Chapter 7: The Haunted House

“So this is the place huh?” said Kaiji

“it looks like it. in the middle of the forest, a house will seamingly build itself from the ground at the stroke of midnight. That's what Kairi said and it matches our reports as well” said aurora

“reports? You knew about it? then why did I have to wait until Kairi told me to come here?”

“because you have to hear the rumor first-hand for it to work. It has to inhabit your mind in order for the spirit entity to manifest itself in physical form. Otherwise, it might as well not be there.”

“So what you’re saying is, for me to take it down, I have to lure it out by making myself vulnerable to its power by hearing its rumor.”

“precisely!”

“fan-friggin-tastic”

he looked at his watch, it was still a quarter to midnight. “at least Kairi’s not here, that girl wanted to come so badly to this place she got mad at me when I told her it was a stupid waste of time”

“don't worry about her, you were just saying that to protect her”

“yeah, but I still feel bad about it”

…

“what do you mean it’s stupid? I thought you like creepy stuff like that!” said Kairi

“I do, but watching a movie or reading a book is one thing, but going out to the middle of nowhere to look at a ‘phantom house’ after hearing a rumor is just a waste of time!” said Kaiji

“c’mon Kaiji lighten up, think of it as a test of courage” said Ben

“it would be a test if there was actually something to be scared of.” said Kaiji

“how do you know there’s nothing out there?”

“because it's a stupid rumor made up by people who have nothing better to do than to tell scary stories!”

“Fine then! Forget I said anything!” Kairi picked up her bag “I’m going home, I’ll see you guys tomorrow.” And left

Ben looked at Kaiji annoyed by his bullshit

“dude, what’s with you today? First, you show up the school bully in front of everyone, then you go and treat Kairi like that. what’s the big deal in going to a haunted house anyway?” said ben

“Because Ben, Kairi doesn’t know what you and I know, and I don't want her to get involved and be in danger.” Said Kaiji

“Wait, so you believe her? Then there is a haunted house after all?”

“if there is, then it's definitely the most dangerous test of courage in Kyokai history.”

…

Kaiji looked at his watch again, only five minutes have passed. Only ten more minutes before midnight and then the house would start to build itself from scratch. Once that was done, it would welcome visitors in for the festivities to come.

“*yaaaaawwwwn*”

“Are you getting tired, Kaiji?”

“I woke up super early for school this morning, and it’s so dark and quiet, I’m about to pass out.”

“Well you need to be wide awake, we have no idea what's coming and you have to be on your toes. Why don't you take a power nap? I'll wake you up when it's time.”

“Are you sure that's a good idea?”

“It's a better idea than white-knuckling it all night. A mere fifteen minutes is more than enough to boost your alertness and motor functions, which are two things that we need as much as we can get.”

“*Yawwwn* fine, wake me up when my fifteen minutes are up”

“righty-oh!'' Aurora then encased herself in a small alarm clock. Her arms serve as the hands of the clock's face, silently whispering to herself “tick-tock goes the clock” to pass the time.

but now was not the time for napping because none other than Kairi herself appeared in the middle of the night to see the haunted house rise from the dirt.

“stupid Kaiji, if he didn't want to come he could have just said so, he didn't have to be so mean! I was inviting him not asking him but whatever, who needs him! I can find my way around these woods no problem. Okay, so after walking 500 spaces from the entrance to the woods, you find a clearing and under the moonlight, at the stroke of midnight, a Phantasmic house will begin to construct itself from the burnt remains of a house built long ago like a phoenix rising from the ashes… or… so the rumor said… urrrgh! This is stupid! Kaiji was right! it was just a big waste of time” 

but as she turned around to leave she started hearing the creaking and cracking of bending wood and the hammering of nails. She turned back to look and saw the fantastic display of a gothic mansion coming into its own. As pieces of it rose from the ground, they pieced themselves together like a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle. As the mansion began to take shape, the lights inside began to flicker just before igniting; shining a warm bright orange light into the dark moonlit night. The spectacle was awesome to see and left Kairi with jaw agape. The red carpet started rolling out from the front door to welcome her into the mansion. She grew excited. If it looked this spectacular outside, she could only imagine how it looked inside. She ran towards the red carpet, once she set foot on it, her sneakers, shorts, and raggedy t-shirt transformed into a beautiful gown fit for a queen. Her hair that sat flat along her face rolled itself into a bun with curls pouring out of it. She examined her outfit closely, seeing every frill it had to offer only to give a lukewarm reaction. “eh it’s not really my style but when in Rome '' she lifted her skirt and saw she was still wearing her sneakers underneath then ran towards the house excited to see what else it had to offer. That's when Kaiji heard a blood-curdling scream.

his eyes shot open as he escaped La-la land and snapped back to reality “what was that!? Aurora, did you hear that!?”

he turned to see auroras projection rolling on the floor laughing “ooooh I gotchu goooooood”

“That's not funny! Are the fifteen minutes up or are you just messing with me?”

