Page 60 of Manors & Mischief

The movie sucks us in, and since we haven’t seen this one as much as Halloween, we’re engrossed in it, jumping at the frightening parts. I have to admit, it’s the perfect movie to watch tonight as I peer around at the grand house we’re in that definitely looks like it should be haunted even if it doesn’t feel like it is.

A knock comes from somewhere, and my ears perk up. Wow, I must be losing it. It was probably on the TV as the family starts to go through the initial stages of a haunting.

Then the screen door in the back of the house sounds like it opens and closes. I peer over at Bea, and she’s looking at me, too. “You heard that, right?”

I nod. “Must be the wind?”

She agrees, and we both watch the movie for a little while longer. After a few moments, a mist starts creeping down the hallway, billowing into our room.

I sit up straight. “What the heck is that?”

On the TV, someone screams, and I jump. The more I look at the fog, the denser it gets as it moves into the room, almost reaching us now like white tendrils.

“Ember…”

“I know.”

My heart starts pounding. I don’t know whether to investigate or close my eyes and pretend it’s not happening.

We get off the couch and move away from the fog. It reaches across the TV, making the picture hazy. As we tiptoe across the floor toward the foyer, scratches at the window to our left sound, and then three loud bangs on the main door echo through the space.

Bea and I both scream, and then the door flies open. We’re huddled together in the corner when a large body walks in, shrouded by fog.

“Fuck,” Bea says, her voice tight.

Loud laughter peels from the man, and then a second male tone chimes in. The figures walk forward…and it’s Devon and Travis.

“You assholes!” I shout.

Devon can barely keep it together, and Travis isn’t too far behind.

“I am unfriending the both of you,” Bea shouts. “No more free coffee.”

“Hey,” Travis protests. “We’re just having fun.”

Devon comes closer with a twinkle in his eye. I swat at him. “The fog?”

“Fog maker at your backdoor. You should really lock it. You never know what kind of crazies will use it to their advantage.”

“I kind of hate you right now.”

His eyes flash as if he kind of likes that sentiment. I have to admit, it was fun verbally sparring with him all those times. Kissing is more fun, but getting under each other’s skin was a good time too.

“Aw, is this the new Conjuring movie?” Trav asks. He takes a seat in a chair and grabs the popcorn bowl like he was invited to our sleepover.

“Really?” Bea asks. She hits him upside the head as she sits down in the chair opposite his, leaving the sofa empty.

Travis waves the air in front of him. “Can’t see the screen, Devon.”

Devon kisses my hair then saunters down the hallway. Soon, the fog starts to lift and disappear. He doesn’t automatically return though. Instead, a few minutes later when a ghost pops up on screen, he jumps out of the secret tunnel.

We all jump, and Travis throws a handful of popcorn at him. “This was supposed to be us versus them.”

“I saw an opportunity.”

“I wasn’t scared,” I tell him. “I knew that was there. It’s not like it’s a secret or anything.”

He smirks, chuckling until he closes the passageway and comes to sit next to me on the couch. He throws his arm around my shoulder, cuddling in. I peer over at Bea to make sure she’s good with this, but she’s intently watching the TV like the four of us do this all the time.