The Curtains- Final Version

CHAPTER 1

"Lemme out, please! HELP ME"

"I don't wanna die. HELLO"

The screams parroted against the butchery walls. No one will help you out.

"Dam Dam"

My hands kept on whacking the heavy wrought iron door, hazy vision inept me to discern the place, eyes barely helped to foresight in the presence of dark. The walls were painted with blood. Susi lay dead on the floor. Her body was viciously wracked. Bits of mirror was darted on her eyeballs; the forehead was half smashed in pieces, the skin was brutally sliced, feet were completely twisted.

A small sparkly tear was stuck right on her cheek. She has undergone a lot. I couldn't stop the flow of my tears. All I can hear were my screams, echoing against the walls, crying with pain and fear. Guts forced me to stand back, cheeks slouched against the floor to look outside the door, tears watered the vision, blurry images formed through demi slash of eyes, restraining my mind to take a sudden call.

I was trying to seek help but my frozen vocal cord shook my voice.

"HM HM HM HM HM HM"

My ears bounced up to that same weird Twinkle Twinkle sound.

I paused.

Gasping, gasping and gasping, fear ceased me from moving, eyes were stirring like a wiper. I felt a hand on my shoulder, darkness surrounded the room.

Three days earlier.

The Journey begins.

A long way from the city, in the middle of nowhere, there was a motel named "The Curtains", covered with sharp-pointed bushes like feelers and eroded trees whose leaves were fallen off, sounded like a crispy wing as the wind passes by. The building was sabotaged, windows were half broken and one side was utterly wracked like crushed pepper, dust-coated the building light brown and leaves covered the craft men's cinematic artsier. Many ferocious series of fairy tales attached with it, persuade people to keep the brand still alive. The historic journey began on the 26th of June 2010. My friend Clair Steward rushed into my house on Cowls street, the oldest street in the oldest section of Alaska.

She shouted, "Emma, come at once!". Before I even had time to get myself up, she rampantly shouted again

"Yeah, I'm all done".

"Just a moment, I'll be there", I uttered under a whisper, almost in sleep when getting dressed.

It was a bright morning, slow wind buzzing my ears, curtains were drifting like a slow melody.

I headed towards the closet, slide the door open, eyes were glimpsing sideways. I dressed up in my casual apparel, dark blue skinny jeans, a hazel top with brown stripes, a multi-color scarf wrapped on my neck, along with a jacket. I simply clipped my light brown hair and wore aero soft joggers. Packed my stuff in a blue tracking bag, hung it on my shoulder and moved out of the room.

"Morning Mom" I went down the stairs directly into the dining room, mom and Clair were chatting over breakfast.

I yawned and dragged myself near the table to have a fluffy delicious bagel with a salted egg fry.

"Where are the others ?", I asked Clair, she was busy eating cheesy bread.

"Have you even called them to come early", I kept on asking frequently, sighting the road through the window.

She nodded yes and began to eat again.

"You all better watch your back and don't forget to call me when you reach there", mom said with a heavy heart, her eyes were clutching the flood in.

"I'll be fine mom. It's not my first project", my words might have eased her for a split second but she remained terrified.

I took the tray off her hand, hugged her tightly, almost squeezed her, to make her feel good. Ears jumped on to the noise of siren, I moved my hand back from mom to grab the lying bag.

"It's time to go, mom", the feeling was weird to leave her all alone, but duty comes first.

My shivering legs moved near the door, opened the door. to go outside. There was a black jeep near my front yard. Clair and I walked to the car, I waved mom goodbye and stepped inside the jeep. We all were heading towards our dream project. Dream to probe "The Curtains", a five-star luxurious motel, which was shut down due to 400 tragic deaths. Some say it was due to fire which burned down the whole entity, while others rumored that it is a haunted place where anything can happen anytime.

"What a crap".

Furious and curious minds of archaeologists are always dire to quest the mystery behind the walls. The heat of the moment was making me assume myself a latchkey child, striving hard to achieve her aims. We loaded all our stuff into the jeep and were ready to hit the town.

"I'm gonna drive", Simon hilariously cried, my cousin. Six feet tall, black hair, dashing personality with brown eyes. His leather jacket was quite old and grimy, four years elder than me. Susi, Karen, Edward, Jacob, Elizabeth, Will and May also joined us. I plugged myself into my creepy songs and pulled a book out to read. I have read that book a hundred times in each passing year of my life, as it gives a pain-pleasure, on how a girl finds the love of his father. Cold breezes were enchanting the environment, it was so peaceful and quiet. Karen placed her legs out through the window, her head was rested on my lap. Wide-eyed and mesmerized by the passing beauty of nature. I looked up and halted, gazing at huge mountains wrapped with snow and fog, overshadowing the beautiful villages in the footstep of those mountains. The melody of the flowing streams and rivers at distance forced me to unplug my music and the crashing sound of the waterfall ahead was hitting my ears like thunder. I just put my head back and got silent.

"Hey, what are you reading", Will worded out, dragging me from my inner world.

I frowned and pushed him back.

"You disturbed my thoughts", I abruptly said, pointing my book near his face.

Will almost whimpered as May dragged him away from my seat and spun him around badly to sit still. She was pulling out a joke. She was the one who enliven our trip with her silly pranks. It was a long and tiresome journey, as the destination was on the outskirts of town. The sky turned black, the wind started gusting, smog covered our path, it was almost 11:00 pm at night and in the middle of nowhere, we decided to stop by.

"Good God, we were already stuffed with camps for such unforeseen circumstances", Clair said by catching a deep breath.