“why don't you see for yourself?” she gestured towards the brightly lit mansion that Kaiji had somehow failed to notice. He looked at it for one second then came to a single conclusion

“nope I’m still dreaming wake me up for real next time” and rolled back over to wait for Aurora to really wake him up this time

“That's the house you idiot, now wake up and get in there!” She pulled him by his ear and pushed him towards the mansion.

“Alright, fine. But all that power nap did was make me even more tired.” Said Kaiji

as he began to run towards the house it rolled out the red carpet for him as well. As soon as he stepped on it his clothes changed as well, but instead of a flowing evening gown, it changed into a slim black suit perfectly tailored for his body. “ooo looking spiffy Kaiji!” said Aurora

“it must be part of the houses magic, c’mon we gotta find out where it's coming from”

Then he ran into the mansion, also still wearing his sneakers. As soon as he ran in, the door slammed behind him and the lights went dark. He stood in the darkness trying to listen and see if he could hear anything coming. Unbeknownst to him a towering figure crept up behind him and grabbed him by the shoulder. He turned to attack but when he saw the face of the thing against the moonlight pouring in through the window it sent shivers down his spine and he froze. A creature no less than 8 feet tall, slender figure, with a big grinning mouth and no face. The lights came back on and he saw the slender creature tugging on his coat and pointing at the coat rack. “oh, you want to take my coat?” The creature then nodded.

After Kaiji gave him the coat, the creature ushered him into a room with a wide-open floor full of chairs and a great big stage where an orchestra of instruments sat unattended. The chairs were almost completely empty except for one where a girl in a white evening gown sat in the front row in the seat closest to the center aisle “look Kaiji, someone’s already here! you need to get them out of here before we can move on” said aurora

“Yeah, they must have heard the rumor and came to investigate. Ugh, this is becoming such a pain.”

The usher walked Kaiji all the way up the front row and gestured for him to sit next to the girl.

When Kaiji looked at the girl he realized it wasn't just anybody, It was Kairi!

“Kairi?! What are you doing here?”

“Kaiji?! well, I should be asking the same thing! I thought you said it was a stupid waste of time! well look around you Kaiji, I was right. so, in your face!”

“Kairi, you don't understand, we have to get you out of here!”

“why? this place is super nice and the show's about to start.”

“show? what show?”

The lights went dark once again as several spotlights lit up the stage. Kairi urged Kaiji to sit down and so he did. Still on guard, he scanned his surroundings to make sure nothing snuck up on them. but try as he might to see things coming, nothing came. And as the instruments raised themselves from the ground he couldn't help but get distracted.

On one side the Violins and Violas rose to meet their bows and on the other, the Basses and the Chellos rose to meet theirs. Behind them, the drums and percussion rolled into place and the woodwind instruments floated upright as if they were ready for the show. At the front of the stage sat a pedestal with a single baton resting on the ridge where the music book should sit. For a moment it seemed like the show would not start until the baton started floating as well, arrogantly tapping the pedestal as if the instruments weren’t already paying attention.

The baton then lifted itself into the air and as it swung itself down the roar of instrumentation rang across the great hall where Kaiji and Kairi sat. Kaiji didn't know what he was looking at, there weren’t any spirits or ghosts playing the instruments nor holding the baton, it’s almost as if the instruments themselves were spirits long forgotten and congregated in this mansion to do what they were made to do an unknowably a long time ago. The chairs surrounding them cleared the way to turn the music all into a dance hall. Kairi grabbed Kaiji by the arm “c’mon Kaiji, let’s dance”

“dance? Kairi we can’t let our guard down, this place is dangerous.”

“The only threat here is the threat of a good time. Now shut up and dance with me already.”

Kaiji looked at Kairi, then looked at his surroundings and thought she had a point. Whatever teeth this house had, it had no intention of showing them just yet.

