Louise was upset that she was stuck with Mike,
David, Edward, and Tom—when she really wanted to be
with Todd. Todd had arranged the two groups, purposely placing her in the
second group. She wondered how much worse the evening could get.
Her group followed the flickering candles,
which cast eerie shadows from their elevated positions on the hallway’s left wall.
The dark paneled walls made the hall feel smaller and even darker.
David lagged
behind the others. “It’s not too late for us to leave and
return home. I don’t want to be here anymore…we should just….”
Mike tugged on David’s arm. “Don’t whine like a baby, David…and try to have some
fun.”
“Yeah, right.”
Edward
and Tom assumed the lead and were following the wavering lights. Faced with two
closed doors on the right wall, Edward opened the first one
and walked in.
The
room before them appeared to be a large, cavernous living room, empty except
for the enormous unlit marble fireplace on the opposite wall. The wallpaper was
dark and stained; the wood floor was dull and dirty. A connecting door led them
through to the dining room, which was a large room with a long wood table at
its center.
The
bleakness of this room and all the other rooms in this house made Louise feel
uneasy. The house was very dismal looking with its dark paneling, and it lacked
any furnishings that would have made it feel more like a home. And where was everyone? Where was their elusive
host? This was supposed to have been a party for them,
but the house looked deserted—as if it hadn’t been lived
in for a long time. She didn’t want to see any more of it. Who knew what could
be lurking behind any of the closed doors? Now she was just scaring herself
with her own gloomy thoughts. She caught up to the others, who were standing in
the hallway waiting for her.
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