I walked near the car to grab some bags, heavy bags miffed my arms, my legs were quivering with such weight. I sighed before lifting. I felt like a factotum, luckily Jacob helped me station the camps. What a long and cold night it was. Deep darkness covered us with a bunch of creepy and scary noises. Passing puffy clouds masked the moonlight, the black sky was calmly flecked with white shimmering stars, I put on my jacket as the cold wind passes by. Few of my friends placed the born fire and turned on the music to dance. I sat at a distance on a broken tree, about to complete the book and suddenly the phone rang beside me.

"HELLO", poor signals hung down my call.

It must be mom, so I dropped the voice message.

My eyes began to blink when I heard the footsteps approaching me. I shifted myself a bit corner to glimpse the person. It was Jacob, a tall white man with short black hair.

He smirked, his eyes were shining, and the striking looks were diverting my attention to him. After an exchange of a few comforting words, he leaned towards me, entwined me, kissed my forehead, his brittle beard twinged me. My mouth hastily fell open, I mumbled scared, muscular arms prisoned me so tightly that it was hard to retaliate. Catching my conscious in a snap second, I pushed him back vehemently and walked past him. I strolled briskly, not wanting to think about him any longer. I hid my feeling behind the wall of my heart. I glanced back at him, his lower head and watery eyes were somehow breaking those walls. I went inside the camp, zipped up, took off the jacket and laid straight on the fluffy pillow. Eyes were staring right up, arousing warmth distressing my mind.

Chapter 2

Next day, the perky bright rays hit my face, descant of birds was magical, aroma in the air almost captivated me. We all woke up quite early, I stepped out the camp, trod directly to the car to grab some snacks.

"Morning", Simon said in sleepy voice, mincing by the camp where Elizabeth and May was reposing, he approached me, holding a cup of coffee.

"Are you ok, you just crumbled the camp", my words sounded concern as he was half sleep walking.

He filched on the road, I grabbed the cup, and glanced around for water. He was acting weird as if he was drugged. Clair saw Simon on floor, her foots rushed towards us, she helped me carrying Simon into the car.

"Here's the medicine, take it, you'll be fine", her bothering voice was bit loud, her grey eyes were gazing Simon, slightly rubbing his forehead to make him feel good. I headed back to my camp, wrapped up my stuff, dialed mom for daily updates.

"I love you, mom", these were the last words I said to her, walking out the camp holding my bag.

"Hey, say hi to your mom", Will shouted tossing a cheese roll over me. 

We loaded the stuff back in jeep and were ready to go. Edward decided to drive. Foggy air blurred the vision to drive, we kept the speed low. Ignoring Jacob, I sat on the front seat. A second later my phone buzzed, eyes dropped down, Jacob's name was flashing, a message was drifting across the screen. Sweaty hand deleted the message, may be at that time I just aligned my mind to focus on work only. Sliding my cell back into my purse, I hauled a book out my bag, plugged the music on, crossed my legs to relax.

"There, there is a façade of the building", Karen shrieked ecstatically, shaking May's shoulder blissfully.

I heaved a euphoric sigh of joy. Placing down the book, I looked at the motel blankly. Loud screeches clamored the place as Edward stop the car, we rocked back and forth yelling at Edward to be careful. Stepping out the car I moved 3 steps ahead, all of a sudden a car's door slammed shut, dragged me from my ranting thoughts. Broaden eyes were locked on the building.

"The building is almost burned", Edward whisper, drawing my attention by grabbing my bag, glancing around the place.

A strange spoor made us to cover our nose, it was dreadful. Parking car near the front door, we clutched our bags, picked the flashlights, walked directly to the door. The creepy frame of building cloaked our spirit for a while. We were almost 270 miles away from our homes. A deep silence covered our souls as we stepped in, we all were gazing the ancient place which reminded us of Egyptian monuments. Suddenly after breaking a silence Simon shrieked "It will take a lot of time if we'll all move together".

"Spreading up is too dangerous" Susi replied, looking at us, her eyes glitch with fear.

"Let's spread up and find out the mystery behind this motel", I rolled my eyes and replied, flashing the light on her face. 

Clair appealed but I was busy mapping the way. She turned her face to go, paired up with Susi and Karen, the three girls headed north side, There were 20 floors on the motel, I decided to search the second floor. The building was extensively damaged that it felt like it will collapse any moment. Our roaming eyes were sighting artistic beauty, sprinting through the tables, ornamented by the baroque frame, we made way to the bedrooms' side. Sun was dawning, moon facing up again. Wind sound was almost striking like a thunder. Trees were wafting, slamming the rooftop. Right behind me, tree crashed in, ripping off the window, floor freckled with glass bits, I stumbled over the wall. Widen eyes watching the sharp pointed branch sliding directly towards me, frightful gasp just escaped through the dropped mouth. Jacob grabbed my wrist, lugged towards him and we hit the floor with a shrilled bang, just before the branch collided against the wall. His sturdy arms enveloped me from behind to keep me safe. Quivering lips can't even thank him. Simon panting terribly, kneeled down the floor, rubbing his chest in fear. 

"You ok", Jacob asked tightened the grip to make me stand. His sweat slithered down my hand holding his jacket ardently. I slowly stood up, dusting off my jeans, looking at the bruises of his hand. 

"Yeah", I moaned low, eyeing out the window. The tragic moment ceased us for a while. We began to walk front. Simon held my hand, his wobbly feet barely carried his weight. My fiery eyes popped on his tugged eyebrows, hands were soothing him to overcome fear, The whole day passed, no clue found and nothing new was explored. We all gathered back in the main hall and decided to get some rest as we all were tired enough from our rough day.

