Vatican's Manor

Chrissie~

I bit deeply into my bottom lip almost drawing blood. I had persuaded myself that I wasn’t going to be scared, or at least give away that I was practically readying myself for a hurtling run towards the front door.
I laughed nervously turning towards the front door. Cob webs were patterned across the top in intricate designs.

“Just the wind?” I shrugged a nervous smile playing across my face. Why had I joined this, walking around at night was a lot more safer…I think.
“It was the ghost of Iron man himself!” Lexie laughed pushing herself forward. I stared up at the ceiling, a chandelier dangled down. What looked liked crystals swung slightly.
“Did you hear that?” Jake asked his eyes widening. I turned towards him, “What?” I asked hurriedly.

Taking in a deep breath, I reminded myself that I wasn’t going to chicken out.
“I mean what did you hear?”
“It sounded like….” Jake wrapped his hands around his neck and began to make choking sounds. Pressing his fingers around his neck. I gasped suddenly rushing to his side,

Lexie stopped walking squealing when she saw Jake’s eyes roll upwards.
“You little kidder!” Blaire laughed pushing Jake, “Don’t joke around like that”
A smile broke across Jakes face, “Scared you!” He mocked laughing loudly. Ben’s shoulders dropped suddenly craning his neck away from us.

“I knew that….” I stopped suddenly at the sound of a shrill sry coming from up stairs.

Ben:

Ben froze his heart hammering in his ears.

“Look Jake!” He snapped, “If this is another joke I swear to god…”
Jake’s eyes shot open and he began to shake his head, “That was not me, how could’ve I made my voice stretch that far?” He exclaimed waving his arms in the air.

Ben looked back up the stairs, the voice became more alarmed. “Help me!” It screamed loudly, the hairs on Ben’s neck stood on end. Blaire took off running towards the stairs. Lexie jumped forward grabbing at Blaire’s arm.

“Rowan!” She said loudly, “Are you crazy you can’t go up there!”
Ben clamped his hands over his ears as the voice began to wail. Chrissies eyes widened, she stretched out her hand pointing up the stairs. Turning, Ben felt his mouth drop.

“Oh, it’s just a baby!” Lexie cooed letting go of Blaire’s arm. She ran towards it picking up the chubby looking baby. Ben let his hands fall away, blinking he stuttered; “What’s a baby doing here?”

“He’s so cute” Lexie laugh rocking the young child.

“Lexie let go of that thing!” Blaire screamed pointing a shaking finger at the child’s stomach. Chrissie walked up to the baby looking down at it.

“It’s not a thing….” She began patting at the child’s head. It began to laugh grinning a toothy smile. Jake cried his knees buckling in horror, “Look at its eyes! Its eyes!”

Ben stepped forward staring at the child’s eyes. Lexie screamed letting the baby fall to the floor. The child began to laugh as it landed in a heap its body stretched in an unnatural was.

Its eyes were black, raven black with what looked like a hint of red blood where the pupil should be.

Blaire:

The door slammed just behind us. What the hell? I looked around, my eyes narrowed. I'd seen something before...something upstairs...

“Just the wind?” Chrissy suggested nervously. I rolled my eyes.

“It was the ghost of Iron man himself!” Lexie laughed. I looked up, watching the crystal chandelier swing crazily.

“Did you hear that?” Jake asked, wide eyed.

"What?” Chrissy asked, sounding scared. “I mean, what did you hear?”

“It sounded like….” Jake wrapped his hands around his neck and made out that he was being choked. I rolled eyes at him, sighing. Lexie stopped walking, squealing when she saw Jake’s eyes roll upwards.

“You little kidder!” I laughed pushing Jake away. “Don’t joke around like that”

Jake grinned. “Scared you!” He mocked, laughing loudly. Ben suddenly looked up, frowning.

“I knew that…” Chrissy began. Suddenly there was a high pitched, shrilling cry from upstairs.

Ben froze. He looked a little scared now.

“Look Jake!” He snapped, “If this is another joke I swear to god…”

Jake’s eyes went wide and he began to shake his head. “That was not me! How could I have made my voice stretch that far?” He exclaimed throwing his arms in the air.

