Author : Shelby
Summary : A normal Family vacation to a large estate in the lush forest. Then again what is normal for the O�Connells.
Family Vacation
Chapter 1 : Preparation
It was such and exciting time. Evelyn had taken a few months off from work, so she could go on a much needed vacation with Rick, and their children, Emma, who was 12, and Alex who was 9. This would be the first vacation, since Emma�s arrival in their lives, almost 4 months ago, and everyone was excited. Now on a Friday afternoon, everyone was packing their things for the trip. They would be staying at an old estate in the woods, about a days drive from their home. It was just outside a quaint little village, and secluded, which was good for family time. In her room, Emma was trying to decide what clothing to pack. She had never been away from London, or the part of England they lived in, therefore, she wasn�t certain about what she needed. Someone knocking at her door, caught her attention, and she called out for the person to enter. The blond hair girl looked up as Evelyn walked in.
�I thought maybe you could use a little help.� Emma nodded.
�I can�t decide whether or not to take my dresses, or my jeans and shirts,� she told her mum. Evie looked at the many articles of clothing on her daughters bed.
�Perhaps a little of both,� Evie said. She helped her daughter select what she wanted, then pack it in the suitcases.
�May I take Annabelle?� asked Emma. A few weeks ago, Rick�s work had taken him to Germany, and he had brought her back a beautiful doll, whom Emma had given the name Annabelle. Evelyn smiled.
�Of coarse you can, we don�t want her to stay here and be lonely while we are away on our vacation,� Evelyn responded as she lifted the delicate doll from her daughter�s bed. That brought a smile to Emma�s face. She was still not used to having a family, and despite spending time with them, having even gotten her own horse, she wasn�t sure about some things.
�Is the place where we are staying bigger than our house?� Evelyn nodded.
�Its much larger, not so much the home itself, but there is more land than what we have, miles of it in fact,� Evie added.
�Are you and daddy packed?� Emma asked, as she walked over beside her mother.
�I think so.�
�I was just wondering...� She trailed off, as Alex ran in.
�Mum I�m all finished with my packing, and dad said we could all go into town to get some Ice-cream at the Soda shop,� Alex said. He was excited.
�Just a moment Alex.� She turned back to Emma. �Now, what were you about to ask me?� That made Emma feel better.
�If we could go riding, but I guess we should go with daddy and Alex,� she said, sadness in her voice.
�Alex, why don�t you and your father go ahead alone, Emma and I are going to have a ride.� Alex shrugged and ran out, thinking both his mum, and his sister crazy for not wanting ice-cream.
It was a cool night outside, as mother and daughter road their horses out into the field. Emma was not nearly as good a rider as her mother, but she was learning quickly, and never tired of taking rides.
�Why don�t we practice your posting,� Evie suggested. Emma nodded, and held her horse at bay while her mum demonstrated posting while the horse trotted.
�I think we can do that,� she said, rubbing Cleopatra,�s neck.
�All right girl.� Emma clicked and Cleopatra moved into a walk, then a trot. Emma tried to get the right rhythm, but it was much more difficult than her mum made it look. She got her horse to stop, and Evelyn had her go again, telling her when to sit and stand, and with that method she caught on very quickly.
�Can we go faster than this?� Emma asked. Since Emma was still new at riding, Evelyn wasn�t keen on allowing her to go at a faster gate.
�Why don�t we wait a little before we try that.� They road for almost another hour before they went back to the barn, and as they arrived Rick was there.
�My knight in shining Amour,� Evelyn said, causing Emma to laugh. He helped his wife off of her horse first, pulling her in his arms for a kiss.