A hand suddenly clapped my shoulder, I joggled my head back, startle eyes grabbed Elizabeth standing.

"You scared the hell out of me", my chilled voice uttered. The fear rasps away as soon as she asked me to sit with her.

Sating on the floor, I leaned against wall, laid the head back, exhaled a sigh of relief, shut the eyes in peace, almost went sleep. They all were chatting, admiring the place having snacks till late. Bright and shiny morning jumped up the next day, sky was calm. No traces of any spooky feelings, I beheld everyone, they were all passed out in good sleep.

"How was your sleep?", a drowsy voice reached my ear. I tilted my face to see. It was Clair, lying on the big red velvet sofa, her tumbling hand waved me, eye sheds were half closed and hair were all muddled.

"Quite well" I whispered, struggling getting to my feet but my legs felt like they have gone numb.

"You look quite tired too", I said looking at her, hand was placed at wall, stepping forward to catch a fresh air.

"I'm just very delighted that we are where we wanted to be" she replied very softly, my heart began pumping in my chest, goosebumps appeared and face lit up by smug glee, by listening her. I pushed Will to get a way out as he was sleeping roughly on floor. I walked near the corridor, trolling eyes roamed around the place, saw a teary and dusty old newspaper near the edge of the lamppost, stooped front to pick it up. Wiping it snappily I read an incomplete news about the motel.

"The curse will find its end. The Curtains, was locked down during the construction by declaring a haunted place, but after a while the work began and the motel was built. Soon after the inauguration, few employees died, leaving no evidences behind, the motel continue to operate. It has been sought that the building was constructed on grave yard, illegally. Four hundred deaths were not...."

Weird thoughts drifted inside me in a solitude. Strong puff smoked the vision, I rolled the paper to read the rest, but it was slit half, kneeled down to search the rest piece of parchment, head right on the floor, dust colored my cheek yellowish, trying to look under the table aside the lamp.

I felt an arm on my waist as I was tugged up the floor.

"What are you doing down there?", Karen asked furiously, taking a step back.

It felt like the heart will rip off the rib cage and pop out of my mouth.

"It's you", I replied in a fearsome shock, trying to remain calm. I fronted the paper near her face, widen eyes with glare, she took the paper to read. Simon snatched the paper to rub his hands. 

"Hey stop", I shouted, aggravation laced my tone, slapping his arm I walked away from him.

"Was that important", he replied nonchalantly, a small giggle on his face annoyed me more. Karen tilt her face with a trivial grin, "Are you serious? Obviously it was.".

I remained silent, eyes glamming with anger, ambled near staircase, stepped up. The stair creaked by the weight of my foot. Laughter began to echo in the ambience, breaking the lingering peace and quietness, Simon cracked joke on me, raging me to kill him. I gave him an impish look, spun back to climbing up.

Suddenly we all heard a big loud roar and the sun light disappeared, blackness lured us, vision slowly fades. I stepped down, stroll back near the couch, staring the passage from where the roar appeared. All eyes were aligned looking at the passage in astonishment, huffing in fear, trembling legs began to follow the growl. I shook my head, hand skated inside the bag to pick flash light out in deep dark but wasn't able to. Darkness again fallen on to light, looks like the sun covered itself with fear, I tilt my head, eyes darted in search, widen in satori, roar was almost deafening, I fasten up my pace, in a mean while I saw my friends sprint towards the noise. Our breaths were reflecting like a smoking puffs. Anxiously chewing my nails, I stared the passage. We arrived to the doorstep. Jacob sluggishly twisted the door knob, other hand forced the door to open.

"The door is locked" Jacob tried to open with his bare hands. He kneeled down to search anything to trespass the room.

"The sound is coming from inside" May blabbered, holding a piece of cloth in her mouth, watery eyes staring the room curiously.

They turned the place upside down to find a tool, finally Will's hand reached the broken table rod.

By breaking in, we terrifyingly gleamed the bones and skulls of human which smelled like rotten eggs, mouth shrugging with astonishment, clearing my throat I stepped inside the room.

We paused, the door slams shut.

"DAM"

Screams break the frozen box of silence and we enthrallingly adhered by the wall. Edward said by catching his deep breath "It's probably just a wind. No need to get scared", looking at the door. The door got stuck and we all were in deep fear. After a lot of travail opening it, the boys gave up.

"The door was already jammed. Our bare hands are of no use" I said by holding the same thick metal rod with a shard pointed edge, we found the other side of the door. The door somehow opened, we went out and the passage was all brighten this time but no one noticed. We rushed up the stairs, directly to the first floor.

"Hey, hey" Susi screamed

"What about the noise that was coming from there?", she shouted, pulling Karen's hand back, her frenzied nature was somehow chaotic.

"Maybe it's from the forest nearby" Edward furiously replied.

We all were petrified but going back was not the option. We all eagerly continued our search to decipher the secrecy behind the motel, to finish what we started.

We spread up

By making way towards the kitchen, I asked May to join me. Eyes snapped to the door as Clair and Edward enters. I turned around, back squinting the place. Weird! The kitchen walls were all covered with mirrors. The silence was so loud that even the clicking of the heels was so thunderous.

My eyes stricken the fabricated stair case to witness the sight of primeval, archaic Roman Foot Wooden statue of soldier, holding sword in hand, adorned in complete attire, with shielded chains. His neck was wrapped with Laurel wreath and shiny eagle breast plate was hanged.

"What an antique mirror!" May was mesmerizing the beauty of true work, just a few steps ahead.

