Zara couldn’t shake the feeling like she was being watched. She turned around and Dr. Freeze loomed behind her. She screamed at first then stopped when she recognized him. “Holy cow I know you! I’m your biggest fan!” she screamed. She hugged him even though he smelled like mud and trees. “OMG LETS TAKE A PICTURE!” she yelled in a shrilly voice. She grabbed his arm and brought her camera up and did several poses, taking about a dozen pictures. He rolled his eyes in annoyance. She noticed a look on his face and was about to ask what was wrong when he struck her face and yelled “Shut up!” Zara was about to punch his face but at the last second changed her mind and slapped him instead. Dr. Freeze looked stunned and then began to cry…

Zara woke up startled with her hair stuck on her neck and a wild look in her eyes. She sighed when realized it was all a dream. Zara hated how preppy she was in her own dream and that was the only thing that had scared her, in her dream. She got up and stared at her posters on her wall of her favorite metal/rock bands: Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, and her most favorite band of all, Dr. Freeze with nails.

When she got out of the shower she got dressed in red skinny jeans, a black T-shirt of Dr. Freeze and remembered her dare she had to complete. She grabbed her small white backpack putting her camera, flashlight, and EMV recorder that is suppose to record paranormal voices. Her dare was to prove there were ghosts in Old Bay’s Mansion. Zara doesn’t believe in ghosts so the ending of her dare was definitely going to be interesting. She called her best friend Dannie and she picked up on the third ring.

“Hello?” her peppy voice questioned making Zara cringe slightly. How they are best friends, no one knows. “Hey I’m heading out to Old Bay.” Zara said locking her front door and began walking down the street. “You’ll believe there are ghosts after this dare.” Dannie said in a jolly voice. “Whatever,’ Zara said rolling her eyes. “Hey listen I’m about there so I’m gonna let you go,” Zara said about to hang up when Dannie quickly yelled “Wait, wait, wait, wait!!” When Dannie was sure Zara wouldn’t hang up she continued talking. “I’ll call at 10:00 pm sharp,” she said then hung up making Zara look at her phone and shake her head in disbelief. Sure Dannie was an overly peppy person but she was the only true friend Zara had.

Zara looked up to the dark mansion and gulped. The dark mansion was old, rusty and even in broad daylight, it gave this dark looming feeling something was watching her. She was truthfully terrified but curiosity, and the dare she had to do, got the best of her. Her feet moved on their own will, carrying her up to the front steps to the looming front door. The steps crackled and creaked, almost feeling like they would give way at any second. The terrifying sound held her from going any further. She pushed back the fear and opened the door. It was pitch black as she stared into the darkness, not even the sun could light up the room enough for her to see what was in front of her.

She fought back her desire to flee as she closed the door. It was too dark to see so she reached into her backpack. ‘Good thing I have my handy dandy…night vision goggles!!’ she thought happily to herself. But…sadly they were out of batteries. She took out her flashlight and turned it on sighing in relief that the batteries worked. The inside of the house was scarier than the outside. There were white sheets all over the furniture and you could practically smell the piles of dust in the room signaling the house hasn’t been lived in for quite a while. She turned off her flashlight and take out her camera and snapped a couple of photos in the direction where she felt like she was being watched, each flash was able to give her a clue of where not to walk if she didn’t want to bump her leg or trip over anything.

She turned her camera settings to night vision and pressed the record button. “It is 11:47 am in the morning and I’m what appears to be the main room.” She said moving the camera slowly to film the entire room. “All in all, it appears to be just a really old mansion.” She began walking around and found a door and opened it. She lowered the camera peering into the little screen which was her only guide seeing the stairs led to a basement. As she took her fist step down the frail stairs a vile rose up in her throat as she felt a chill go down her back making the hairs on her neck stand. Scared she kept walking down the stairs until she reached the bottom of the stair case.

“I have just entered the basement and it is quiet.” She said to the camera. ‘Too quiet,’ she added in her head. She paused the video and changed the setting to camera and began taking pictures of the room. She caught a quick glance at the last photo and something caught her eye. She pressed the view button and sure enough there was a boy around her age standing behind a chair just a few feet in front of her. When she looked up from the camera no one was there. “It's probably an old poster that fell,’ she mumbled to herself.

Zara decided now would be a good time to take out her EMV recorder. She pressed the start button and put her camera back on video setting and pressed record. “This is a device so you are able to communicate with me through. If you talk into this little box than I should be able to hear you.” She said and waited. When she heard nothing for about a good five minutes she replayed the recorder and no voices besides her was heard.

“What are doing here?” I deep voice asked making Zara jump and turn around. Zara stared at the boy she had caught in her picture and took deep breaths to stop her heart from pounding in her ears. “I’m here to prove ghosts exist,’ I said trying to keep my voice strong but it was pointless since he had already seen how scared she was.

