The slam of the door echoed like thunder through the enormous house. I heard wave after wave of sound, as if I were standing at the ocean shore.
I took a deep breath and tried to stop my shivering. The air inside the house carried a heavy chill, colder than the air outside. I gasped as I felt a stab of cold on my skin, as if an icy hand had gripped the back of my neck.
The green fog swirled around me, billowing thickly, rising and falling. Beyond it, I could see what appeared to be a couch and chairs—dark, heavy furniture arranged in front of a dead fireplace.
I turned to the door, eager to escape. But I could no longer see it through the heavy, green snakes of fog. Dark doorways seemed to pop up around me. Doorway after doorway, until I shut my eyes, wishing them to disappear.
I stumbled forward, bumping my knee on a low ottoman.
“Ohh!” I cried out, grabbing the back of a leather couch to keep from falling.
The furniture felt real, heavy and solid.
But how could it be real?
How could I be standing in the Fear Mansion two years after it had been torn down?
Gripping the back of the couch, I held my breath and listened. Did I hear the soft shuffle of shoes on carpet? Was someone in here with me?
Angelica Fear?
“No—!” I uttered a low cry. Pushed myself away from the couch. Bolted forward, into the nearest doorway. And found myself in a library, dark books shelved from floor to ceiling on all sides.
Where is the front door?
I spun away and hurtled myself through the next door. It opened onto a long, narrow hall, completely black. I could hear the rush of wind through the passageway. Or was that my own shallow breathing?
I knew I had to get out of that house. Before I went totally crazy, I had to find the front door. Or any door that would lead to escape!
I darted back into the swirling curtains of green mist. The fog circled me, held me prisoner, spun me around until I stumbled in total dizziness.
Finally, gathering all my strength, I lowered my shoulders, ducked my head, and burst forward, breaking through the mist. Breaking free!
But where was I now? In another entryway surrounded by dark, empty doorways.
“Is anyone here? Is anyone here?” I didn’t even realize I was crying out. My voice came out hollow and dull, and echoed off the walls.
“Anyone here?”
I darted frantically from door to door, peering into dark, empty rooms.
And then a flickering, orange light caught my eye. I stopped, my heart pounding. And crept to the doorway.
Another library? Or was it the same one I’d seen before?
My gaze fell over a wall of dark books. Two brown leather couches facing each other. A long table stacked with papers.
I raised my eyes to the wide stone fireplace. The flickering light came from a log fire, crackling quietly.
I squinted into the dancing flames. I realized I was staring at a fire in a house that didn’t exist.
I took a step back. My mind whirred. This was too weird. No matter how much I struggled, there was no way I could make sense of it.
And then I saw something move. A man!
He stood up slowly from the couch. He had his back to me. Outlined in the flickering flames, he wore a dark suit. His hair was long.
I grabbed the door frame, unable to move, unable to breathe.
He turned slowly, and his face came into view. I saw dark eyes, a slender, weary face.
And I recognized him.
Yes, I recognized him at once.