Ben looked back up the stair. The voice was more alarmed now, scared perhaps. “Help me!” It screamed loudly.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Oh hell, that's not right. I took off running for the stairs. I only stopped when Lexie jumped forward and grabbed my arm, pulling me back a step.

“Rowan!” She said loudly. “Are you crazy you can’t go up there!”

I looked around, frowning. Ben had his hands over his ears. The voice turned into wailing. What the hell? I looked towards Chrissy, her eyes were wide and she pointing at the stairs. Everyone turned to look.

“Oh, it’s just a baby!” Lexie cooed letting go of me. She ran towards it picking up the chubby looking baby.

Ben dropped his hands. “What’s a baby doing here?” he asked, his voice shaking.

“He’s so cute” Lexie laugh rocking it.

“Lexie! Let go of that thing!” I screamed. I pointed a shaking finger at the child’s stomach. Chrissy walked up to the baby and looked down at it.

“It’s not a thing...” She began patting it on the head. It began to laugh, grinning a toothy smile.

Jake dropped to his knees. “Look at the eyes! The eyes!” He cried.

Ben stepped forward and looked into the damn things eyes. Why didn't anyone else see it? Why couldn't they see what it really was? Suddenly Lexie screamed and dropped the baby. It began to laugh, landing in a heap on the floor, its body stretched in an unnatural ways.

The eyes were pitch black with a tiny drop of bright, blood red where the pupil should be.

Chrissy screamed and dragged Lexie away from it while Ben was backing away from it, heading for the door. Jake was still on his knees, staring at it. A second later and it vanished.

"What the hell?!" I shouted, looking around. I turned towards where the front door should be and found it gone. "Guys," I said, trying to stay calm. "How do we get out?"

Lexie and Chrissy had calmed down now. "What do mean, Blaire?" Lexie asked.

"I mean, Lexie, that there isn't a front door anymore! It's gone!" I yelled at her, glaring. "And don't use my name! It's Rowan, remember?"

Slowly everyone turned around and stared at the wall where the front door should have been. Ben grabbed Lexie to stay upright while Jake threw his arm over my shoulders. Chrissy and Lexie were still holding on to each other.

"So, Rowan," he said slowly, pointing towards where the front door should have been. "How the hell do we get out now if there's no front door?"

Lexie:
Oh hell, oh hell, oh hell, oh hell, oh HELL! Ben latched onto my shoulders for support, making my legs quiver more.
" The d-door," Chrissy sobbed.
" No," I studdered," guys let's just calm down..."
" Calm down," Jake yelled," the damn door is gone!" I covered my ears and shook my head, tears forming at the rim of my eyes.
" I know," I mumbled," but if we all start panicking, who knows what will happen? It'll probably open in the morning."
" Yeah," Rowan whispered," it'll probably open in the morning." I pried Ben's hands from my shoulder and un-latched Chrissy's hands from my waist. I turned around and scanned the area quickly before starting towards the stairs.
" W-where are you going," someone called from behind. I laughed a little despite myself.
" Trying to find a room we can all stay in. A place we can-" I felt a faint tugging at my legs. I looked down and hands were gripping my ankle. I stared at them with wide eyes, my mouth was open, but no sound came out. I tried to jerk my leg away, but soon hands gripped my other leg. I looked up at the others, but they were just staring. I finially found my voice and cried out when the hands started pulling me down.
I screamed until my throat started hurting and my eyes started watering. This wasn't happening.

Jake

The door was gone. I couldn't believe it. There was just an empty wall now, with cobwebs over it.

As Lexie started for another room, I tried kicking at the spot where the door used to be. Nothing but dust appeared, making me cough.

"I'm trying to find a room we can all stay in," Lexie's voice drifted towards us. "A place we can-"

She broke off suddenly, and I looked up in time to see hands - horrible, bony hands grabbing her legs and pulling her somewhere. It was like she was sinking right down into the ground, even though it was wood. She started to scream, and it snapped me out of the disbelieving daze I had fallen into.

"Quick, grab her!" I yelled, lunging forward. The others joined me in hanging onto Lexie's outstretched arms. I started stomping at the hands, cracking a few bones. I was glad I had dressed as a Marine; the heavy boots were standing me in good stead now.

"Try to yank her out!" Rowan ordered. Everyone pulled, and Lexie's ankles started to appear over the wood. The hands retreated, and suddenly Lexie yelped in pain.