Breaking my locking gaze from statue, I went towards her, felt like a reflection was following me. Looked back, no one was there. Shutting out nuisance, stood near the mirror. As I looked at the mirror, I saw myself but not me. Clair got busy chatting with Edward. I stood still, watching myself, staring the mirror as she demitasses her face and her uncanny laugh echoed my ears. She scratched her face like a maniac.

"You are not me" I screamed, fear laced my tone as I saw her.

By hearing my horrified yelp, they rushed towards me. Held my hand and pushed me out of my hallucination.

"what happened?" Clair worried, her chilled hands were shaking.

"You ok!" May asked frighteningly.

"I just saw myself in the mirror" I stammered, paling face, fallen mouth lost the words.

Their amplified laugh slogged against the walls, "It's a mirror, what else will you see here!", clasping my wrist they dragged me away the mirror. It was not my hallucination, my brain dwindles. Mind trailing from her fiery breathtaking eyes to her deceitful smirk, felt entombed within her clench.

"Let's keep on moving", May said with a little sarcastic smile on her face, she clearly thought I was making it up. We reached the owner's cabin. It was pretty dark inside, only a line of light through a broken shed alit the left corner. Hitting the torch light on the room we entered, it was all messed up, files were scattered all over, tables and cupboards were all sabotaged.

"Ahhh, What a smell?" Edward said, casing his face with his hand, walking inside through the files.

We stood there for a while, scanning the place, my mind jotting to locate what the hell happened here. Edward coiled the place upside down for the excavation of site, he broke all the lockers.

Boom!!

Dust flew like storm, blocking our sight, coughing echoed. A dreadful stanch flew in the air. A bag fell down, averting our attention. We swiftly moved near the bag. Edward stepped front to open it. Screams overlaid our mouths when we saw inside the bag. A man, dressed in white cloak, with a black glittery hat and rain boots soaked with blood. Looks like someone stabbed him down, leg flesh was callously chopped into pieces.

"The body is still fresh" Edward cried, tapering lips held the tongue in between, hand was placed right between the chest, floundering eyes wavered to see him.

"He died recently" I instinctively said, looking down at him, trudged near him to see, mouth titled as I bite my lips in a long gaze. His lips were welded, nails were all broken half, an arrow was crossed in between the ears, seems like he was crucified. Edward plunged back as May threw up, her legs were shivering and she was about to throw up her body. It was clear that people whoever visit the motel are destined to die. It was uncertain that whether there is some sort of insidious presences or there is a man behind all this who is butchering people.

Just beneath a body there was a door. Brown cloth swathed all over, stringed with heavy metal, corroded and rusty chains.

"Hey, there is a door right under him", Clair shouted, pointing towards the door, kneeled down the floor to clear the blurry image.

"There is a butcher who is killing around, I can't stay here any longer", May yelped, horrifyingly flashed out the cabin, grunting in deadly fear.

I ran beside her, her hand trapped under my grip, hauled her back to slack the fear down. Pushing near the wall, I asked her to be patient. My hand held her halting arm, leaned up my face to lock her gaze. After a moment of muteness, long sigh trailed out and I said.

"We are here for some reason, can't turn our faces in between", her lighten feet began to walk as I plodded towards the cabin.

"Yes, Don't quit yet" Edward shouted, egressing the cabin, wiping off his face with yellow handkerchief.

"We were prepared to face any consequences before leaving home, now you cannot show your back. Don't you know how much this project means to us", he retaliated in a weary tone.

"Why were you guys screaming", others hasted towards us, their breaths were jagged, drenched in sweat and their legs shivered. Edward hustled and zipped the bag so others won't get scared too, 

"We found something here, looks like a cellar to me", he said in infuriation, voice was so deterred but deep. They began to disrupt the chains, loud bangs slammed the quiet walls, we were halted near the tarnished old brown bookshelf, dusty photo frames were sited on the top right, picturizing the old golden era. I was still unable to rectify, was it my consciousness that I saw that girl in the mirror or just my mind playing a few dirty tricks on me. I felt tangled with a distinct intensity, the girl in the mirror was gawking her face, striding her hand towards me.

"Emma! The door is open let's go" Will bellowed by holding a broken chunk of the heavy metal door and wrapping the chains around his neck. The room was just like a chamber, it was hollow and dark, a scent of dust hassled the oxygen to breathe properly, only one small coping gave the cellar some light, enabling us to see giant Chinese traditional sculptures. Lighting up the ground we jumped in and steps were taken ahead. Sculptures were quite visible now, expensive crafting was being done, walls just reflect the old culture, a bit grey with a combination of white shade, nude colors were being used on the ceiling of acrylic tiles. As my roaming eyes were just admiring the ancient art, it fell over a piece of broken glass. I gently walked towards it, which was laid underneath the couch.

The creepy music of Twinkle Twinkle poem was coming from it.

My heart was beating like drums, hands were shaking. I kneeled down to check if it was impending beneath the couch. There was a bizarre smell of festering like the couch was soaked with blood. The smell was so vibrant as if the couch was washed with blood.

Flouting my instincts which were shouting don't look, I laid down my head on the floor, eyes were half-closed with terror, hair got widespread on the floor, holding a torch, I exposed myself to see the source of sound or it was another hallucination. My eyes got wide open, my hands were stiff, and I saw something. I paused, gasping loud, lips were stretched with fear. Someone was standing right there, just behind the couch. Her legs were completely scorched, tissues were wrapped around the knees, full of bruises, and blood was oozing, disrupting the floor.