�Aren�t people a funny sort,� Emma asked her horse. In response Cleopatra winnied, and got a chuckle from Rick He walked over slowly, holding out his hand. Cleopatra nuzzled him there, then lowered her head in acceptance of him. She was still a shy horse, and especailly around men, which made Rick wonder how she was treated with her last owner. He patted her side, and walked around her side, to help Emma off of her. Once she was settled on the floor, he got her saddle, and her reins taken off, then Emma came and curried her, or the parts she could reach. When Emma finished Rick did the parts she could not reach, then led Cleopatra to her stall. Evelyn had already gotten her horse put away for the evening, and took her husbands hand, while Emma ran ahead of them.
It was quite early the next moring, when Rick and Evelyn got up, after some snuggling, to get themselves and the children ready to go on vacation. This vacation was just them, as Jonathan had opted to stay at home. Once they were ready, Rick headed downstairs to fix a light breakfast for everyone, and Evelyn went down the hall, to Alex�s room first. She quietly walked over to his bed, and settled down on the edge rubbing his back. At first Alex didn�t stir, deep in sleep, not used to having to wake up at such and early hour. Then slowly he began to wake up.
�Mum?� he asked.
�Yes. You need to get up so we can get underway for our vacation,� Evelyn told her son. With her words, he remembered what to day was, and hurried up.
�Okay mum you can go now,� he said, and gave her a hugs and kiss. Once she was sure Alex would stay awake, Evelyn went across the hall to Emma�s room, finding that her daughter was also in deep sleep. Emma always slept curled up. In her arms was Annabelle, her baby, and seeing her asleep with the doll that Rick had gotten for her, made Evelyn smile. It was still evident that Emma didn�t fully trust Rick, though she called him daddy, she was still learning to trust him. Since Emma�s bed was larger, a double bed, Evelyn lay next to her, and Emma subconsciously moved against her mum.
�My tummy hurts,� Emma said.
�Are you having your cycle?� Emma nodded. This would make her third cycle, and Evie hated that she was having them at a fairly young age in her life. They made her tummy hurt something awful, and Doc Brown had told Evie to give her aspirin to help with the pain.
�I�ll bring you some aspirin.� Emma nodded, and Evie walked out of her room, as Alex came out of his.
�Is Emms getting up?� Emms was Alex�s nickname for his sister, and only he called her by that name.
�She has a tummy ache,� said Evie, as she went to her own room to get Aspirin and a glass of water. While she did that, Alex walked into his sister�s room, over to her bed. He climbed in where his mum had just been, and Emma turned over.
�Why do you get so many tummy aches?� asked Alex through a yawn.
�They happen because of my cycle.� At her words Alex gave her a funny look, which told her he didn�t get it.
�Girls get cycles because that is the bodys way of getting rid of the egg in her tummy, ones that makes the baby, but I won�t have one until I get married.� She reassured. He nodded, not quite sure about that, but he wasn�t going to let her know that. When Evie returned with the aspirin, she smiled. Alex really loved his sister, and it warmed her heart that while he did tease her, for the most part he was very gentle with her.
�All right my beautiful girl.� Evelyn came over and Emma sat up wincing as a cramp shot through her stomach. She took the aspirin and washed them down with water.
�Alex go eat,� she said as she helped Emma lay down. He obeyed, and Emma whimpered as her stomach cramped up.
�Why did it have to choice this day to start,� she said frustrated. Evelyn rubbed her hand over her daughters tender tummy.
�It seems like cycles pick the worst of days to begin. Hush now and try to relax.� Emma nodded and let her mothers touch soothe her. In a few minutes she drifted to sleep just as Rick came in.
�Alex said she wasn�t feeling well.� He whispered.
�Should we postpone the trip?� he asked. Evelyn shook her head.
�She just needs to rest, when we are ready to go you can carry her out to the car. I�ll go pack some muffins for her.� Evelyn left and Rick knelt beside his daughter�s bed kissing her forehead, then left to go get the car warmed up. A little later he returned, and as he lifted her into his arms she came awake.
�Shh, were ready to go, I made a little bed for you in the back of the car.� She nodded, resting her head against his chest feeling safe in his arms. Once she was in the car, Alex snuggled up against her, and she didn�t complain as he did. Evelyn got in the passenger side of the car, then they began their long days trip to the Estate in the woods.