"Stop pulling on me!" she cried. "They're not there anymore, but I'm stuck!"

We all stepped back, and stared. Lexie's feet were trapped under the floor somehow, the wood sealed around her ankles as smoothly as if she had been molded into it. All traces of the hands were gone.

"What do we do now?" Chrissy whimpered.

"Break the floor," I suggested.

"That's not the best idea," Rowan started.

"Then what?" I snapped at her. "Do we just let her stand there?"

I stepped forward and started stomping on the floor, to test the strength of the wooden boards. They gave way after a few good poundings, and I nodded at Ben. "Come on and help me out."

He and I got to work, breaking the floor as close to Lexie's feet as we could. When we finally snapped the boards around her ankles, she stepped free and clutched onto me, sobbing. I stepped back, holding her awkwardly.

"Um...you're okay now," I said, giving Rowan an alarmed look. She just shook her head wryly at me.

"Hey guys," Ben said, kneeling by the hole we had made. "Check this out!"

Chrissie

Jake and I bent over Ben’s shoulder to stare into the hole. “It’s a book” I muttered crouching down. Ben looked up at me than back down at the book.

“Should I get it out?” He asked
“Oh how nice!” Blaire scoffed, “The ghosts gave us a book to read before we get wripped to shreds by them.”

“Or scare us half to do death, cause I am already past that stage!” Lexie muttered. It wasn’t an ordinary book, no, this one looked dark. A large skull was mounted to the front of a leather book.

In its eyes were blood red gems staring up at the ceiling.
Ben reached in grabbed at the hard cover, “the leather it looks almost…” Ben shrieked throwing the book down. Yelping he began to wipe his hands on the floor next to him squealing in disgust.

“What?” Lexie asked picking the book up. “It doesn’t look that scary?”

“The leather” Ben screeched looking at the book in disgust, “It’s human skin!”

Blaire:

“The leather,” Ben screeched. I turned to see him looking down at the book in disgust. “It’s human skin!”

"Oh, come on," I scoffed, joining them. "So what? It's just skin?" I leaned down and picked up the book. "You lot are a bunch of pansies," I muttered.

Lexie, Chrissy, Ben and Jake all stared at me as I opened the book.

"What?" I asked, looking up at them. "It's just a book, guys. Calm down."

I was pretty calm even after the little freak out over Lexie almost being pulled into the floor. I must admit, even I was freaked out by that...

Can I join? Sorry I'm doing this so late, I've been doing too much other stuff! I've got plenty of time now though. If I'm allowed, this is my character profile.

Name: Maxxie Goulding

Age: 17

Gender: Male

Appearance:

Spoiler

Halloween costume:
Maxxie isn't wearing a Halloween costume. You'll understand why when I explain his personality

Personality: Obnoxious, confident and loud. Maxxie thinks a lot of himself. He's a c*** basically. He thinks that he's too cool to wear a stupid costume. He'll do whatever the others are too scared to do just to show off. As you get to know him though, you begin to understand his behaviour. He's had a tough life at home.

History: Maxxie has always thought about Vatican's manor. He's always wondered what it's like inside. He's not going in the manor tonight for the sweets, he just wants to show off. He lives with his mother and step father, who he hates. His step father is cruel and abusive towards him. His real father died when he was seven. He's good looking, which is partly why he's so confident about himself.

Flaws: He makes a lot of enemies easily, considering he's so cocky. Also, he's so confident, he'll do anything. This could obviously lead him into trouble.

Other: Up for love, I guess. As the night goes on, he becomes less of a c***.

You can join Skins… (^.^) I’ll bring your character in if you’d like but if you don’t like it then I’ll leave it to you.

Chrissie~

I stared up at Blaire and almost laughed hysterically. Was she kidding? Human skin? I was practically wetting myself, no wait I was past that stage.

“Hehe, what do you mean JUST human skin!” I said loudly my voice shaking.
“I mean; it’s just human skin!” Blaire said, “Should we open it?” She turned to Jake tapping the skulls eyes. Jake nodded stepping closer to her, I blinked confused. Was this really happening?

I heard something creep upstairs, like something opening. I heard a grunt than the sound of foot steps. Maybe I was just imagining thing, I laughed nervously pushing myself closer towards Blaire. She seemed like she could take anyone on. And come out still swinging.

