Mystery Manor MYSTERY MANOR Will you survive? You have been driving down this dusty dirt road for nearly 45 minutes now, when a light rain begins to fall. You have spent the past two hours driving on the interstate, and are anxious to get to the manor, which you purchased at a reduced rate. It seems it has been on the market for a few years, and no one was even interested in the house, because of the strange disappearance of the family that lived there. It doesn't concern you much, you are just anxious to check this mysterious place out. You flip on your windshield wipers as the rain begins to pelt down, giving a mist over the beaten dirt road. The beams of light from your car cast erie shadows on the thick growth of trees that line the road. A bright flash streaks to the ground, along with an ear shattering boom, as you slam on the brakes. All is dark. You drift in and out of conciousness. You feel the cold rain beat down on your face, as you struggle to open your eyes. You pull yourself together and realize that the flash you saw was actually lightning hitting a tree near the roadside, that you were not lucky enough miss. Your car is in shambles, much like you at the moment. All the contents of your glove compartment lay scattered on the front seat, and the floor boards. At least the air bag worked, and packs a whopping punch. Your only choice now is to walk the rest of the way to the manor. Grabbing the flashlight off the front seat, you struggle with the door and finally manage to get out of your smashed up car. If you had delayed any longer, you would surely have been crushed to death by the massive pine. While climbing over the tree laying across the muddy road, you catch your coat on a gnarled branch. Unable to get your coat free, you leave it behind, and head up the road. You catch a glimpse of something out of the corner of your eye, but turn the flashlight in that direction, and see nothing but trees, dripping from the heavy rain. You round the corner, as lightening streaks across the sky, giving enough light to see the manor just ahead. You go through the stories in your mind about the family that lived here. You dismiss all the stories of alien abduction, just walking away from their lives, a crazy murderer killing them and eating their rotting flesh. It is all nonsense to you. You'll have plenty of time to go through the house, and just maybe find out the truth. You will figure out what to do about your car later. All the utilities should be in working order, but you are not sure if there is a phone. Luckily you brought your cell phone with you. Finally you make it up a small muddy slope to the front walkway. Go figure that the rain is reduced to a light sprinkle, but of no importance to you since you are soaking wet, and shiver in the cold night air. > north You move north. You are standing on the front stoop which overlooks the front walkway to the south. You notice that the concrete slab you are standing on has the letters A M deeply imprinted into the cement. The same lantern style lighting fixtures that are on the brick columns, next to the front walkway, also are perched high on the wall next to the front door. You can only move south. > open door You left the keys to the manor in your smashed up car. Your only hope is that the door or window will be unlocked. You reach out and slowly turn the brass knob. It creaks as you reach out with your other hand and slowly push the door inward. You let out a scream as a strong chilling wind gusts from behind you, throwing the door open, then smacking on the wall, before slamming shut in your face. > open door You look around the front area of the house, and see nothing. You carefully turn the knob and push the heavy door open. Once again it creaks, sending a chill up and down your already soaked and freezing body. You quickly, but cautiously, enter the foyer of the creepy manor, closing the door behind you. The door seems to be a bit warped, all of the sudden, and won't close all of the way. > east You move east. You are in the dining room, where the inhabitants of this stunning home, most likely sat down together for a formal dinner. The light oak dinette looks as if it had never been used, with the high back windsor chairs pushed neatly in, under the table, never to be used by them again. A large bay window on the south wall looks out to the several large trees, and small, red berried bushes. You are able to see the front walk, from the large window. A large sideboard takes up nearly the entire east wall. The room is dark, lit only by reflections from lightning outdoors. You can move north and west. > north You move north. You are in the kitchen, which has a wrap around counter that faces the cozy breakfast nook. The stove and and a dishwasher are located on the east wall of the country kitchen. Heavy cast iron skillets hang on the wall above the stove, and you are unsure if they were actually used or are there just for decoration. To the south, next to the doorway leading to the dining room, is a large stainless steel refrigerator, decorated with several farm animal