Chapter 56 Haunted House
The weather was freezing, and our breath turned into thick white clouds. Daniel's face was so red it looked like it might bleed.
Daniel glanced at Louis, then at me, before turning away and saying, "You're still young. I didn't want those things distracting you from your studies, so I kept them. If you want them back, I'll give them to you when we get home."
Louis was livid. "Daniel, how could you do that?"
Daniel didn't back down, and they started arguing. The other two boys tried to calm them down, but it just got more heated.
The more I listened, the more it didn't make sense. Daniel had hidden love letters meant for me. He didn't even like me, so why keep them? Was he trying to improve his reading skills or something?
Their shouting drew attention from passersby.
The game hadn't even started, and they were already fighting.
What a birthday!
"So, you intercepted more than just one or two letters? Daniel, who gave you the right to take my stuff? Are you crazy?" I yelled.
If Helen hadn't taught me to be a lady, I would've rushed up to teach him a lesson.
My anger peaked. This wasn't over!
During high school, I got quite a few love letters, but I didn't read any because I was all about Daniel. No other boy could get into my heart.
But that didn't give him the right to handle letters meant for me. It was a violation of my privacy and disrespectful to the senders.
As I confronted Daniel, Brad parked the car and came over. He calmly asked what was going on.
I told him, and Brad gave Daniel a disappointed look, then smiled at me. "It's your birthday. Don't get upset over the past. Let's talk about it tomorrow, okay? Look, everyone's waiting for you."
"Brad's right, Jane. Let's go inside and have fun. Don't get mad over a jerk."
"Exactly, it's not worth it. Come on, let's have a blast."
Amelia put her arm around my shoulder. I stood my ground, glaring at Daniel, demanding an explanation.
Our classmates tried to calm us down, saying it wasn't worth getting angry over old issues. Two boys even scolded Louis for bringing it up on my birthday. It was rare for everyone to get together, and it would be a shame to ruin the mood.
Louis knew he was wrong and kept apologizing.
I was also mad at Louis. No matter his issues with Daniel, he shouldn't have caused trouble on my birthday. I used to think Louis was honest and considerate, but now it was clear he wasn't.
"Jane, be good. Let's talk about it later. Everyone's here to celebrate your birthday, so cheer up." Brad put his hand on my shoulder and gently comforted me.
"Okay," I said, not wanting to disappoint Brad or ruin the mood. I'd deal with Daniel later, and Louis wasn't worth my time anymore.
Two of the boys were great at lightening the mood, and soon everyone was into the game, forgetting the earlier drama.
The haunted house entrance was under an old oak tree, next to a well with a sign that read, "You came too."
The staff gathered us and explained the rules, emphasizing it was all about the atmosphere. The "ghosts" were just staff members, so it might be scary, but not deadly.
We laughed and joked as we descended into the well one by one.
When it was my turn, only Daniel and Brad were left above ground.
"Stay with me, and don't be scared," Brad said, holding my hand as we entered the central passage.
It was my first time in a haunted house, and the cold wind and eerie wails made my scalp tingle.
Ahead, someone screamed, followed by cries of "Get away, don't come near me!" It sent chills down my spine, and I hugged myself tightly.
I was carefully observing my surroundings when something suddenly dropped close to my face with a buzzing sound. The ghostly light revealed a hanging ghost with a bleeding tongue and creepy eye sockets. It was terrifying and disgusting.
"Ah!" I screamed and tried to run.
Brad grabbed me and whispered, "It's fake, don't be scared."
Right, the staff had said it was fake, and Brad was here, so what was there to fear? I mustered up my courage and followed Brad, but I kept feeling like something was following me.
I looked back a few times, but the light was too dim. Even if two people were face to face, they wouldn't see each other, let alone something hiding behind me.
"What's wrong?" Brad asked.
"It feels like a ghost is following me."
"Don't be scared. With me here, no monsters or ghosts can get to you." Before Brad could finish, something cold grabbed my ankle.
I screamed again, shaking it off and kicking without thinking. My kick landed perfectly, and I heard a muffled groan, followed by, "Damn, I'm bleeding again."
Oh crap, I hurt a staff member. What now?
Brad realized I was in trouble and pulled me forward in a mad dash.
I couldn't see anything, just the wind rushing past my ears and the footsteps of the "ghost" behind us.
Suddenly, ghostly green flames lit up on the walls. A ghost with fiery eyes and a dead rat hanging from its teeth reached out with sharp claws to grab my neck.
Every hair on my body stood on end, and without thinking, I leaped onto Brad's back. "Run, there's a ghost after me!"
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