“Alright, fine.” He grabbed her hand and they made their way to the dance hall.

“Now place your hand here, and I place my hand here. tighter, don't be so limp!”

She instructed Kaiji on where to hold her and showed him the basics of waltzing based on what she always saw on TV. In truth, she barely knew anything beyond what it looked like.

They spun around in rhythm with the music, slowing down and then speeding up in line with the tempo. The classical orchestration gradually transitioned more to that of a jazz festival. And as the music grew louder and faster Kaiji and Kairi found themselves somehow keeping up dancing in ways they didn't even realize they knew how, the sedentary instruments leaped off the stage and took to the dancefloor as well, surrounding, enveloping them in their music as they danced along with them. And for one spectacular moment, they both were having the time of their lives. A moment they never would have had if it wasn't for this house full of spirits. The jazzy fanfare began slowing down into a more intimate soft sound as the kids were suddenly finding themselves out of breath; they held onto the other to keep themselves from falling over; leaning on each other for balance. Their breathlessness had finally caught up to them and they could beardly stand. In between sharp gasps and pants, they looked at each other under the spotlight, now surrounded by darkness saw only each other, and felt something open up, a deeper appreciation for the other's existence. But each in their own way. Kaiji looked at Kairi as the girl that he didn't expect to get along so well with. The girl he didn't expect would turn into his dear friend to share his afternoons with.

Kairi on the other hand looked at Kaiji as the brazen soul she met on her first day of school that struck up a conversation out of the blue and quickly became one of the most reliable parts of her days in Kyokai. The person she could talk to about anything. But tonight she saw him under a different light. Rather than a friend she saw him as someone who could be relied upon. Her days spent with him would be days well spent. The dormant feelings of infatuation had all at once blossomed into deep renown for him as a part of her life. As she stared into his eyes, three words came to mind. Her heart fluttered at the thought but there was something about the magic of that night that gave her the courage to speak. Kaiji looked at her as she opened her mouth, but the look in her eye shifted from that of happiness to one of terror. As her smile melded into a shape of pure horror. What Kaiji hadn’t realized was that the house was finally showing its true colors and manifested a monstrous form that was creeping up behind him.

As Aurora jumped out from the locket she shouted “Kaiji watch out!” but he only had enough time to push Kairi away onto the ground before it grabbed him. The music cut off entirely as the usher finally spoke. Its throat emanates a raspy painful sound.

“hahaha you finally let your guard down, you know love will do that if you’re not careful”

“Kairi, run!” he shouted, “get out of here!”

but she just laid there on the ground, paralyzed in fear of such a creature.

It resampled the body of a giant beetle crossed with that of a cobra. Its lanky buggy arms lead to giant crab-like claws that pinched Kaiji in place. Its face, for lack of a better term, was that of a snake with venomous fangs poking out while its entire body was shrouded in darkness thanks to the enormous hood that stretched from its back. When Kairi could finally speak all she could say was “no! I can’t leave you here!”

“Kairi- AAAGH!”

“you are in no position to order anyone around, after I’m done with you, I’ll have her for dessert, NYAHAHAHAHA!”

That caught Kaiji's attention and he realized there was no way Kairi was leaving here without him. And if he didn't take care of this they were both done for.

“Sorry to tell you this, but you're not gonna be able to get around to dessert tonight.”

“oh? And why is that?”

“because you already have your hands full with me!”

The monster was positively amused by Kaiji's claim. Like a rabbit threatening a giant with a pocket knife. He found the thought absolutely hilarious. That was… until his grip started failing as Kaiji slowly pushed the monster's claws apart. The space between them becoming wider and wider. Kairi looked on in awe at the display of grit and strength.

“how, how are you doing that?! You should be exhausted! you shouldn't be able to-”

but before the beast could finish Kaiji ripped the monster's claw apart, breaking free. The beast cried out in pain and while it was wailing at the horrific sight of its overextended claw, Kaiji grabbed Kairi and made a break for the exit. “we have to go NOW!” he said with urgency

They made their way to the exit but when Kaiji kicked the door open it didn't lead outside. It lead to a wide-open space full of stairwells and doors. “um aurora, what’s going on here?” he said

“Kaiji, I fear we’ve made a grave mistake, that's not just any old rumored phenomena, I fear we’ve stumbled into something way beyond our depth, that’s the house of a thousand walls.”