magnets. The light colored stone speckled counter extends west from the refrigerator and then to the north where it meets the double tub stainless steel sink, then forms around into the small bar area that faces the breakfast nook. The room is full of dark shadows, that creep with every flash reflecting from the lightning, just through the breakfast nook windows. You can move north and south. > north You move north. This is a small breakfast nook with two windows side by side on the north wall, and one to the west, looking out to the sun deck. Looking to the north, out the double pane glass, you see steps leading down to a path that disappears into the thick tangle of trees. There is a small long table with a bench seat sitting in front of the northern windows. The room is lit up often by the flashes of lightning, from the storm. You can move east, south and west. > east You move east. This is a small hallway that looks out to a screened in porch through a small window on the north wall, which would provide ample lighting if not for the tangle of trees that block the sun light from streaming in. doorways lead to the east and south, and you can move in to a small bathroom. Spooky shadows dance across the wall with every flash of lightning from the storm. You can move north, east, south, west, down and in. > in You move in. You are in a small downstairs bathroom that is painted in a bright yellow. It some how gives you the feel that it is actually larger than it really is. Pale orange stenciled flowers make a line around the top portion of the wall, drawing your attention away from the tiny room, that contains nothing more than a toilet and cabinet style sink. The room is very dark, an occasional flash can be seen reflecting off the hallway walls. You can only move out. > examine cabinet The cabinet under the sink has a hinged door, and and a pewter handle. The cabinet is closed. > open cabinet You open the cabinet. The blood stained towel is inside the cabinet. > take towel You take the blood stained towel from the cabinet. > examine stain You examine the stain closer and sure that it is blood. You hold the towel up to get better look at it, and notice that the stain takes the shape of a face. Where the eyes and mouth would be remains white. While you hold the towel up, the dried stain begins to turn moist, and soon begins dripping to the floor. In your sudden fear, you throw the towel into the sink. You watch the towel closely as if expecting it to leap from the sink, and it appears that water runs over it, rinsing the from the towel. Blood stained water swirls around the drain hole, before going down. > examine sink The sink is your average cabinet style sink, but for some strange reason there is no faucet, yet you can hear water running. The clean, wet towel is on the cabinet style sink. > take towel You take the clean, wet towel from the cabinet style sink. > out You move out. This is a small hallway that looks out to a screened in porch through a small window on the north wall, which would provide ample lighting if not for the tangle of trees that block the sun light from streaming in. doorways lead to the east and south, and you can move in to a small bathroom. Spooky shadows dance across the wall with every flash of lightning from the storm. You can move north, east, south, west, down and in. > west You move west. This is a small breakfast nook with two windows side by side on the north wall, and one to the west, looking out to the sun deck. Looking to the north, out the double pane glass, you see steps leading down to a path that disappears into the thick tangle of trees. There is a small long table with a bench seat sitting in front of the northern windows. The room is lit up often by the flashes of lightning, from the storm. You can move east, south and west. > south You move south. You are in the kitchen, which has a wrap around counter that faces the cozy breakfast nook. The stove and and a dishwasher are located on the east wall of the country kitchen. Heavy cast iron skillets hang on the wall above the stove, and you are unsure if they were actually used or are there just for decoration. To the south, next to the doorway leading to the dining room, is a large stainless steel refrigerator, decorated with several farm animal magnets. The light colored stone speckled counter extends west from the refrigerator and then to the north where it meets the double tub stainless steel sink, then forms around into the small bar area that faces the breakfast nook. The room is full of dark shadows, that creep with every flash reflecting from the lightning, just through the breakfast nook windows. You can move north and south. > south You move south. You are in the dining room, where the inhabitants of this stunning home, most likely sat down together for a formal dinner. The light oak dinette looks as if it had never been used, with the high back windsor chairs pushed neatly in, under the table, never to be used by them again. A large bay window on the south wall looks out to the several large trees, and small, red berried bushes. You