The Arrival.

I sat in the diner lost in my thoughts. The group of four were now gone and I sat alone. I replay what they told me before they left over and over in my mind.

They had even showed me a vidoe clip of one Adolph Hemlier who was the instigator of the bet. I had watch as he sat in a lavishly styled study his beguiling face and mischievous eyes glinting as he place the bet out to the people of Misty Crescent.

How could it be this dark hair gentleman was who was incharge of my being here when I had clearly spoken to Scarlett Ruins myself. From what they have told me the old woman was now wasting away in some old age home on the outskirts of town and The House with whom she bore the same name was sold to the only person in town foolish enough to want such an unsolicited humdrum of paramount dismay.

What everyone else in town had run away from and without premise avoided he had run to and create this unwanted attention to the old house.

He knew as he was no stranger to the town The House was best avoided. No one, not even the dearest of dare devil venture anywhere near Scarlett Ruins not even the last surviving member of the family who had owned it.

I rub my tired eyes and decide it was best I do what I came here to do. I was one of the misfits fools who rush in where angels fear to trod. I was about to leave the diner deciding I was not keen on playing the fool when I saw a state of the art Rolls Royce of gleaming white and silver pull up to the diner.

I watch from the glass window that boast in stylish calligraphic yellow letters Tate's Diner with its r nestled to a steaming cup as the man who I was earlier made aware was responsible for me being in Misty Cresent alight from behind the wheel.

He step into the diner admist greetings and courteous smiles and walk over to my table on boots shiney and immaculately dress in light pink slacks, white short sleeve shirt with the sleeves sharply seamed like those of his slacks beneath an Argyle white, pink and black sweater vest with thin blue lines.

"Miss Alley Daye," he beam at me and I was once again surprise at how young he was. He seemed no older than twenty two, twenty three or that he knew who I was.

"Mr Hemlier," I return trying not to let the thoughts seep in of my meeting of Scarlett Ruins at another diner bearing the same name hours earlier.

I was not sure what that part of the event was, if it was a dream on a bus ride or some premonition as I walk from the bus stop towards this town.

I search him however for any jewelry that boast the wierd designs that I saw on my characters bracelet, time piece and yes too, broach. He wore only a stylish pinky ring. I felt a sigh of relief escape me as I look back up to his piercing gaze.

"I thought you would have gotten in contact with me upon your arrival," he stated and then ask from my lack of responce. "You're not backing out are you?"

He wore a smile that grate my nerves and I said forcefully. "I am not backing out."

He pull from his pants pocket his well manicure fingers and gave a nod of approval. He glance about the diner and I too followed suit and saw that we were on the receiving end of a few stares.

"Shall we go," he said turning back his gaze to me and as I rose from the table I heard the warnings of the four teens who had sat with me earlier. I felt my feet waver for a bit and then I thought of Layla and my courage along with my determination push away all second guessing.

I follow him out of the diner and into what was now a cool evening that was now boasting preperation for the night approaching.

Street lamps were twinkling there lights and a few establishment whose doors had earlier stood open wide for patrons, customers, shoppers and browsers were now closed to the chill of the evening with open signs displayed by blinking lights.

I walk to the car and slip into the soft leather seat after which Adolph close the door and continue around to the driver's side, after he himself slip inside the expensively smelling interior of the car and start the engine I felt an euphoria of feelings wash over me.

I was now closer to my 5 million dollars than before and in a matter of days I will show this superstitious town with their silly fears that ghost were just things that people made up to warrant their purpose.

It did not cross my mind to think that if it was so what purpose did this town have to warrant the fear of a house in all of its residence except the newly inherited Adolph Hemlier?

"On the back seat of the car there you'll find a vidoe camera that you'll use to record your activities to show that you are in the house at all time. If ever you leave the house before Sunday evening you will forfeit the five million dollars."

I turn to the backseat and there I saw a camera bag and a box. I look back to him and ask.

"What's in the box?"

He smiled that smile I knew that girls would refer to as breathtaking and maybe a few boys too along with a few older daring woman (yes I have been known to exaggerate) but for me it seem too compelling.

"It's your survival kit de la The House Scarlett Ruins," he replies and I must admit I was beginning to think it was best I adhere to the warnings of My Four.