“Look at this book!” Blaire awed slipping her fingers across the thin parchment sheets. I blinked slightly hadn’t they heard the sound? Of course not …. see it’s all in your head Chrissie.
“What is that mumbo jumbo!” Lexie said plainly staring at the curvy letters on the thin pages.

“Boo!” A voice rang out from upstairs. I jumped backwards my heart landing in my throat a scream guttering through my throat. Blaire spun around preparing to fling the book, Ben fell back landing heavily on the floor, Jake began to curse like wild fire his eyes wide, and Lexie let out the loudest scream I had ever heard, even able to wake the very dead.
I looked up to see a boy walking down the stairs watching out for the holes on each step.
“Scared you!” He laughed.

“Why I ought to…” Blaire began before Jake grabbed on to her arms pulling her back.
“I’m Maxxie” He winked ignoring Blaire’s comment, “Now lets see what this house has to offer.”

**Is that okay Skins?

Lexie-
I clutched my heart and half smiled, half scowled at the guy coming down the stairs. I looked behind my and helped Ben up, he had fallen to the ground.
" You okay," I mumbled. He smiled wearily and then nodded. I turned back to the new guy.
" I'm Maxxie," he said, still laughing a bit.
" Hey," I said, but it sounded a bit like a growl. Rowan was looking around sharply, the "skin book" clutched in her hand.
" We should really get a move on finding that room," she said sternly. She walked ahead quickly.
" Where'd you come from anyway," I asked that Max guy. He shrugged and shoved his hands in his pockets.
" I came in last night and, when the door dissapered, I couldn't find a way out." I swallowed back a gasp and wrung my hands nervosly together.
" You mean there's no way out?" He sighed and ruffled his hair.
" Not that I know of." The stairs creaked under our weight, causing me to flinch a bit.
" How'd you survive a whole night alone?" He scoffed at me and rolled his eyes.
" Do I look like the type of guy to get scared by this cliché horror movie stuff? I'm tougher than that."
" Guys," Rowans voice called," I found a room!" I walked ahead faster, towards the direction of her voice.

Blaire:

"Guys," I called, looking around the room I was in. "I found a room." I must admit, that after that freaking baby, Max had startled me. I mean, honestly, what was he doing in here?

Lexie walked into the room followed closely by everyone else. Chrissy was holding onto Ben while Jake bought up the rear.

"What the hell?" Jake asked, looking around.

The room was huge--at least three floors and it was full, floor to ceiling, of books. All sorts of books, in all sorts of colours.

"Isn't this cool?" I asked, looking around at my friends. I didn't trust Maxxie though. I grabbed Lexie's arm and pulled her away from the group. "I don't trust him," I hissed.

She blinked at me. "Who?"

"That Maxxie guy, Lex," I whispered. We both turned to look at him. "I. Don't. Trust. Him."

She frowned and turned back to me. "Why not? He told me he's been here since last night."

I sighed and rolled my eyes, shifting the book in my hand under one arm.

"Lexie," I said calmly. "What if he's out to get us?"

She laughed. "Now you're just being paranoid, Rowan," she scoffed. Lexie turned away and joined the others.

I watched the new kid while he scanned the shelves. What was his story? The same as ours, I guess. We dared to enter Vatican's Manor and now we couldn't get out. We were stuck inside this hell house with maniac babies, disappearing skeletal hands and books bound with human skin.

"Oh, this is just peachy," I muttered and dumped the book on a nearby table. "Okay guys," I called, waving everyone over to me. "We need a plan. We need to find a way to get out by dawn."

"What about the bet?" Chrissy asked timidly.

"Screw the bet," I snapped. "You all saw what happened downstairs. We are screwed unless we find a way out.... I don't think that baby or the skeletal hands or even the book..."--I turned towards where I had put the book down--"...was just....messing...around." I looked up, startled. "Where'd the book go? It was there a second ago!"

Thanks Apple. That was great

Maxxie

These guys were such girls! Honestly! Spending the night here was going to be a walk in the park. The book's made of skin! Now it's gone! Help us!. Seriously. Wimps.

"Maybe it turned into a three headed wolf gypsy or something," I joked. "Hey, is it dress like a saddo day today or something?" I turned to the small Japanese girl.