are able to see the front walk, from the large window. A large sideboard takes up nearly the entire east wall. The room is dark, lit only by reflections from lightning outdoors. You can move north and west. > west You move west. You are in the large foyer with a grand staircase, that appears to have been hand carved from an unknown wood, leads to the upper level of the manor. The floor is covered with a green and white marbled tile that ends at the doorways of the adjoining rooms. You notice a door under the staircase, and open doorways to the west, north, and east. The front stoop lies just to the south, through the front door. The room is dark, lit only by the reflection of the lightning from the storm outside. You can move east, south, west, up, in and northwest. > up You move up. You are on the landing at the top of the stairs, that looks down to the foyer below. It seems the house disects into several directions here, and a window is on the south wall, high above the front door down below. With every flash of lightning from outdoors, your shadow is splashed across the walls, along with another shadow, but yet your all alone, or are you? You can move north, east, down, northeast, southwest and northwest. > east You move east. This is a long, dark hallway that runs from the east and west. There seems to be a draft flowing down the hall with no apparent source, since it runs down the center of the house, and no windows are near. Some kind of lighting fixtures hang from the ceiling, but must have burned out long ago. You can move north, east, south, west and up. > up You move up. You are standing in a small dark attic. It is an open area, with no apparent windows. There is a strange smell in the air, and cold spots shift around the room. The attic contains boxes and some old furniture, and various wall hangings, and paintings. You can only move down. > clean painting You begin wiping the painting with the wet towel, and soon it begins to reveal a painting of a woman wearing a white dress, and appears to be running from something. The woman has a fearful expression on her pale face. The name plate on the painting is titled "Basement". A swirl of icey air rushes past you, with bringing the sound of a womans screams. Just as you are about to make a run for it , the bloody decapitated body blocks your way. Holding her head in front of your face, so she may get a good look at you, the bloody head whimpers, "You are not the one" with that the ghost flees with a ear piercing scream. > down You move down. This is a long, dark hallway that runs from the east and west. There seems to be a draft flowing down the hall with no apparent source, since it runs down the center of the house, and no windows are near. Some kind of lighting fixtures hang from the ceiling, but must have burned out long ago. You can move north, east, south, west and up. > west You move west. You are on the landing at the top of the stairs, that looks down to the foyer below. It seems the house disects into several directions here, and a window is on the south wall, high above the front door down below. With every flash of lightning from outdoors, your shadow is splashed across the walls, along with another shadow, but yet your all alone, or are you? You can move north, east, down, northeast, southwest and northwest. > down You move down. You are in the large foyer with a grand staircase, that appears to have been hand carved from an unknown wood, leads to the upper level of the manor. The floor is covered with a green and white marbled tile that ends at the doorways of the adjoining rooms. You notice a door under the staircase, and open doorways to the west, north, and east. The front stoop lies just to the south, through the front door. The room is dark, lit only by the reflection of the lightning from the storm outside. You can move east, south, west, up, in and northwest. > east You move east. You are in the dining room, where the inhabitants of this stunning home, most likely sat down together for a formal dinner. The light oak dinette looks as if it had never been used, with the high back windsor chairs pushed neatly in, under the table, never to be used by them again. A large bay window on the south wall looks out to the several large trees, and small, red berried bushes. You are able to see the front walk, from the large window. A large sideboard takes up nearly the entire east wall. The room is dark, lit only by reflections from lightning outdoors. You can move north and west. > north You move north. You are in the kitchen, which has a wrap around counter that faces the cozy breakfast nook. The stove and and a dishwasher are located on the east wall of the country kitchen. Heavy cast iron skillets hang on the wall above the stove, and you are unsure if they were actually used or are there just for decoration. To the south, next to the doorway leading to the dining room, is a large stainless steel refrigerator, decorated with several farm animal magnets. The light colored stone speckled counter extends west from the refrigerator and then to the north where