"Why were you guys screaming", others hasted towards us, their breaths were jagged, drenched in sweat and their legs were shivering. Edward hustled and zipped the bag so others won't get scared too,

"We found something here, looks like a cellar to me", he said in infuriation, voice was so deterred but deep. They began to disrupt the chains, loud bangs slammed the quiet walls, we were halted near the tarnished old brown bookshelf, dusty photo frames were sited on the top right, picturizing the old golden era. I was still unable to rectify, was it my consciousness that I saw that girl in the mirror or just my mind playing a few dirty tricks on me. I felt tangled with a distinct intensity, the girl in the mirror was gawking her face, striding her hand towards me.

"Emma! The door is open let's go" Will bellowed by holding a broken chunk of the heavy metal door and wrapping the chains around his neck.

The room was just like a chamber, it was hollow and dark, a scent of dust hassled the oxygen to breathe properly, only one small coping gave the cellar some light, enabling us to see giant Chinese traditional sculptures.

Lighting up the ground we jumped in and steps were taken ahead.

Sculptures were quite visible now, expensive crafting was being done, walls just reflect the old culture, a bit grey with a combination of white shade, nude colors were being used on the ceiling of acrylic tiles. As my roaming eyes were just admiring the ancient art, it fell over a piece of broken glass. I gently walked towards it, which was laid underneath the couch. The creepy music of Twinkle Twinkle poem was coming from it. My heart was beating like drums, hands were shaking. I kneeled down to check if it was impending beneath the couch. There was a bizarre smell of festering like the couch was soaked with blood. The smell was so vibrant as if the couch was washed with blood. Flouting my instincts which were shouting don't look, I laid down my head on the floor, eyes were half-closed with terror, hair got widespread on the floor, holding a torch, I exposed myself to see the source of sound or it was another hallucination.

My eyes got wide open, my hands were stiff, I saw something. I paused, gasping loud, lips were stretched with fear. Someone was standing right there, just behind the couch. Her legs were completely scorched, tissues were wrapped around the knees, full of bruises, and blood was oozing, disrupting the floor.

WILL WILL WILL

Every mouth has the same word and same eccentric fear of losing him. Edward opened the door. A strange sound ricochet like the door is bolted for decades. We walked through the door, the moment was paused, our minds were tarried when we saw a catacomb, a subversive cemetery entailing human-skull made subterranean alleyways with recesses for tombs, used as a burial place, constructed by the ancient Romans. Gulping petrifyingly, we strolled inside. Foots were bit strangled, placing my hand on wall I push myself. The passage ended up to a slaughter room. Thousands of bodies carpeted the floor, smashed into pieces, cut down, slayed brutally. Large chopping machine was placed at right side of the room, cloaked with bodies, sharp pointed carnage tools were decorated on a brown shelf.

A massacre was being done there. Words flew away, mouth was gashed in disbelief, closing my hand tight that the blood finds the way out.

"WILL" May exclaimed, heavily panting as she breaths.

Will was hanged up on the wall, every bone of his body was broken, neck was twisted, knee cap was totally distorted, his hands were nailed, veins were drooping from the body. Elizabeth scrunches her face with pain, tears escaped the eye lids, squeezing herself harshly, she bended to weep out loud. Getting abnormally fragile and ashen, I was going to crumple down, clutching Jacob's fuzzy side of jacket "This is a curse", silver tears lined my eyes, worst nightmare came across me, heart was thrillingly throbbing and I ran back through the passage. Heels were ticking louder against the human skulls walls. I kicked the door open, ran across the hall way directly to exist point. Felt like someone was pushing me out, pain and fear not letting my legs to stop. Rioting agony dressed my body, all I wanted is to get out of that haunted place.

"Emma, Emma" sorely voices echoed the empty large hall, bouncing back to us.

"Stop, where are you going", Jacob grabbed my hand, shook me up and pulled me against his chest.

Flooding tears drenched his jacket.

"Will is dead. He doesn't deserve to end up like this" I kept on crying, enraged pain made me to scratch his hand, until I felt a cordial touch at the back of my head. The grip loosens up, pain scattered down as he shielded his muscular arms around me, uncertain care mirrored in those brown gleamed warm eyes. We were halted just a step away from main door, almost minded up to quit, but bad luck knocked the door again.

"Karen" Susi murmured turning around with a flashlight on her hand. 

"The exit door is stuck" me and Jacob cried with a heavy voice by implying our utmost potential force but the door was completely jammed.

"How can it be jammed," Simon shrieked with frustration.

"It was perfectly in order, this morning" Elizabeth replied anxiously, chewing her nails with fear.

Susi went near the passage to look for Karen. She felt very much afraid. As she moved in the dark she could see the burning light just inside the elevator.

"Karen, where are you?" she cried, questing her slow steps taken in direction to elevator. My tenuous mind somehow diverted to a faded scream of help, ears converging to focus on the words spoken.

"Why did you stop? keep on trying" Edward directed me in authoritative tone.

"Did you hear some..." Before I even complete my own sentence, I fiercely shouted,

"Where are Susi and Karen"

Souls were shaken up in fear of losing them too. In a blink of an eye, the motel was lightened up with our loud intense voices. Desperate minds are seeking their sight, wounded hearts praying direly for their lives. Number of floors somehow crushing our courage to find them, so we decided to split up again. Before walking inside the room, Clair noticed the frozen foot of Simon, leaned at the door step. He was horrifying gazing something in a darkroom.

"What's wrong? Clair asked him, jiggling his shoulder roughly.

"I just happened to see a shadow of two-headed miniature" he blabbered, blocked mouth tighten the words to describe his feeling. Clair turned around, her mutant eyes were widened to see on one.

