Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter twenty-five

The panic was inevitable. Lye darted and scooped up the lighter. But it was too late. The manor was ablaze.

“Get out now!” Declan cried, they headed to the kitchen but the door was barred. Even the vampires couldn’t open in. The hole in the ceiling had also been blocked. They were trapped.

“Not if I’ve got anything to say about it.” Lye cried. She ripped at the ceiling with her strong hands, she was quickly assisted. One of the beams near them caught on fire. Thinking quickly Peter grabbed it with his bare hands ignoring the burn he thrust it at the hole, causing the debris to burn away. One by one they pushed themselves out of the burning manor coughing. When they were on the ground Hayden held up the bottle.

“We got the cure!” He said triumphantly. They all cheered, Peter look around and noticed something.

“Where is Terrence.” He cried. Terrence wasn’t there. They all turned back to the burning manor their blood turning cold with horror.

“Terrence!” They cried. Peter began to race for the doors, but was held back by Lye. Peter looked at her wildly.

“It’s too late Peter!” Lye said struggling to hold him. ” He couldn’t have survived!” It was true, Terrence was only human. The manor was already more than halfway down to the ground. It sunk in slowly. Terrence, was dead. No! He couldn’t be dead. “Carla!” Lye called. Before their eyes the shape of a young girl appeared. She was see through and floating above the ground. Her hair was short and pulled into tight curls. It was Carla the Dark Side Manor ghost. Lye didn’t have to tell Carla, she knew.

Carla was the disembodied voice they had heard one night during supper. Since then she’d spoken to them through the manor walls many times. Carla’s usually bubbly voice was a deep monotone. “I’ll check.” She said. Carla disappeared through the burning walls. She returned moments later. “Dead.” She confirmed.

“No.” Peter whispered.

Memories filled his mind. Terrence helping him fix his broken bike, crying on Jerald’s shoulder after his favorite Aunt had died. Playing ball, snuggling with his cat. Laughing at a funny cat video. The lovable friendly boy with the jet black hair and ice blue eyes was gone. He was a was now, no longer an is. Tears ran down Peter’s face. He weakened. Lye stepped to his side and supported him. Peter noticed through the haze of his tears that Hayden was being supported by Miranda. Phillip had sunk to the ground and was rocking back and forth moaning.

They had come to Dark Side Manor Academy together, and now they were separated by species and one of them was gone. They barely notice the burning building and roar of sirens. Instead, they gave themselves up to sorrow.

It was over an hour before someone spoke. The fire had been put out and the firemen had left. Carla was the first to speak.

“Wait a moment!” She cried suddenly. Tear stained faces looked up at the ghost. She was looking back at the manor with a strange look in her see-through eyes. Carla glided over to the only standing wall and slipped through. A cry of joy sounded from the wall. Carla came back through beaming.

“How can you be smiling?” Peter asked her cruelly. Carla ignored him and looked back at the wall. Peter stood up, as did everyone else. Out of the wall came a ghost, in the shape of Terrence. Terrence-ghost looked around and spotted his friends.

“What happened?” He called. “Last I remember is that psycho setting the place on fire.” Terrence then looked down at his body and at the ground that was visible through his body. He looked up, his face stricken. “I died?” They all nodded in response. “Cool!” Terrence said to their surprise. “I’m a ghost!” Then his face fell. “My parents.” He moaned. Carla floated to his side and hovered her hand over his shoulder.

“It will be alright. I know you will miss them. I miss my parents, as do all the ghosts here. You will move on, as will your parents. Eventually Dean Light will stage a death for all the newbies. It’s easier that way, I’m sorry Terrence. On the upside, you can come live with me.” Carla’s tone was soft and caring. Terence sighed and nodded.

“Thank you.” He stared his friends down. “Make sure that the wolves are healed. Also make sure my parents are OK.” They nodded, they could fulfill this last wish. With heavy, yet strangely lightened hearts they headed back to the manor.

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I apologize for the day late post. But, the last chapter of Dark Side Manor is going to be posted next week!!!!

Also, I am gathering material for book 2! At the end of chapter Twenty-Six I will reveal a few pieces of information about the sequel. Also I ask that you share my book with your friends! Thank you for reading.