it meets the double tub stainless steel sink, then forms around into the small bar area that faces the breakfast nook. The room is full of dark shadows, that creep with every flash reflecting from the lightning, just through the breakfast nook windows. You can move north and south. > north You move north. This is a small breakfast nook with two windows side by side on the north wall, and one to the west, looking out to the sun deck. Looking to the north, out the double pane glass, you see steps leading down to a path that disappears into the thick tangle of trees. There is a small long table with a bench seat sitting in front of the northern windows. The room is lit up often by the flashes of lightning, from the storm. You can move east, south and west. > east You move east. This is a small hallway that looks out to a screened in porch through a small window on the north wall, which would provide ample lighting if not for the tangle of trees that block the sun light from streaming in. doorways lead to the east and south, and you can move in to a small bathroom. Spooky shadows dance across the wall with every flash of lightning from the storm. You can move north, east, south, west, down and in. > down You move down. The basement is cold and dark, the stairs creak and groan as you slowly walk down into the darkness. You enter a large open area in the basement, that seems too small, given the size of the of the house above. A furnace is in the corner. The floor is made from cement, and is very cold. A light coat of dust covers the stairs and the floor. The only footprints imprinted in the dust are your own. Also here is the heavy pick axe. You can only move up. > take axe You pick up the heavy pick axe. > hit wall with axe You hit the wall several times with the heavy axe, until the wall finally begins to crumble on into a heap on the floor. The horrible smell of rotting flesh comes wafting out of the underground tomb. > in You move in. This is some kind of dark musty tomb. A rotting corpse of a female wearing a white gown lies in the corner, with the skull resting in her lap, with the brown hair sticking to the remaining rotting flesh. Something is gripped firmly in the boney fingers. You can only move out. > examine corpse The corpse is that of a female. She wears a white, blood stained gown, and her decapitated head rests in her lap. You catch a glimpse of a small silver key held in the hand of the rotting corpse. The small silver key is inside the rotting corpse. > take key You take the small silver key from the rotting corpse. > out You move out. The basement is cold and dark, the stairs creak and groan as you slowly walk down into the darkness. You enter a large open area in the basement, that seems too small, given the size of the of the house above. A furnace is in the corner. The floor is made from cement, and is very cold. A light coat of dust covers the stairs and the floor. The only footprints imprinted in the dust are your own. You can move up and in. > up You move up. This is a small hallway that looks out to a screened in porch through a small window on the north wall, which would provide ample lighting if not for the tangle of trees that block the sun light from streaming in. doorways lead to the east and south, and you can move in to a small bathroom. Spooky shadows dance across the wall with every flash of lightning from the storm. You can move north, east, south, west, down and in. > north You move north. You are outside on a screened porch, with doorways to the west and south. A small window is also located on the south wall, but there isn't anything to see but an empty wall, when looking through it. Large pines tower above to your north, and east. Gaining you no access to what might lie in wait in those directions. You can move south and west. > west You move west. A narrow stairway leads down to a worn dirt path, along with entry to to screen porch to the east, and the sun deck to the west. To the south are two double pane windows, with some kind of reflective material covering them, so you can't see inside. You can move north, east and west. > north You move north. You are walking along a long worn, and somewhat muddy path. The path leads to the north and back to the back stairs to the south. Tall trees cast an eerie shadows in all directions, form the break in the clouds where the moon is visible. Moans and groans can be heard form the wind howling through the thick woods. You can move north and south. > north You move north. The worn path quickly turns to a narrow wooded trail. The clouds take over the moon, and is no longer visible. A heavy metal gate blocks the way to the north, and appears to be locked. Any idea of climbing the gate is impossible, due to the razor sharp spikes that line the top. You can only move south. > unlock gate You can't unlock the gate. > open gate You manuever the key into a small lock that holds the gate closed. It swings open, with a loud creak. gusty winds send the rain soaked leaves flying about the area. You can feel something watching your every move, yet see nothing. Cold