"There is no one out there" Clair said slugging her fear inside, abruptly grabbing his hand and dragging him away from that room.

"Karen, Susi" I kept on calling out their names.

Our raging foots were moving randomly. I was in such a scurry, I kept on climbing those arty stairs, eyes were anxiously nodding to get one sight of girls. Foot comes to a standstill when my light went out, uncountable distance was spawned between me and Jacob. Huffing begins as I gently turned back, placing a hand on a wall, incessant blinking eyes routes the dark images to structure their home in mind. Taken two steps down, I had a man's vision. He was leaning against the elevator, eyes were flashing with fire, howling like a wolf. Fearing a deadly end, I threw my bag, bustled down the stairs, fright sealed my screams. Those wild hands chased me, getting closer by every passing second. I crashed onto the remorseless stairs as I saw him right in front of me, bending half down, stretching his legs like flamingo bird, humming the weird Twinkle Twinkle melody. Brain got frozen like an igloo surface, emotions were engulfing out, I was scrawling back by looking at his moving steps near me.

"He's not real" I whispered groggily, eye covers bolted down to gobble that scary image. His hand tenderly reached my neck, clutching my throat, rusty hand was squeezing me hard. I groaned with pain as he floated me up in the air, the grip got tighten and I flashed my memory of a beautiful life I had. He kept on yanking me against the wall. Foots lost the touch of surface as he floated me high and smacked me down the floor harshly. He snarled through his clenched dagger mouth. Jacob and Elizabeth reached library when he heard my awful shriek.

"Emma", the word bumped out casually as Jacob heard me screaming.

My gory ears heard him calling out my name, but muffled body and rousing pain elicit me to lay low. Sight was straight gazing the alleyway to watch him coming for me. The half-closed eye slits got fully shut as unconsciousness captured my mind.

Day turned to dark decoyed night, search of three young girls in a haunted entity scrunched the spirit of others.

Fiery wind spanking the windows, placid scrabbling of vague leaves against the surface was droning, chill breezes frosting their courage gradually.

"Everyone is gonna die tonight" Elizabeth said by inhaling a deep breath, running over the stairs looking for me.

"NO! I won't let that happen" Jacob said that with his burning eyes, clenching his fist with fury.

Fear shadowed the motel, scattering hopes dusted away the moment I vanished. Raging screams of my name drags me out to consciousness. I was laid flat on floor, hands felt paralyzed for a split second. There was a door right in front of the eye, it was an elevator. Heavy escape of breath blew the dust, winded me up and I coughed, scratching my throat badly till it felt raw. I was cloaked with a black striped leather jacket, hands were filled with blood, bruises ruined the beauty of my face. I got back up immediately, mouth was choked with grim emotions.

"Hey", I yelled, spank the door and moan for help was the only thing popped up in my mind.

"Is anyone out there"

"Help me"

"Jacob, Elizabeth"

"I'm here. Is anyone out there"

My movements ceased as I heard the sound of knocking. Right behind me was the golden laced mirror, ornamented by dim yellow bulbs, which were flickering obnoxiously. I slowly turned around and immediately repented, madden sound tempting my impatient eyes to sight the nuisance again. The face in the mirror was mine, but the girl was not certainly me. She was doused in blood, strained sneer make her look more repugnant. My gazing eyes locked from her daunting stare.

"Who are you", my hand reaches to touch the mirror, alarming mind was under control of some other presence.

Her alluring gape possessed my soul for about a semi second. My hands felt the touch of a moist breeze, and the elevator got filled with soggy air. Flicking hair cataract my eye lock with her, mind functioned again. She grabbed my wrist and callously pulled me near her. I can still feel the heat and intensity which thaw my arm's skin. Shrieking with fear, I pulled my self and bumped directly into the elevator door. Back head smacked badly, gravity forced me to fall down. Spitting blood from my bashed mouth I looked up to that psychopath, her dark smile never absconded from her plagued face. She started to write something on that humid mirror. 

She wrote the same poem "Twinkle Twinkle"

"Twinkle Twinkle little brat

How you wonder, What I'm at

If you want to save your life

Leave the Motel by this night"

My dappled brown eyes gawking the mirror, long lashes were soaked with tears, countless thoughts hassled the brain and terrified emotions captivated my soul, asks me to squeal louder as much as it burst my cord. My scream was overshadowed by her yowl, breaking the cords of elevator and crashing me right down in the basement, she disappeared. Simon's ear leapt up by the wailing sound and he yelled back.

"Emma, Is that you"

The cemented walls confined my voice to reach them. The door of elevator got erupted, I entered the smoggy room. It was hardly bigger than the elevator. My tapping foots were doodling images on the dusty floor, hands were wiping the tears before moving ahead. In the entering the room, my irked eyes saw a something on the floor obscured by black cloth. trembling hands reached to take it off, reminded myself to be ready and I pull it off. I pushed myself back when I saw Susi dead. My body flinched, nails scratched the floor while I crawled back.

I rushed near the door.

"Lemme out, please! HELP ME"

"I don't wanna die. HELLO"

I felt a hand on my shoulder, dim lights far in the elevator, went out.