It was nearly lunch time when Emma and Alex roused. She moved first which woke her younger brother.
�I was wondering when you two would wake up,� Evelyn said, as she handed them back two wrapped sandwiches. Emma got a ham and cheese sandwich, and Alex a plain cheese sandwich, which they both devoured. Evelyn had two thermoses made up one of milk the other of water, and Alex and Emma shared the milk.
�When will we get there?� Alex asked.
�Not until tonight,� Rick said moving his arm back around Evie�s shoulders. It was quite for a few moments.
�I�m bored,� Alex said.
�Me too. Lets play charades,� Emma suggested. He had never heard of that before.
�Okay what you do is that I will act out something, and you have to guess who I am.� Alex nodded, and Emma began. She thought a moment then grinned, and began to swing her arm about.
�Your a bird?� Alex asked.
�Nope.� she responded. She turned to face him and held out her arms, and he gave her a funny look.
�Your a mummy?� he asked. She laughed as did he. In the front Rick looked in the rearview mirror glad that the kids were getting along
�I think this trip is going to be good for us,� he said happy.
�I do to. Maybe we can work on her trusting you more. � Rick nodded, and they remained silent as they traveled down the road.
It was dark when the car pulled up to the old house, and it was every bit as big as theirs. When they got out the wind was blowing a little, and the trees swayed.
�Its dark,� Emma said finding her way to her fathers side. He took her hand.
�It won�t be for long.� He led the way to the house, getting the key, opening the door with it, then turned on the lights. The house had a huge front entryway, and a ceiling that was steepled. The floor was marble, and everyone gasped at the sheer size of the place.
�It�s so big,� Alex said. The steepled roof made the house look much bigger, and the way it was designed gave it a grander appearance than the Manor home.
�Come on Emms, lets go find our rooms.� The two of them ran into another room where the stairs were and went up despite it being dark. Alex found switch at the top of the stairs and turned it on lighting up a long hallway. Evelyn and Rick came up with the luggage and helped them find a room that had one big bed, and a bath off from that.
�Emma this can be your room.� The bed was like hers at home with a canopy top and curtains that fell down around it.
�Its pretty here.� She set Annabelle down, and noticed another baby doll, one who had some of her hair missing, and a crack down her porcelain face. As her family left to go find Alex�s room she got a cold chill. Something about this place didn�t feel right to her, but she shook it off.
�Annabelle Meet Dixie,� Emma said bringing the new doll over to her baby. She set them together and got up going into the bathroom. She flipped on the light and found a large porcelain bath tub, and sink, and an ornate mirror, over the sink. She walked back out into the room and sighed. This would be a fun vacation. For a little longer she explored her new room finding nothing more than the furniture, which consisted of a dresser with another mirror, and a Wardrobe.
�All right here is your clothing,� Evelyn said coming in, scarring the daylights out of Emma. She jumped, and Evelyn set the cloths down, and came to her hugging her.
�Mum I don�t like this house,� she said.
�Oh sweety its just an old house. Your father and I have been here with Alex many times before, and its a lovely place.� Emma sighed and nodded.
�Now we should all get a good nights sleep. Your father, and your brother have decided that we need to go hike to the lake, so that we can learn how to fish.� Emma giggled, and Evelyn got the sheets out of the linen closet and made up Emma�s bed, while her daughter got ready for bed. Once Emma was ready, she lay down on the mattress and held Annabelle close.
�Mum will you sit with me until I sleep?� she asked. Evelyn smiled, and settled down with her daughter, notcing the doll which she had never seen before.
�Close your eyes.� Emma did and was soon asleep. Once she was pretty sound asleep Evelyn left her turning off the light but leaving one Candle lit so she could find her way if she needed to. She walked down the hall to Alex�s room and found him already asleep as well, and Rick just leaving him.
