The Mansion Chapter 2

Coming away from the garden, you find yourself within another long hallway. A few steps down the path, the door slams close. The brother and sister call out to you. "Hey! Are you alright?" [[ Don't respond]] [[" I'm okay!"]] [[Makes garbled sound like you're dying]]

"Maybe they didn't hear us?" "Shout louder!" "HEY!" [[Don't respond again]] [[" I'm okay!"]] [[Makes garbled sound like you're dying]]

"FRIEND!" The brother screamed. "Hold on! We'll come for you! Just wait! We'll find another way in!" "Will we be able to...?" the sister whisphered. "Of course we'll be able to! Let's just hope they're not dead yet!" [[Continue On]]

"Oh, thank goodness! We'll try to find another way inside, we'll see you on the other side friend! Much luck! [[Continue On]]

Going down the stone hallway, your heels making heavy stomping against the rough cobblestones below, it continues for some time. Down and down, and the last light from the prior doorway now completely fading to black. Placing your hand on the side of the wall to lead you forward you continue. However, after a while, you feel yourself coming to a corner, and a draft blows past your head. Which way? [[Left]] [[Straight]]

After you still didn't respond, the brother and sister shouted again and again with varying levels of volume. They quieted down, and you could hear them whispher through the door. "We should get onto the otherside to find them". "Something must have happened". In the brother's husky voice, "Much luck to our friend, to see them soon again". [[Continue On]]

Turning left, and continuing to place your hand on the wall. Even further into the labrynith, your legs start to feel sore, your calves aching from your long trek. Stumbling blindly forward, you fall to your knees. [[Rest for a while]] [[ Move through the pain]]

You decide to continue forward. A cold blustering wind pulls you forward, and you feel the grueling task of walking towards potential doom starting to dwindle your motivation. [[Why am I doing this?]] [[Push on!]]

Eyes closed, you fall asleep within the drafty hall. Its quiet. Not in that peaceful silence of comfort, but more haunting. You can hear skittering, clawing, dripping, and feel as if something is crawling over you. [[Shake it off]] [[Scream]] [[Wait]]

You claw yourself forward. But you find your legs screaming at you to stop. [[Rest for a while]]

The crawling turns into a piercing feeling, you scream and writhe, and jaws enclose your head. Your consciusness and body is pulled back to the last place you entered. <img src=https://i.pinimg.com/736x/a1/f8/eb/a1f8ebb544c6a2faa38b546b13b8b8c3.jpg> [[Into the Labrynith]]

In that moment, something rips at your head. Before you know it, you're taken back, back to the last place you entered. <img src=https://i.pinimg.com/736x/a1/f8/eb/a1f8ebb544c6a2faa38b546b13b8b8c3.jpg> [[Into the Labrynith]]

You wait, and the crawling subsides. Trembling, you wait a little bit longer, and then blue light flickers through your eyelids. "A person?" a man's voice asks quietly. [[Play Dead]] [[Get Up]]

He pokes your body with something. You wince. "Ha! you're alive then! Get up then! Get up!" [[Play dead further]]

Getting up, you see this older man with a hunched black suit and top hat crowned in marigolds. He holds a glittering blue latern, casting a ghastly glow in the hallway. His face is decorated like a sugar skull. He grins at you. "Not dead, I see! Good! Good!" <img src= https://i.pinimg.com/736x/a5/0d/5f/a50d5f9b6f957ab2aceb714da5ae0558.jpg> [[Who are you?]]

"You're not fooling anyone, little one!" The man's gruff voice chuckles. He prods you again. "Come on!" [[Get Up]] [[Continue to play dead]]

He leans down closer to your body and whispers, "I've seen plenty of dead bodies, kid, and you're not one of them". You still do not move. He huffs, "Well, you leave me with no choice". He gets up, and you hear him hopping on one foot. "My mother would do this, and this seems to be the best choice. La chancla!" [[Get Up]]

"Wouldn't you like to know, kiddo!" He guffaws loudly, echoing in the empty hall. "Lost are we?" <img src= https://i.pinimg.com/736x/a0/f8/b6/a0f8b6c888f3e51dad16d2c6566d1105.jpg> [[ Yes ]] [[No]]

