if it would break my ribs anytime and come out.

I looked at them with dreadful eyes, and distress showed on their faces too.

"Anna, we still have time. Let's go back." 

But what I was afraid of happened, we had to step inside after coming into Bell's sticky words.

I considered this the second mistake of my life where I bet my life on her words.

We went inside further, and a creaky sound came from behind in the silent house that made us jump.

The main door shut. I grabbed the handle and tried to open it, but it seemed locked.

The sound reverberated in our ears for a long time.

A musty, dank order sneaked into my nose.

Weeds of dark leafy were clinging on the roof, due to which any person would faint.

The house's walls showed black decay with various names written on them with red ink or blood. 

Stains of original paint indicated the house's prior affluence. 

The fresh blood of humans covered the corners of the doors with tiny black spiders thread towards their loot. 

It reflected a royal yet haunted image as if Kings and queens lived here for centuries.

The house now looked abandoned and lifeless. I patted my restless heart and took small steps onward courageously.

Holding hands, we moved in a line, one after the other. 

We approached the first room on the first floor. Bell was in the forefront, and she was the one to peek inside the room.

Grabbing one end of the wall, she bowed her head and peered. 

The next moment, I noticed her feet quivering that horrified us.

Slowly her entire body shivered as if someone was trying to enter inside her soul.

She struggled and squatted down while we watched her. Our feet were numb as we couldn't even move.

We stood there watching her suffering when the echo of laughter stirred our hearts.

Bell laughed at us and mocked, "Come on! Both of you were scared like children. It wasn't that scary."

I heaved a sigh of relief, and we both stared at her like we would kill her anytime. 

Anna shot glares at her and scolded in a pissed voice. "Bell, it's not funny. We're in the mouth of death. This place is scary already. Don't crack jokes here!"

I watched them fighting while I felt a strange feeling as if someone had just blown across my ear.

My breathing halted as my ears caught someone whistling. I glanced back in panic, but no one was there.

Puffing, I felt a pat on my back. 

Slightly glancing, I spotted a hand over my shoulder that made me turn swiftly.

Anna noticed sweat across my forehead and asked. "Irene, a-are you okay?"

I nodded my head with a firm smile on my lips. "I'm alright." 

She was looking at me with care. That's when we heard the whistle of the pressure cooker, and our ears perked up.

Running, we entered the room and found Bell playing around. 

Already stuff was mysteriously upside down, and this girl was touching everything. 

I grabbed her hand out of concern and stopped her. "You may be fond of dying, not us. For god's sake, don't touch anything. We have to find a way out of here as soon as possible."

She might feel wicked, but I didn't want to take a risk with our life. 

The above tube light switched on and off, affecting our vision.

Meanwhile, I examined the floor and found traces of blood as if a human's body had been dragged and brought to the kitchen.

The food seemed to be cooking in the cooker placed on the gasoline, but the cast of this house showed no one might have lived here.

It was like a puzzle for us, and finding its answer was a dangerous task. 

The house was dead silent except for the rhythmic creaks and cries coming from a door attached to the kitchen. 

I looked at Anna, and she looked at me.

We nodded our heads and stepped towards that door. 

Almost... we had reached the handle, and the voices were getting cleaned.

It felt as if someone tied to the handcuff was crying, calling us for help.

With my trembling hands, I grabbed the handle of the door, and it had just opened when Bell's scream froze us.

I furrowed my eyebrows and turned back only to see her pale face with widened eyes.

She covered her mouth with her hands and panicked. We followed her gaze and stared at the sink.

The sight I saw sent chills down my spine. Blood was flowing instead of water from the tap, which had blown us all away.

I choked in the air as she showed us the blood across her lips. "I told you, Bell. But still, you didn't listen to me."

Startled and frustrated, she answered me. "So now I can't even quench my thirst? How do I know blood will come out from here?" She held my hands and pulled me into a hug. "I don't want this adventure anymore. Irene, I want to go back. I can't-" 

And she started sobbing. I could feel her state. However, I failed to comfort her as we all were quivering. 

I could just calm her by patting her back. 

Anna was the eldest among all of us, and seeing us in such a condition, she embraced us in her warmth.

She kissed my forehead and wiped her tears. "Why are you guys crying? We'll get out of here soon. Stay strong!"

We circled our arms around Bell and stayed like this for minutes until we heard a knock on the door.

A sharp rap of the door with the knuckles was heard continuously.

We all gazed at each other and thought: Should we open the door or run away?