�Now its our turn to sleep.� Rick said, as he lifted her into his rooms. She smiled and they went to their room which was at the end of the long hall and shut the door for some privacy.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 2 : Missing
It was the sun shining in on her face, which woke Emma. She yawned and opened her eyes. This place was a lot less frightening in the daylight. Instinctively she reached for Annabelle, and didn�t feel her. Emma looked over, and only saw the broken doll. She frowned and got up looking under the bed, and all over the room, but Annabelle wasn�t anywhere to be found. Then she had a hunch of where she might be, and ran out of her room down the hall, to another door. She opened it but it was just an old storage room. The next two doors were other rooms, and her third try found Alex, who was asleep in his bed. Not one to cause trouble, Emma hesitated. Maybe he hadn�t taken Annabelle. Maybe she was in the room someplace, but Emma had checked, and she knew that she had fallen asleep with her last night. She checked around Alex�s room, in drawers and in his suitcase. The noise from that woke him.
�Hey what are you doing snooping in my stuff.� he asked sitting up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
�I can�t find Annabelle, and I know you took her just like last time.� He shook his head.
�Okay I did take her last time, but she came back didn�t she, and this time I had nothing to do with her disappearing,� Alex said, and he hadn�t. It was clear by her look that Emma didn�t believe him.
�Come on I�ll help you look for her.� Again they searched all of his room looking under the bed, in the Wardrobe, in drawers, but didn�t find her. They went back to Emma�s room, and on her bed was the broken doll but not her Annabelle.
�Whose baby is this?� he asked. He had never seen her here before, and the five times they had come here had given him enough time to be all over the house from top to bottom.
�She was in here when I got here last night.� He shrugged. Other families came here too, so he guessed some girl left her baby here then.
�Alex you really didn�t take her?� Emma asked.
�Nope dad said that the next time I did that he would use his belt, so I�m not going to ever hide her.� Emma nodded, cringing as Alex said belt. Their dad used that as a last resort, and she was happy she hadn�t gotten spanked yet, but it was just as bad to her when Alex got them.
�Well this doesn�t make a bit of since,� Emma said sitting down on her bed.
�Well she has to be here someplace.� Alex said. They pulled the covers off of her bed, but she wasn�t under there.
�Alex where is she?� Emma was getting panicked now. Annabelle had been her first present from her dad, and she didn�t want her lost.
�I�ve got no idea. Come on maybe if we retraced your steps we will find her that way.� He took her hand and pulled her with him, and they went down the hall to the stairs and down to the large doors.
�Now we came in last night.� Emma nodded.
�And we both walked in to the middle of this room, and you had Annabelle in your arms right?� Emma was beginning to wonder if she had left the doll out in the car.
�Maybe she is in the car,� Emma said. Alex unlocked the door, and it squeaked as he opened it. Outside was the start of a beautiful day. The birds were chirping, and the smell of pine was heavy as most of the trees around the house were pine trees. The two went to the car and looked in there for her, but didn�t find her any place.
�Well lets try your room again, Did you leave her in the bathroom?� Alex asked. That was one place she had not looked.
�Nope.� She took his hand, and they went back in, just as their parents were coming downstairs.
�Are you two going to play out in your pajamas?� Evelyn asked.
�No Emma though she left Annabelle in the car,� Alex said.
�You had her with you in bed last night,� Evie said as she gave both of her children a good moring hug and kiss. Rick came over and Emma hugged him.
�Did you sleep all right?� he asked her.
�Yep.� She grabbed Alex�s hand and they ran back upstairs, down the hall to her room. When they walked in both of them gasped because Annabelle was sitting on the bed next to Dixie.
�There you are.� Emma hugged her and kissed her.
�Emma she wasn�t there just a moment ago.� Alex said.