"Well, why didn't you say so?" He said happily, leaning against his lantern. "What do you need to know?" [[How do I get out of here?]] [[Nevermind, screw you]]

"Fair enough, I'll be seeing you then," he said cheerily, and started to make his way down the hallway, away from you". <img src=https://i.pinimg.com/736x/a5/0d/5f/a50d5f9b6f957ab2aceb714da5ae0558.jpg> [[Wait!]] [[Watch him leave]]

"Hm?" he turns around to see you. "Need something?" [[How do I get out of here?]] [[Nevermind, screw you]]

"To let you know, by the way friend!," the man calls back, waving his latern at you. "There's a monster that prowls these halls, so take care!" <img src= https://i.pinimg.com/736x/25/05/0c/25050c3dd29c9e1b4081e238daa37e0b.jpg> [[Run after him]] [[stay where you are]]

Running after him, you stumble for a moment, and he turns to look at you. "You alright? What's the rush to death for?" [[How do I get out of here?]]

His blue light disappears into the distance, and you find yourself in darkness once more. Continuing on through the hallway, you hear a dripping, which gets louder and louder, until the hallway opens up into a dim cavern, with rocks jutting out of the ceiling above. [[the cave]]

He pointed his latern down the hall, "To continue down, you'll come to a dark cave, and that's where the monster lies. Its an eccentric sort, probably sleeping off its last meal. Beyond that, a doorway that will take you to the next place". [[Monster?]]

His gaze darkens, "Say, kid, don't you know how to treat your elders?" <img src=https://i.pinimg.com/736x/e4/47/7c/e4477c2413b187591a5258bce0e911e0.jpg> [[Fluff you]] [[Sorry sir]]

On the cave floor, you see a strange monster sleeping in front of a door. It's tail thumps heavily in dreaming slumber. On the walls, there is strange writing, and a shrine jutting out from the side. [[Check out the monster]] [[Look towards the door]] [[Check out the walls]] [[Step into the shrine]]

<img src= https://i.pinimg.com/736x/bf/4a/89/bf4a896b9310bd833598d18d1ed08142.jpg> The monster was sprawled across the cavern floor, slumbering peacefully. A deep rumbling purr emanated from within it. [[Look towards the door]] [[wake up the monster]] [[Check out the walls]] [[Step into the shrine]]

The doors are covered in brilliant gold and brass art, glistening in the halflight of the cavern. It depicts strange people, like a man with a latern, and a hand with nobody. Or two garderners on the top, one weeping, the other grinning. What a strange depiction. Above the door, it says, "Beyond these gates, free pastures lie, where birds fly freely, as monsters still roam. More choice for all, and freedom for those who pursue it". [[Check out the monster]] [[Step into the shrine]] [[Check out the walls]]

"Very well, good bye kid" His pupils completely disappear from his gaze. <img src=https://i.pinimg.com/736x/b2/8b/42/b28b427da30c54f6516db225d09e0aa1.jpg> Something drags you away from the hallway in a blinding flash of blue light and pain. You're back to where you last entered. [[Into the Labrynith]]

"Good," he nodded, satisfied. "Anyway, what was your question?" [[How do I get out of here?]]

The man grinned like a skeleton, brilliant white teeth showing beneath his mustache. "He's very scary. Two paws with knife like talons, and a slithering tail. It enjoys a good riddle, so it may give you a few, lest it eat you alive". [[Riddles?]]

"Yes, kid, yes! The most gruesome riddles known to man. Heck, they scare me half to death whenever I hear them. Much luck to ya". [[Any hints for the riddles?]] [[Thanks]]

"Course!" He waved his latern farewell. "Take care, young'n!" [[Continue to the cave]]

He scratched his chin, "He likes trick questions, and lots of vocab. Pay attention to the stuff on the walls, sometimes there's some good context there". [[Thanks]]

After your discussion with that strange eccentric man, you find renewed strength to continue on your adventure. [[the cave]]

The monster grumbles and opens it eyes slightly showing cat like pupils, quickly, it cages you within its paws. "A meal," he grinned. <img src= https://i.pinimg.com/736x/f9/ea/da/f9eada7867e7a63cdd03e986899f0412.jpg> [[I'm not food!]] [[Let me go, you fat fruit rollup!]]