She held my back and whispered the same tune. I heard footsteps outside, hands kept pounding on the door with full force in a fear of death. Her grunting voice was almost deafening. My heartbeat raced up when she almost pulled me, her eerie hands crushed my waist. Eyebrows furrowed in panic, all emotions got stiffen so do the body and I just held the lock tight to not get pulled by her. My eyes shrugged when I felt the knob moving, a hand grabbing my hand tight, his vigor arms hauled me out the room. I banged into him, we crashed down the floor. Frenzied state demolished my thoughts and I laid still on him. Head was rested on his left shoulder. I felt the warmth when he threw his hand around my neck gently. I leaned so closed to him that I could sense his peppermint mouthwash. Pulled my self away from him, stood there muddled

I froze. He was wearing Lacoste Eau De Blanc perfume his intense eyes were glaring me down to up behind the mask. I tilted my head to gaze those hazel brown eyes. Glanced his attire and dropped my sight directly to his off white denim jacket he was holding. He dressed completely white with few baggy chains, his hand was spinning that sharp pointed dagger.

I sighed when he asked "Are you ok?

The terror still plastered my mind to respond to anything.

This time he shook me "You ok, girl?"

He tried to judge my facial expressions, he stared deep, my face turned red, I closed my eye shields to bury the jumpy feelings. He clapped with a stagger close to ears to bring me back from pause mode. I spooked and nodded in response.

"Good! Let's Get going now" he smiled and led the way to theater.

I shook my head for yes. Glimpsing around his clean attire, I happened to ask him in qualm,

"Who are you?"

"How did you get here?"

"How come your clothes are still spotless?"

He stopped, turned his face, he gave me a stern look. He walked near to me. My steps were heading backwards; eyes were trolling to sneak out as I hit the wall back.

"I'm your well-wisher who came to save you. Just keep this in mind for now." He replied under his deep breath.

Reluctant feet began to follow him as there was no other way to go. In the midway of the passage, he saw a half-broken window high near the ceiling.

"Listen" knowing about the word next I replied "It's too high"

"You just climb up, get out of here and seek help", He replied hurriedly

"All by myself, in the middle of nowhere", I whispered, sweat gave me a new touch up and hands were unconsciously rubbing each other. He abruptly ran back and showed up with that crazy sound of wood scraping against the floor. He was lugging three wooden chairs from the room to the passageway. My eyes widened up when he asked me to climb up the chairs, leaning against the wall one on another, to slink out through the shattered window.

"Are you serious", my tone even softens down in shock. His smoldering look was a little annoying. I made my way to that mocked ladder.

"How come only I get a chance to get hurt again and again," I murmured to myself trying to reach the window.

"But wait, my friends are still inside", I uttered anxiously, my fret sight looking at him to say something.

"I'll find em", his eyes consoled my soul, devastating mind clutched full faith in his spoken words. Somehow my hands fiercely touched the cracked window, my head slanted down from the ceiling, and my right knee was placed on the slab of the windowpane. But I brawled to sneak out the window when something grabbed my leg, slamming me down to the floor again. Blood drops splashed on the cracked floor, blurred sight saw him standing still right next to me My vision drooped and I faded down. After a minute or two, my startled mind came into consciousness. I slowly got up, captivating eyes wandering around to absorb the scene. Loneliness again trapped me when I saw no one around. The masked man was gone.

"Hello", my loud pitch echoed in the dark passageway.

"Hey, unknown guy, where are you?" wondering where he could be now, I stepped forward.

Just then pounding steps horrified the quiet moment, winced eyes detected incoming danger, I lapsed to the floor in the dark behind the broken wooden chairs. After holding myself for 5 minutes, I got back up to see the source of the sound. Flinched legs moved ahead and eyes visualize the hanging bloody mallet throbbing against the wall as the strong gust of wind hits it. The passage ends at the musty black door with a brass plate and a stale nob. I burst inside through the door, strange smell of blood was mixed in air, light rays of early woke up bright sun entered the room though the skylight, shining up the room to see. It was a big old theater, worn tactile were scattered all over, hindering the movements, red theater recliners were bleakly chipped, like it was being hunted by the group of wolves. The dreadful smell made me to cover my face with a cloth.

"Is anyone here", eyes were darting around for the unknown guy.

"Where can he go?" my mind whispered to heart fretfully.

I kept on walking down the stairs, shivery was waving inside me, pumping the blood flow fast. I walked to the end, right next to the theater screen was a tore curtain, colored with the splashes of blood and dust heaps. Biting my lips, I wondered to glimpse behind the curtain. Eyes widened up as I stared the door labelled with

"EXIT"

In a split second I pushed the door open, my first step out vibrated me upside down. It felt like an imprisoned bird laid free.

CHAPTER 4..Final Episode 

Bright, hot gleams of sun crinkled my eyes, a deep joy trembled out, lax cold breezes kissed my face and the malevolent presences does not smother me any longer.

Lungs were inhaling the fresh air and my bare foots were relishing on the dusty road.

a laugh of liberation penetrates through the buzzy, hum air.

I stood by the door, eyes frenetically search the way out through the dense, colossal forested place.

I took few steps ahead,

"HELP"

A scream echoed behind me through the door. I paused to turn my face, foots scratched against the impaired land. Long breaths vamoose spontaneously, blood through my hand drips on the road and I was covered with sweat of terror. I looked back, eyes were wide open. A girl, dressed white was standing on the edge of the roof. Strong gust of wind was jarring her body; hair was hovering subtly; her head was drooped down gazing straight ahead the wobbly road.

"Hey, what are you doing" A loud yelling escaped through mouth as my eyes gaze her. Distances fell shorten when I swift near the motel. Her glower eyes locked with my dismayed eyes and my face scowled with stun when I looked her.

I sighed

"Karen" I murmured with a very low chortle.

A drib of tear fled my eyes.

"Stop, Karen, don't do this", I shouted.