�Well she is fine now, and I�m taking her with me on the hike.� Alex left to get dressed, and Emma settled Annabelle back on the bed, and went into her bathroom where she wet a washcloth and cleaned her face. She brusshed her and teeth and went back out into her room where she got dressed. She put a new dress on Annabelle, then left to go down and have breakfast with the rest of the family.
The hike to the lake took them a half hour, and when they arrived Rick and Alex set things up, while the girls spread out the large blanket they had brought along to watch as the guys fished.
�Come on Emms,� Alex said as he hooked a warm, ready to cast in his line. She made a face.
�No thats all right I�ll just watch. Mum why do guys like to do this sort of thing?� she asked. That comment got a laugh from Evelyn, and made Emma smile.
�I�m not sure. My father and brother loved to go fishing, I think its just a bonding experience.� She would have said more when Alex called out that he had caught a fish, and both ladies watched as he reeled in his catch. The fish was big, and Alex brought it over.
�He will make good lunch,� Alex said. Emma had backed away.
�Well good.� He left again.
�Do we really have to eat that?� Evie smiled.
�I brought some fruit and bread, so if you don�t want to, then no, you can just eat the other food. Why don�t you and I got for a walk?� Emma nodded, and after Evelyn told Rick what they were up too the too O�Connell women, found a path that Evelyn knew well and hiked ten minutes to a little stream. They took their shoes and off and waded in finding the water very cold.
�When was the first time you came out here? Emma asked as they settled on a small rock outcropping by the stream, and dangled their feet in the water.
�Well we came out here the first time when Alex was 4, and he got the chicken pox. We spent the whole Vacation with him in a bath tub of water with Baking soda in it. He also had a pretty high fever, and a doctor from the next village came and had us keep him in a luke warm bath for almost four hours until his fever went down.� That time had not been fun for any of them.
�Thats not very good. Mum have you ever lost things and then found them. I mean like this moring I couldn�t find Annabelle. I though Alex had taken her, and we both went to look for her out in the car, and then we came back up stairs and she was sitting next to Dixie.� Emma was frightened by this.
�Are you sure she wasn�t there? Perhaps you just looked over her.� Emma shook her head.
�Mum she was gone. I promise you, and Alex was with me so he couldn�t have put her back.� She was upset now, and Evelyn held her close.
�Honey shh. I just think you could have over looked her is all,� Evelyn said, trying to calm her down. Emma relaxed in her arms.
�Maybe so. I just don�t like that house mum.� Something about the house made her stomach churn and her skin crawl. She had slept fine, but this whole episode with Annabelle going missing, and then finding her where she had not been, really made Emma uneasy. They walked back to the lake hand in hand, and Evelyn told her that the house had been around a long time, and that perhaps it was just going to take Emma time to get used to things. The rest of the day was spent around the lake, and they even swam in it. It was fresh water, and freezing cold, but allot of fun.
It was late, and Emma lay awake worried. She had fallen asleep again with Mum there, and now she was awake. She had not let go of Annabelle, and wouldn�t.
�Emma?� Alex�s voice called out.
�Come in.� He did and got in her bed.
�Your baby isn�t the first thing to go missing. I usually sleep in uncle Johns room when we come here. I�ve lost lots of stuff, and found them again in places they were not before.� She shuttered.
�Did you tell mum and dad?� she asked
�Lots of times, and they just told me I overlooked it.� He sighed.
�I want to go home,� she said.
�Well we only have two months left to go, and really Emma the only think that ever happens is stuff going missing, and reappearing. I know this place is haunted, but nothing bad has happened, and there aren�t any secrets rooms its just an old house, with a old history.�
�Just stay with me okay?� she asked him. He nodded and they soon fell asleep.
.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 3 : The Basement
It was the chirping of birds that woke Rick and Evelyn. They snuggled for a bit, then got up to start the day. As they dressed they talked about what they would do this day. It had been two weeks since their arrival, and both had noticed how jumpy the kids had become.
�Maybe we should just leave,� Evie said putting on her top and slacks.