On the walls, deep carvings laid. You could barely make out the words that warn you of someone who walks within these barren halls. "A man who carries a blue latern and wears a crown of marigolds. Death is he who haunts this labrynith. Take care, lest he destroys you too". Water dripped from the walls, and pulled at the floor, you step away. [[Check out the monster]] [[Step into the shrine]] [[Look towards the door]]

The shrine was dark within, but there was a pleasant candle lit within, illuminating a beautiful picture of a dark hand with an eye in the center. Beneath it was a placard. "The eye of protection, to help anyone lost within the strange house that seems to go on forever, by resetting their path once more". You step out of the shrine. [[Look towards the door]] [[Check out the monster]] [[Check out the walls]]

That thought stuck within your head. What were you doing here? Why did you come to this mansion? To then a garden, then to a labrynith. What stupidity! Wait, what were you doing before here? [[Try to remember why you came here]] [[Push on!]]

You heard something slither towards you, and grabbed your ankles. No it won't, you thought, and stomped down hard, trying to push away. [[Pushing away]]

Was it a dare? No. Wait, what was it? Friends? Your heart starts to rush out of control, and panic seizing your limbs. Please, please, someone, hear me. I'm so scared. It's so dark. I'm just a kid, just a kid, someone help me please. You felt something grab you. You scream and try to rush away. [[Pushing away]]

It will not take you! It will not take you back, you punch that hand that always took you away. And not expecting it, you hit something solid, it slide back, moaning, "My eye!" [[You turn to see what it is]]

"Ungrateful brat!" The black blob cried. "Ungrateful!" It unclenched itself and showed that it was in fact a massive hand, so dark that it nearly blended in with your dark surroundings. A giant eye stood in the center of it. <img src= https://i.pinimg.com/736x/de/ae/d8/deaed878280e58c527455e4ab923f6d7.jpg> [[a hand?]]

"What the hell do you think I am? A chicken?!" The hand spat. "Try to help someone and see what it gets you! Phooey!" <img src= https://i.pinimg.com/736x/de/ae/d8/deaed878280e58c527455e4ab923f6d7.jpg> [[Definitely a chicken]] [[No, sir]]

"A wise guy, eh?" The hand was now livid, "Screw you too then kid! Have fun going back to the hard way!" The hand leaves you alone. You hear a deep slithering further down the hallway. [[Walk on]]

"Good, you're smart," the hand sighed, as much as a hand could sigh. "Tell ya what, let me just take you back to the beginning of the labrynith, and you can go the other way, eh? The safer way". <img src= https://i.pinimg.com/736x/5c/49/5e/5c495ebe267b66806ab8b161ecf2cd87.jpg> [[Nah]] [[Sure]]

"Whaddya mean, no?" The hand spluttered. "Down that way is a really shi-bad way to die!" <img src= https://i.pinimg.com/736x/8a/8d/a3/8a8da3ff220b4dc211189d18657ca028.jpg> [[I want to go forward, not back]]

"Good kid," The hand envelopes you, and takes you back to where you last entered. <img src= https://i.pinimg.com/736x/89/13/bd/8913bddd7620673fbe17de7de88174e8.jpg> [[Into the Labrynith]]

In front of you, you see a massive monster with knives for talons. It fixes its eyes upon you and before you know it, its upon you. [[It bites down]]

<img src= https://i.pinimg.com/736x/a1/f8/eb/a1f8ebb544c6a2faa38b546b13b8b8c3.jpg> [[Into the Labrynith]]

It squinted at you. "A hard bargainer, aren't you? What moxie". <img src= https://i.pinimg.com/736x/89/13/bd/8913bddd7620673fbe17de7de88174e8.jpg> [[What's moxie?]] [[What's down there?]]