“Huh, you don’t look like one of those girls that believe in ghosts,’ he said in almost a thoughtful tone and she chuckled. “I’m not,” she said and turned on her flashlight on dim for the first time thankful for one of those expensive dimming flashlights. “Then why are you here?’ the boy asked perplexed. “I was dared to prove ghosts exist and if I believe in them after this little dare episode than it must be true considering I’m the biggest skeptic in town.” Zara said and the boy nodded his head.

“My name’s Zara and you are?” Zara asked staring closely at his light tan skin, warm blue eyes, and dark black hair and tall built body. “Mace Johnson, like what you see?” he said grinning making Zara blush when in fact she did like what she saw. “Anyways what are doing here, I’ve never seen you around town,” she said noting everyone’s face in town, because it was a small town everyone knew everyone in the town and everyone’s parents, and their grandparents.

“I’m just exploring the old house, everyone in my school said it was scary but I don’t believe it.” Mace said answering her. Zara stared at him for a couple seconds before looking at her phone and reading the time. She sighed and turned her attention back to Mace. “I have to continue my little documentary thing,’ she spoke apologetically. “Can I join you?” he asked and his question made her heart race when it shouldn’t have and not in the scared type way. “Sure, I could use the company.” Zara said smiling making Mace’s breathing hitch. He smiled back and followed her back up the stairs and into the main room.

“It is 2:36pm and so far no noises, no voices and no ghosts.” She said into her camera and turned it off. She sat down on the floor and took out a peanut butter, banana and chocolate sandwich out. She offered some to Mace but after his polite no, Zara dug into her sandwich. Mace smiled at her and watched her eat. “So, tell me about yourself,” Zara said to Mace then went back to eating.

‘Well, umm…’ Mace mumbled trying to find some words but they were tied around his tounge. Zara noticed his discomfort and smiled lightly. “Here I’ll go first.” She said putting her trash in her bag to Mace’s amazement. “I was given up by my parents at age nine, they left me in my neighbors care and told me they would be come back from the store soon but they never came to get me. I watched from the neighbor’s window as my parents came back home with a moving truck, packed up everything from the house and left leaving me behind. I’m called a skeptic because I don’t believe in miracles, or else I would’ve heard from my parents again. I don’t believe in love, or ghosts, and most of all when someone promises something I don’t believe them because most of the time there lying.” Zara said and took a drink from her water bottle while Mace sat across from her in silence.

“Wow,” was all he could say. He had never met someone with such a troubling past and was captivated by this girl who found a way to smile even if it was to hide the pain. She was stronger than any person or animal he’s ever seen. “If you really want to know about me… I grew up as an only child and my parents were always there for me whenever I needed to get out of a situation. I had a girlfriend until she betrayed me and got together with my old best friend and I find myself trying to find the scariest places in different towns. Worst part is my old best friend, who got with my ex, is a girl!” Mace said looking directly at Zara sending shivers down her spine. “That’s rough dude.” Zara said.

“Well in the little while that I’ve known you I have to say that you seem like a really cool guy and if you ever made a promise than I may just bend my skeptism and just believe you,” Zara said smiling making Mace’s heart pick up speed. Zara was a little bit scared because she had never felt so close to someone in such a little time like this before. Suddenly Evil Angel was playing through the house making Mace and Zara jump. They both laughed when they realized it was just Zara’s phone. “Hey Dannie,” Zara answered the phone and pulled the phone away from her ear from her friend’s loud voice.

“Zara where are you! I’ve been calling you for two hours!” Dannie yelled into the phone. Zara gasped and looked at the time on her phone. “I’m sorry; I guessed the time escaped me…” Zara said smiling at Mace. “Yeah anyway just make sure you bring all the evidence to school Monday.” Dannie said then hung up. Zara looked at Mace and for the first time felt sad to leave the house. “Can we meet here tomorrow?” she asked with hopefulness layered into her voice and Mace smiled. “I’m sorry but it’s been a while since I had left home and I think it’s time I go see them,’ he said with sadness and Zara’s heart faltered for a second. “Oh okay,” she said putting her stuff away leaving the flashlight for last.

“Then I guess I’ll go first,’ Zara said getting up and walking out the door trying to fight the pain in her chest. “Zara, wait!” Mace yelled and Zara turned around. “You forgot your camera,” he said and she put her camera away. “Zara, don’ forget about me and it’s not healthy to be a skeptic. Promise me that you won’t continue to be this way,’ Mace said. “I don’t believe in promises,” was all she said. “But I do, and I’ll believe yours more than anyone else’s.” He said and shut her eyes close for a moment contemplating.

“All right, I promise as long as you promise to never forget me,” Zara said for the first time in years giving a real genuine smile. “I promise, and thank you for everything,” and with that said Mace hugged her close than turned around and ran down the street till he couldn’t be seen anymore. Zara walked home and looked at her computer’s latest news and read the headline making her stomach drop as soon as she read the words: Mace Johnson’s dead body found after missing for two weeks. “No, it can’t be,” Zara mumbled scrolling down to see the picture of the boy and as soon as she saw it she began hyperventilating. It was the same Mace Johnson from the mansion except who she met was his ghost.

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I'm thinking about doing a spin off of the story... tell me what you think!! xD

-LeXi  :D