�Evie they just have active imaginations. Neither of us have seen or heard anything strange since we arrived, and we need this time to have with our kids,� Rick pointed out. She knew that to be true, but Emma was upset by the house, and she was beginning to believe herself that something was amiss. A few times, when she had been alone in a room, she had the strangest feeling, as though she was being watched. Once they had dressed, they went to Alex�s room, where both he, and Emma slept. They were both still asleep, and Emma with her doll held against her. Rick went over to Alex, and rubbed his back, and Evie went to Emma kissing her cheek. Both children groaned, then woke up.
�Mum may we go out today?� Emma asked. Evie settled on the bedside.
�Its raining honey, but I think we can find plenty to do inside, maybe play the charades game that you and Alex love so much,� Evie suggested. At the thought of staying inside both kids shuttered. They were stuck. Once they had dressed, and eaten breakfast, they all went into the parlor, where Rick got a fire going. Then for a while they did family things, like playing charades. When they got tired of that, both Evelyn and Rick settled down to a game of chess, and Alex grabbed Emma and led her into the kitchen.
�There is one part of the house that I have never been in before,� he admitted, feeling the need for adventure.
�What part?� she asked not liking the sound of this.
�Well there is one door that is always locked, and that is the door to the basement. There is a skeleton key on top of the Ice chest, and I think we should go down there and see whats there.� She shook her head.
�No. I�m not going there.� Something inside her felt funny, like if they went down there they wouldn�t come back.
�Chicken,� he said, knowing that if he pushed her enough she would follow his lead.
�Oh all right but I�m not going to like this.� Alex got a lamp, and matches, then while Emma watched out for their parents, he got the key and opened the door. It opened in, not out, and a coolness met him. The way down was pitch black, and after taking a breath, he took Emma�s hand and they went down a few stairs, closing the door so that they wouldn�t get in trouble. Alex lit the match and got the lamp lit which let off an eerie glow. They walked down several steps until they reached the bottom finding a long hallway which led somewhere.
�Alex we really need to go,� she said wanting to cry.
�Just be brave, I�m here for you,� he said. After a moment, they began their journey down a passage which went on and on. It finally led them to another door, and Alex grumbled as they found it locked.
�Maybe we should just forget it,� Emma said.
�Nope I can pick the lock.� He got out his Army knife, and it only took a few minutes for him to get the lock picked. It clicked, and he opened the door. This one pulled out. Alex held the lantern in, and what they found was right out of the very bizarre. It was a room covered in paintings, mostly red paintings of stars, and on the floor was a very large star. There was an alter, and several cages.
�What does all of this mean,� Alex asked looking at the wall. There were words, and Emma pulled on him.
�Alex those are spells, witchcraft, voodoo, whatever you want to call it. The stars are a Pentagram.
�How do you know?� he asked.
�Because in the states there was something about Witch trials, in the 1800s, and my friend Mary told me about symbols, and the Pentagram brings power,� she said shuttering.
�We could hold a siance,� Alex suggest totally fascinated by this.
�No we need to get out of here.� Suddenly the lantern went out. There was no breeze, and Emma grabbed Alex�s hand.
�Light the match.� He felt in his pockets, but couldn�t find them.
�I can�t find any.� They heard movement and both of them did the only thing they could think of which was to scream.
In the sitting room, Evelyn had beaten her husband yet again at chess.
�Your brutal,� he said.
�But you still love me,� she replied smiling. He got up and pulled her to her, feet kissing her. When they parted both were out of breath.
�We should check on the kids, then go up and find some time for a little exploration,� Rick suggested. She nodded and they went up to Alex�s room. It was empty, as were most of the rooms upstairs.
�Did they go outside?� Evie asked a little concerned.
�Its pouring out there,� Rick said a little worried. They checked all downstairs but the kids were gone. As panic was beginning to set in, they heard a door open, and their children came out of the basement in tears, both running into Rick�s arms. He knelt down and held them close.