I was seriously going to die if I had to spend the night with these guys. They all looked, and dressed, like a load of five year olds.

"Um..." The Japanese girl went red.

"At least we made some kind of effort. It's Halloween, in case you haven't noticed." The girl called Blaire said disapprovingly.

Pfft. There's a difference between making an effort and looking like a mess. These guys obviously hadn't realised this.

"Um... guys?!" Blaire spoke loudly. "The. Book. Has. Gone."

Yeah. We know. Get over it.

"So has my phone credit," I shrugged. "I don't complain."

I noticed that Blair was gritting her teeth. She was so easy to wind up. It was great. She started shouting about how my phone isn't going to turn into dead babies and kill us or something, I wasn't really listening. I wondered if she ever got tired of the sound of her own voice? I defnitely did.

"Look! We really need to stop fighting!" One of the other guys suddenly shouted.

"We're not fighting Jake," Blaire argued. "He's just being stupid."

Yeah... I'm being stupid. She was the one getting worked up about a book. This was going to be a very interesting night.

Lexie:
I sighed and rolled my eyes.
" Cut it out, guys," I mumbled. " You two are acting like children."
" Well, you all look like children," Maxxie scoffed. I sat down slowly, trying not to let him get to me.
" You're such an ass," I mumbled. " Anyway, we have to focus on the case of the missing skin book." Rowan kicked at the now empty table she put the book on.
" It was right there," she half-screamed.
" Calm down," Jake laughed, putting his hands on her shoulders. I smiled a bit but then bit my lip.
" I don't know where it might have went," Chrissy said while shaking her head.
" Yall' are blowing this way out of the water," Maxxie interrupted. " It's just a stupid book! What's it gonna do? Give us all paper cuts?" I scratched my head and sighed heavily.
" As much as I hate to admit it," I forced out," the dude has a point. We have bigger things to worry about. Like how are we going to get out, what are we going to eat, and how can we sleep without the risk of being dragged off to hell in mid-slumber."

Name: Alex

Age: 15

Gender: Male

Appearance:He has long curly brown hair with medium frame but is taller then many others around.

Halloween costume:
A Demon (ironic for where they are)

Personality: Nice to girls, flirtatious, and he also hates to be nice to guys

History: He was once tried for a case of murder because he had an argument with argumentative and abusive dad and mom, he somehow convinced his mom to kill herself witch he was brought to court on. Later he was released on lack of evidence.

Flaws: He attracts the wrong crowd and seems to be curse by the devil because of how much he is hated by his family and school.

Other: Up for love, but afraid of it at the same time.








I look around after seeing a crowd of people enter the manor so I do as well, but as soon as I try the door is lost from my sight! I scream a bit on the inside, but I suck it up and try to find a way inside.
"Damn were is that window?"
Seeing the window I grasp a stick and break the window in and jump through. I wonder upon some of the people I saw earlier and try to greet them but scare them instead!
"Yo sorry I guess this is a bit freaky but I saw you guys and gals enter so I thought that I should follow! Is that ok with you guys?"

Maxxie

A rather funny looking guy suddenly appears from nowhere. Everyone screamed their heads off, except for me of course. He looked like a rejected member of the Jonas Brothers...

"Yo sorry I guess this is a bit freaky but I saw you guys and gals enter so I thought that I should follow! Is that ok with you guys?" He says.

"Yay!" I reply sarcastically. "Another freak..."

The funny kid looked at me strangely. Well, he already looked strange, but still. Lexie's face suddenly lit up.

"How did you get in here?!" She sounded like an overexcited child. The costume was bad enough.

"Uh, I got in through a window." The boy shrugged. "It's Alex by the way."

"Good for you," I mumble under my breath.

Seriously? These idiots hadn't even thought of getting out through one of the windows?! I knew they looked like little kids. I had no idea they were as stupid as them...

The entire group spun around to look at the walls. I did the same, not half as bothered. When I did spin around though, my eyes widened. The windows were gone. Every single one. Vanished.


I'm not actually going to be here from this afternoon until about Monday (UK time). I'm sorry that this is such short notice, my parents only decided to tell me this morning... ¬_¬
You can continue using my character, that's if you want to, in the Storybook. Sorry about this,

xoxo Skins