air stirs all about, chilling you to the core. > north You move north. You find yourself in a tomb, presumably that of at least one of the family members. Bits of broken bone are scattered about. The walls are dark and damp. Small streams of water trickle down between the cracks of the stone. Winding weed like vines creep their way in from the outside. The air is incredibly hot here, yet ice cold at the same time. You feel very ill being here. Something tells you that you are about to find out what happened to the family, and now you are not so sure that you want to. Also here is the worn journal and scattered bones. You can only move south. > take journal You pick up the worn journal. > open journal You open the worn journal. > read journal You begin to read.... Angel Marie - A fun game of hide and seek was being played. Thinking she was clever, she hid in the stone building in the woods. The family was unaware she had ventured in that direction, and that a large stone had gave way, trapping her in what would become her tomb. As she slowly suffocated to death, she vowed that she would make her family pay for abandoning her in this cold, and dark place. Shortly after her death, strange things began happening. Things like spooky shadows, vases moving across tables. Evan - He was Angel Marie's older brother and just wasn't interested in playing with dolls and music boxes. He tried his best to ditch Angel, as she would follow him everywhere. He had built the stone building in the woods, just for himself. He used trees that he pushed over for leverage to get the heavy stones in place. He raised the last stone just days before it became his sister's tomb. His father later put a gate up to keep Evan from venturing into the deep woods. A few weeks after Angel disappeared, Lauri sent her son Evan into the basement to light the furnace. She was afraid to go down there, since she kept seeing strange things . When Evan failed to return, she reluctantly went down in the cold, dark basement. She screamed in horror at the sight she saw. Evan's pant leg and boots hung out from the raging furnace. She stumbled backward, falling into the the small room in the basement that her husband, Charles, had been blocking off. As she tried to get to her feet, grabbing the edge of the unfinished wall, a dark shadow emerged. In one clean swoop, her screams were silenced, as her headless body fell backward into the room, her head landing on her bloody lap. The room became her tomb, the same as the stone building became Angel Marie's. Charles was frantic when he returned home and was unable to find Evan and his wife, Lauri. He began searching the house. He made his way down to the basement and noticed that the wall had been completed. Assuming that Evan had finished the work, he thought nothing of it. In is moments of fear he headed out to the woods, and finally made it to the bladed gate. He didn't bring the key with him, so in haste decided he would climb the sharp gate. He perched himself on the top of the gate, between the blades. Suddenly a dark shadow emerged from behind the cluster of trees. Charles was able to see the face clearly, that would bring him to his death. The gate shook violently, causing Charles to lose his grip. He tried to jump free, but one of the metal blades caught him under his chin, piercing his skull, and protruding out the top of his head. "I couldn't help but to say. "Later... Chuck." If you haven't figured it out yet, I pushed the stone, sealing Angel Marie in her tomb. I lopped off Lauri's head as she discovered the fate of her son. I shook the fence, so Chuck would fall. Now I watch you.....The only way out is through the front door.....If you don't hurry...you too, will be NEVERMORE!!!! > look You find yourself in a tomb, presumably that of at least one of the family members. Bits of broken bone are scattered about. The walls are dark and damp. Small streams of water trickle down between the cracks of the stone. Winding weed like vines creep their way in from the outside. The air is incredibly hot here, yet ice cold at the same time. You feel very ill being here. Something tells you that you are about to find out what happened to the family, and now you are not so sure that you want to. Also here are scattered bones. A stranger is here, staring at you. You can only move south. > examine stranger The man is tall, with dark hair and blue eyes, that seem to see right through you. From what you can gather, he appears to be around 17 or 18 years old. > ask stranger about journal Before you can get a word out, the strange extends his hand to meet yours. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you. I saw the smashed car down the road, and wanted to make sure that no one was hurt. By the way, my name is Evan............Evan....Manor.... You may not survive your run in with Evan Manor, but you did win the game. Next time you buy a property at a reduced rate, you should be very careful. You never know who could be lurking in the shadows. Special thanks to all beta testers that gave their input on my game. Written by Mystery