I stare out the window at the trees that slip by as we drove on down the road that was once gain mostly trees but I saw clearings here and there to show that houses were nestled like little eggs between there depths.

"Its a shame you didn't contact me as I instructed you did when we spoke about your arrival on the phone a few days ago. I would have ensured you got a proper bath and some much needed rest in a fine bed and a hearty meal-----"

"You let if sound as if I am an inmate on death row receiving his one last taste of decency before death consumes him," I said cutting him off.

"No no Miss Daye," he laughed but some how it rang dull and humourless to my ears, "As you already know The House ne' Scarlett Ruins has not been occupied in years, many years," he emphasize, "and with my impromptu bet on the receival of my inheritance upon my twenty third birthday no amendments have been made to the property and even with it being avoided like the black plague its condition is however by far very much hospitable."

I glared at him and let him knew what I believe.

"So am not staying in a house plagued by paranormal activities and that will by no means collapse on me after I have been told its been abondoned for years without so much as human visitation, which is a good thing really as I don't want to be buried alive by an old decrepit house."

He laughed again and I could not find what he found to be so funny. I stare at him feeling my patience begin to wear thin.

"I believe my concern should be that your all liers and not of your towns supposedly paranormal activities in The House." I watched him itently as I finished speaking.

"The House is avoided because of that fact but as you will see for your own self its condition as we are now approaching it."

I felt my body froze as I stared at the house that in fact was as he said. The House Scarlette Ruins was very much in all its two story splendor. A wide spiralling perfect replica of that in the painting at the Maze Inn that I still could not phathom was real or brought to my mind by some unexplainable event.

I open the car door, step outside and stood there staring at the white pillars of the varenda's arch, the crisscross wood work of the Sleeping Porch security enclosure all perfectly intact. The shapely bay windows were gleaming from the light that shone from within, a curtain swayed at an open window and caught my eye I look towards it and felt for a second I was being watched, all I saw however was the addition of brickwork and masonary with the construction of wood about frame work of traingle and rectangle windows in peaked towers framed by turrets to catch the eyes and wooden roof covered with slate. I did not see anything that show it was currently renovated.

I twore my eyes away when I heard Adolph's car door close. He too stood staring at the splendor before us. I could sense his awe of the place but there was also a reluctance about him that caused me to ask.

"Are you afraid of Scarlett Ruins?"

When I walk around the car and came to stand by him I smiled.

He glance at me then back at the house and said softly, "Its hard to tell that's its broken isn't it?, but in order for something to be fix it has to be broken right?"

His words caused my smile to be completely wipe away as I look at him in surprise. The old voice of Scarlett Ruins had said that to me or something within those lines, but if the four were being truthful Scarlett was indeed alive but in no condition to make any conversation with me in regards to anything.

We stood in silence for a while before he turn took the bag with the camera handed it to me. I took it and waited for him to retrieve my tattered carryall. He gave me a smile that seem to be more realistic than his practice come hither smiles of our earlier encounter and I smile back.

"See you on Sunday evening Alley Daye."

I watch as he got behind the wheel and drove off and much to my surprise the box was sitting at my feet. I hoist my carryall and the camera bag on either shoulders retrieve the box and walk up the broken stone path with it cracks spourting thick matt grass in them.

I made it to the foot of the step where the young waitress at the diner had stood and I pause there briefly but after a deep breath I continue up the steps onto the terracotta tiles of the porch that I realized also covered the ground floor as I open the Dutch doors and step inside. The door creak shut behind me and I stood there in what to me was a mystery.

No freaking way did Adolph Hemlier not get someone to fixer upper this place. This house was in the best of conditions from what my eyes could see. There was no smell of dust or mustiness. It was all some freaking ruse to get me all believing in the supernatural of this place then they would later start to trickle up on me their paranormal bull shit as they days unfold.

I pulled the camera bag from my shoulder and retrieve its contents. It was a state of the art 4K Panasonic camcorder.

It was an easy task getting it ready for use, in mere seconds I was talking into its camera and stating clearly for Adolph with wide eyes, waving fingers and a scary intone that did not dismiss my sacarsm.

"Ooooo crreeppyyy."