�Shh, I�ve got you.� Alex was the first to pull away, and went to his mum who was very worried.
�We wanted to see what was down there, and there is a room and its a place where there were witches and there are spells and pentagrams,� he said all in one breath.
�We were down there and our lantern went out, and then we heard a noise, and laughing,� Emma said still holding tight to her father.
�It came back on by itself and there was a dead cat on the table that wasn�t there before,� Alex said.
�Please can we go home?� Emma asked.
�Emma, I think you guys just had a scare. I want to go have a look,� Rick said standing and lifting her into his arms. She shuttered
�Can me and Alex sit in the car?� Both parents agreed to letting them do that, and when they were safe outside, the two adventures went into the basement that the children so recently vacated. They found the same passage, and the room, but it was just an ordinary room. There were no symbols of any sort, and there was a table, but that was all.
�I think someone has a very over active imagination,� Rick said lightly as he and Evelyn headed back out. Neither of them saw the little girl standing behind them, a pail child dressed in a white dress.. They left that place, and Rick locked the door, then they brought the kids back inside, and told them what they had found.
�But I saw it we both did,� Emma said sobbing. Rick lifted her into his arms.
�Honey I know you thought you saw something but your mum and I went down there and there was just a normal room,� Rick said.
�No I�ll prove it to you,� Emma got of his lap and grabbed Alex, and Rick and Evie got the key and they all went downstairs. When they got to the room what the found was a normal room.
�No way this room had symbols,� Alex said. But it didn�t.
�I want to go home,� Emma sobbed and ran out of the basement, up to her own room. She lay on her bed and cried herself to sleep.
Sleep usually was peaceful, but this time she dreamed. She found herself in the basement, and there were several people in robes. She was among them holding the doll with the broken face, though in this dream or reality the doll was new.
�Hurry along Marguerite,� a woman said to her. She wanted to say she wasn�t Marguerite, but for some reason she couldn�t speak. She opened her mouth but no words came out. She tried to scream but she couldn�t and was pushed into the room. Candles were lit and set around each point of the Pentagram, and there was chanting, going on. She was led to the center of it, and watched in terror as a cat was brought in and laid on the table. It was cut open and hung to bleed.
Emma came awake then sweating, and out of breath. It was dark, and she slipped out of bed getting the candle, going to Alex�s room. She found him awake reading a book, and when she entered he looked up.
�Are you okay?� Mum, and dad have been worried because you wouldn�t wake up.
�I�m okay, Alex we need to have a siance like you said. I had a dream that I was a little girl named Marguerite, and I held the doll who was broken, only in that dream she was new. But I couldn�t talk.�
�Dad said if either of us goes down there again he will spank us both.� Alex informed. She sighed.
�Thats never stopped you before.� He got up, put on his slippers, and they crept downstairs. As they walked past the basement, to get the key, the door it opened on its own, and both children gulped.
�I guess we are needed.� Emma nodded, and they got a lamp and went back down to the room. It was the same way they had seen it before. There were writings on the wall, and candles were lit at the points of the Pentigram. Emma led Alex to the middle and sat down with him.
�Close you eyes, and hold my hand, and what ever you do don�t let go,� she told him. He did what she said and she began.
�We call upon the spirits of this house, and of one girl named Marguerite to come forward�. Nothing happened.
�Alex keep your eyes closed,� she said opening hers to find that he had them open. His eyes were as round as saucers.
�Emma she is right behind you.� Emma gulped and turned. The girl was young, and her eyes had been cut out.
�Are you Marguerite?� she nodded.
�Why have you been causing such a ruckus?� she asked. Marguerite touched Emma, and Alex watched in horror as his sister slumped forward. He grabbed her and shook her, but she wouldn�t move.
�Emma wake up,� he said. When she wouldn�t, he ran upstairs to his parents room, finding the door locked. He knocked on it frantically until his dad came out.