My heat beat dumped inside, I pushed the door open and flashed directly to the concrete stairs. Darkness and suffocation again held my both hands. Legs were quickly covering the distance to stop Karen, but in the middle of nowhere hands approached me and heaved me into obscurity. I slammed into the unknown person, and hit my head hard against the wooden artic floor. I got back up hastily and shattered out of my haze.

"Emma it's me, Jacob", Jacob verbalized by pointing his flash onto me.

My crumple eyes sighted Jacob and Simon.

"Where are the other?", I asked in seizure, looking at their distraught eyes, I sobbed out loudly, the pain of losing everyone slayed my heart. I lamented on his chest, his shirt turned soggy. I was so scared that my mouth dropped.

His hand kept on titillating my head. Suddenly the girl on the roof jumped into my mind, I pushed him in fright, and told them about Karen.

"Karen is still alive", Simon asked, walking over to me.

"Yes, I just saw her on the roof" I replied, my hand was held out, right near the musty nob. I opened the door and began to run in astonishment. It was hard to climb up all those sinister floors where death is waiting on each step of yours. We were right few steps down the roof door, when cadaver fell on Simon's head. He slipped 3 rungs down, clanked down the floor, his back head knocked against the stair rod making him to bleed badly. We ran down to help Simon. The moment was dark and staggering. It was pitch black only a slightest beam of light through an abyss, lightening a place to see each other. Simon hurriedly pushed the body away, scrawled near the wall.

"Are you ok", we screamed, before vigilantly approaching near him.

Just for a second I thought not to go near the body, but imprudent mind voiced me to look. Shuddering legs slowly begin to walk towards the body, gulping harshly cut my throat badly, I kneeled down to turn dead person.

"Slowly Emma. You should not..... Just slowly", Simon's confused voice was terrifying me even more. By exhaling a deep sigh, I put my hand on to his shoulder and turned him instantly. My eyes gashed with rend when my vision fall on Clair's dead body. I slouched back.

"No, it can't be happening" Jacob groaned louder, holding back of his head.

Simon slams his head to wall in pain. All I can hear that time was a sound of weeping and groans. My tears desiccated like a parched land, no spot of water. Widen eyes kept on staring her. Her eyes were burned, ribs were crunched like chips and her body fell in folded position just like a folding bed. Eyes wide as abruptly the weeping sound covered up with the rhyming music. Ears woke up to the ruffling poem again.

"TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE BRAT

HOW YOU WONDER, WHAT I'M AT"

A gusty scream blew us away down the floor. The sound was so deafening that blood splashed out of our ears. There she was standing right front of us upside down. She threw a heavy, big metal door directly to us with such an accelerating speed. Jacob hastily hold back his conscious, grabbed my hand and pulled me wildly, that we fallen down the stairs and hurt ourselves. The door brutally crushed Simon into the wall. His blood streaked all over. Even our face got hit by his blood drops. But she was not done yet. She wanted more. Puffing badly, we stood up. Eyes shoot open, we ran down, holding each other's hand, running directly down the hall without looking back.

"What about Karen?", I yelped, pulling him to stop. He gave me a thwarted look, feeling sorry for loss, jerked me hard to run again. Beholding my gaze at back I sprinted towards the door.

"EMMA"

We stopped when we hear Elizabeth voice, just behind us. We looked each other and slightly moved our eyes to her.

"EMMA, are you leaving me", Elizabeth spoked in deep breath, crawling down the floor, her teared clothes were covered with blood.

"This is not real", eyes clinched, I whisper to myself, brain began to feel the unusual vibes. Jacob dropped my hand to help her. I gripped his arm, halt him back.

"She is not real", I verbalized through my panting mouth. But souls won't allow to ran away when your friend laid wounded on the floor. I pulled Jacob hand fiercely, my hand stiffens for a moment. He nodded to make me feel everything is alright. In a very low motion he walked up in front of Elizabeth, her head rested on the floor, eyes were closed. Jacob called out her name and snaked his hand on her waist to carry her. He grabbed her, almost about to get up, one knee was still touching the floor when she fiercely gawked hm. My eyes turned black when I saw, she stabbed her claw directly into Jacobs neck, heaved the back bone out in just a blink of an eye. I fell back in pain, crying loud in agony, thrashing my hand on the floor in pain of losing him.

She was grimacing dreadfully. I bit my lips again, this time I intensely cut it off with a thought on one left but me. I scrawled back, viciously stood up, and ran out the door.

"F*** YOU", I screamed sternly, deep inhaling sighs were shadowing me.

Tracking the path through the dense forest, I kept on running in search of road. Bare foots on raw land gave bruises but that was the pain of freedom. I was storming ahead without looking down in a hope of help, till I strangled by a rope and tumbled down.

Joy turned to sorrow.

"AHH", my head smacked against the rock badly, bloody eye blurred the vision. My attention averted by hearing a movement ahead me. The sound of shovel scratching shriveled leaves arouse. I tilted my head to see. The footsteps approached me, dug the shovel on the mud right in front of my sight. I cursed in disbelief, gaze him down to up. He was the mask man. He was holding the shovel, daubed with blood, leering at me.

I SEE YOU

My vision glitches, when he raised the shovel to hit me.

1 Year later

TV buzzes, Breaking news

"No clues have been found about the missing archeologists cryptic. Police is still investigating about the missing youngsters and the mystery behind THE CURTAINS"

"Ahh, this place is awesome", bunch of high school students voiced out.

"Hey why don't we go and see this place"

"HOO AHH, It'll be fun"

"Yeah", cheers and joy sounded the bar.

The night leaves with no clue. No one knows what happened to Emma and her mates.

The mystery still continues.

"THE END"