"Guts! Bravado! Machismo!" The hand went on, waving away the question. "Now, kid, you don't want to go down there!" <img src= https://i.pinimg.com/736x/8a/8d/a3/8a8da3ff220b4dc211189d18657ca028.jpg> [[What's down there?]]

"A terrible monster guarding the door from here. He's crazy, eccentric, and very hungry". [[A monster?]]

"The monster that guards the exit from this place. The guy likes riddles, and only the smartest can solve them. And for some reason, has a fascination with vocabulary, god knows why". [[Yuck, vocabulary]] [[Then I need to solve his riddles]]

"You said it pal," the hand agreed with you. "But his riddles are the only way that you're gonna be able to leave". [[Then I need to solve his riddles]]

The hand sighed, "It would make me sad to see you die such a painful death. Go the other way, kid. It'll be easier that way. [[Sure]] [[I can get through it]]

The hand blinked. Then thought for a moment, "Tell ya what, I'll do you a solid. Wait here, while I draw it off with some food. So, hopefully, it will be nice and full by the time that you meet it, and hopefully asleep. What do you say?" <img src= https://i.pinimg.com/736x/8a/8d/a3/8a8da3ff220b4dc211189d18657ca028.jpg> [[Sounds good]]

"Awesome," the hand bobbed in afirmation. "Take care kid. And by the way," it paused before leaving your sight. "When you get to the cave, look at the walls and shrine, it might have some clues for his riddles. See ya kid". The hand disappeared from sight. [[Waiting]]

After waiting for some time, you guessed it was enough, and went down the hallway. [[the cave]]

"You're not?" the monster purred, its fishy smelling mouth breahing down upon you. "But you look so scrumptious". [[I'm here to pass through your riddles!"]]

"Ha!" The monster laughed, "What energy! I always enjoy having my dinner have some spice and sass within them!" <img src= https://i.pinimg.com/736x/19/f2/45/19f2452b4dd08856a49cc80c6b2fc407.jpg> [[I'm not food!]]

"Oh-ho?" The monster looked closer at you. "An adventurer, eh? Pass my four riddles and be free?" [[You nod]]

The monster grinned, "and if you don't pass. You're my delicious midnight snack!" [[Understood]]

"Alright! First riddle! Who is the man that wanders these halls with marigolds in his cap and latern so blue?" [[Wait don't I get time to go look around?]] [[Death]] [[An old man]] [[A bum]]

"You poked a sleeping monster, honey. I don't think you get time to study when you decided to just jump straight into it!" [[Understood]]

"Correct!" The monster purred, "Onto the next one! Who was sprawled across the floor when you first arrived within this cave?" [[You]] [[The shrine]] [[The writing]]

"Wrong!" <img src= https://i.pinimg.com/736x/a1/f8/eb/a1f8ebb544c6a2faa38b546b13b8b8c3.jpg> With the biting of your head, you feel a hand grab you and take you back to where you last entered. [[Into the Labrynith]]

"Correct again! Wonderful, wonderful! Onto the third question, then after that, the last! What figure is depicted within the shrine in this cave?" [[The hand of protection]] [[ You ]] [[ Death ]]

"Oh my, oh my! Onto the last question! What is said to be behind these doors that I protect?" [[Treasure]] [[Freedom]] [[Tragedy]]

"All of them correct!" The monster brayed, its grin vanishing from its face. "How could you! How could you have solved them all! It's not fair!" <img src= https://i.pinimg.com/736x/bb/44/28/bb44281b8fb884f775d92c684df97e42.jpg> [[I won, fair and square, let me out of here!]]

" I will not!" The monster screamed, rousing himself from his lying place, its two paws unsheathing his claws. "Die!" [[Run!]]

You ran just in time from underneath his swipe. Ducking to escape another, you bolted towards the doors that were now open wide, revealing a bright green field beyond. "No!" The monster screamed as you leapt through the doors, out of the labryinth. [[Look back]]

The monster ran towards you from behind the doors as they slowly closed shut, and he screamed. "I'll get you! I'll get you, you hear!" And they shut upon his screams, into the suffocating silence of the prairie. [[End of chapter 2]]