�Dad dad, I know you said you would spank us, but we went down there, and Emma passed out or something.� Evelyn came, and they all went back to the basement. It was how Alex left it with the Symbols, and Candles lit, and Emma was where Alex had left her. Evie knelt down and felt that she was burning hot with Fever.
�We need to get her to bed,� Evelyn said to Rick who was astonished by what they were seeing. The kids had not been lying, and he wanted to get them out of here, but with Emma sick they would have to wait it out. He gathered her in his arms and took her up to their room.
Marguerite led Emma through some sort of passage that was at the back of the room to another room. There was a bed, and toys, even Annabelle.
�Why did you take her again?� she asked. The little girl shrugged.
�Your dolly is up in my bed,� she told her feeling suddenly chilled to the bone. She began to shiver, and Marguerite settled in her arms.
�Are you here alone?� The little girl shook her head, and Emma suddenly felt very tired. She leaned back against the pillows and was soon asleep.
Evie had run a luke warm bath, and Rick came with Emma. They got her cloths off of her, and put her in the water and she moaned, and screamed, but didn�t come awake. Alex watched tears running down his face.
�I�ll sit with her Rick, go be with our son.� He nodded and led Alex out to their bed.
�Dad Do you believe us now about the ghosts?� he asked, as Rick laid him on the bed, and moved in beside him.
�Yes son, I believe you. What happened with your sister?� he asked needing to know so that he and Evelyn could figure this out.
�She decided we needed to have a Siance, and she called on this spirit this Marguerite. She told me she had a dream that she was her, and then said we needed to talk to her. I though it was just going to be a bunch of nonsince but I opened my eyes after she called out for the spirit and this girl was behind her. She had no eyes dad, and when she touched Emma, thats when it all went wrong.� Rick held him close wanting to get his family out of this place as soon as possible.
Emma woke up in her parents bed between them, and next to Alex. She sat up or tried but her body hurt too much. When she did finally manage to sit up, she tried to scream at what she saw. They were all dead, their throats slit. She felt a hand on her and closed her eyes. When she opened them again she was back with Marguerite.
�Is that what happened to your family?� she asked realizing that who she was next to wasn�t her family at all. The girl nodded.
�Hurt us..Brought us here and hurt us.� Emma shuttered
�Is that why you found me because they want to hurt my family?� Marguerite nodded.
�Have to go.� She put her hand over Emma�s eyes and the pain came
It was the restless movement beside her, which woke Evelyn, and she looked to see Emma thrashing about. Gently she drew her daughter into her arms, and in a moment Emma came awake,sitting up.
�Mum we have to get out of here now. I was in this place with the girl with Marguerite, and she told me that these people brought her family here and killed them, and now they want to do the same to us,� she said crying now. Her words woke Alex and Rick, as well as the light of the morning sun.
�Please daddy lets go home,� she said. After all that had just happened, he agreed as did Evelyn that they needed to head out of there, and everyone packed. Emma made sure she kept Annabelle right at her side, and once they had packed they loaded everything in the car. Evelyn came out with snacks for the trip, and once everyone was in the car, Rick turned the key and pressed the button, but the car didn�t do anything. He tried it again, and knew that the battery died.
�I should have changed it, but I thought it would last another trip,� he explained to his wife and kids.
�I don�t want to go back in there,� Alex said, terrified after all that Emma had said. In the front, Rick rested his head on the stirring wheel.
�Look it will take me all day, but I will walk into the village and get a new battery. The house isn�t bad during the day is it?� He asked his kids. Both of them agreed to that, as long as they stayed out of the basement they could stand one more day in the house. Once he had a rucksack ready, he hugged them all goodbye, and they watched him until he was gone.
�All right, what should we do?� Evie asked of her children.
�Lets make Cookies,� Emma said. They had planned to do that today, so they went back inside and found the basement door open. Evelyn shut it, and locked it, then they went to the kitchen and their cookie making began.