On the left side were windows revealing a grotesque landscape frequently illuminated by the lightning flashes. On the right side of the corridor were large portraits and when the lightning flashed, these paintings turned into wierd shapes and ghostly creatures.
NINJARA
We should never have come in here.
RAPHAEL
Well, it's too late to turn back now like the ghost host said, so we're stuck in here for now.
MICHAELANGELO
I don't want to remain in here any longer, this place gives me the creeps.
LEATHERHEAD
Me too, Mikey. I don't like this place either.
Suddenly there came a sound of flapping wings passing overhead which made the friends duck their heads and cringe or flinch in alarm. This was followed by another ghost scream.
GHOST SCREAM
AAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!
NINJARA <startled>
What's that?
USAGI
Did I hear someone scream?
DONATELLO
I heard it too, samauri. Where did it come from?
LEONARDO
It's okay, just that crow again. <he spots the black bird flying away>
Sure enough, the crow appears like a wraith or phantom for just a brief moment before disappearing once more into shadows.
MICHAELANGELO
Whoa, why is that bird following us, huh?
RAPHAEL
Beats me, bro. <shrugs> Maybe to scare us, I guess.
LEATHERHEAD
What?!
MICHAELANGELO
No way, man! A crow that talks?
USAGI
Very strange, if you ask me.
Just then the ghost host appologizes again for frightening his visitors.
GHOST HOST
Did someone scream?...Ahh, we didn't mean to scare you like that...apparently the restless spirit of an old witch has taken posession of that poor wretched crow's mortal being...Be on your guard, it may want to better itself, hmhmmhmmmahahahahaah...come along now...
Leo, Ninjara, Don, Usagi, Mike, Raph and Leatherhead walked down the long tapering corridor. There seemed to be a light at the far end, pitch blackness behind them. All the while the voice of their ghost host continued his narrative tour of his home.
GHOST HOST
There are several prominent ghosts who have retired here from creepy old crypts all over the world...actually, we have 999 happy haunts here but there's room for 1000, any volunteers?...
The turtles, rabbit, vixen and alligator are shocked by what the ghost host said to them, volunteer to become #1000 happy haunt? No way, they tell themselves, none of them want to be a permanent resident of this creepy old mansion!
GHOST HOST <continues>
If you insist on lagging behind, playing cowards, you may not need to volunteer...
The hallway made a sharp turn into an errie lit limbo abound with mist and decay, the furniture and walls were covered in spiderwebs. A staircase seemed to be the only passageway out. Just then there came the sound of piano music being played somewhere.
LEATHERHEAD
Listen, you hear that? It sounds like piano music.
DONATELLO
Reminds me of April when she plays the piano.
NINJARA
And it's coming in there. <she points towards open door> Come on.
The lady fox leads her friends through the door and into a room filled with antique chairs in a semi-circle facing a grand piano that stands before a large picture window overlooking the grounds outside and the storm raging. Although they hear the music coming from the piano it appears there is no one present sitting before the instrument playing it.
MICHAELANGELO
Where is the pianist playing the instrument? I don't see anything.
USAGI
Um, does that answer your question, Mike? <he points towards floor>
MICHAELANGELO
Huh? <looks down> Great scott! <mimics Doc Brown's famous line>
RAPHAEL
What the heck?! <shocked by what he sees too> No way!
LEONARDO
Holy bleep!
Don, Leatherhead and Ninjara also stare in stunned disbelief at the scene, for there at their feet is a long shadowy outline of a mysterious person, its arms rising and falling in steady routine to hit the keys of the piano which is sounding off the wierd dischordant-like music. The shadow is being cast by bluish-light streaming in through the picture window caused by thunderhead clouds passing over the hidden moon.
GHOST HOST
I see you decided to visit my music room?...it's a wonderful place for spirits to spend some time and listen to music being performed. It appears my butler is playing one of his favorite songs right now, pay no attention to him, he doesn't seem to mind you listening to him playing for you, hmhmmhmmm...shall we continue the tour?...
Confused and nervous at the same time, the gang proceed out of the music room, passing through another door that entered into a connecting chamber which consisted of shelves lining the walls and filled with books. A couple armchairs are arranged in a semi-circle in front of a fireplace that is giving off heat at the moment.
Leo and company stare in awe around the chamber as though trying to remember what room it is, that is if they've seen one like this before someplace else.
LEONARDO
I think this is a library, like the one Casey has in his house.
RAPHAEL
Yeah, Jones and I spend lots of time there reading good books or listening to audiobooks.
NINJARA
So cozy and comfy, a perfect place to relax and enjoy a book anytime. But, what about those marble busts?
She can see several statues set atop pedestals or set into openings along the shelves and backlit as if in a museum. And yet, it seems the statues are staring at the mutants with frowning expressions on their stone faces.
USAGI
Ooh, I hate the way they're looking at us.
MICHAELANGELO
Uh-huh...creepy man.
LEATHERHEAD
Uh, maybe we should proceed onward, to find another way out.
DONATELLO
A good suggestion, professor.
GHOST HOST
Our library is well stocked with priceless first editions, only ghost stories of course...and marble busts of the great ghost writers the world has ever known...They have all retired here to my home, the haunted mansion...
Then the ghost host escorted his visitors out of the chamber, back into the hallway and up the staircase, the steps creaking and squeaking with each step the friends take. As they climbed to the second floor landing they were greeted by an unknown cold sensation. This as you know is the traditional manifistation of the supernatural.
GHOST HOST
I hope you don't have an adversion to darkness and cold...but you see, we spirits are sensative to heat and light, and every consideration has been given to our comfort here in this delightfully, drearlly place...
TO BE CONTINUED...
Chapter 4
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