Chapter 1-Part 2
They stepped into Door 6 and inside was a dining room with a big chandelier and a bunch of creepy paintings of kings that died and queens that were exiled. On the refectory table on the side was a colorful skull with hollow eyes.
Cheryl: That skull creeps me out…
Dante: It’s just a skull, it won’t do anything.
Wendy: Why is it so colorful?
Sal: It’s kind of cute!
Jonathan: Typical for the outcast-
Sal: Jonathan, I swear to God-
Mark: THAT’S ENOUGH. Stop worrying about the skull and SIT DOWN.
The teens grumbled and sat down at the dining table nearby. The vibe was tense, and Jonathan sat on the far left away from everyone else.
Mark: Now, let me explain your first challenge-
Skully: Pipe down Mark, would ya? Some skulls wanna get sleep.
Cheryl jumped up from her chair.
Cheryl: The hell?! Did that thing just talk?
Mark: He-he, Cheryl’s delusional. As I was saying-
Skully: You haven’t fed me souls in the last 30 years. That can starve a head, you know.
Wendy: … Souls?!
Skully: Ha-ha, I’m just joking with ya.
Mark: Skully! You promised you wouldn’t talk!
Skully: I know. I’VE KEPT THAT PROMISE FOR 30 YEARS. Maybe when you feed me, I’ll quiet down.
Sal: Feed? Are you hungry?
Skully: You bet I am! Mark is the most abusive father I’ve ever had! Couldn’t feed a skull for clout.
Wendy: Father?
Skully: Mark’s my dad. WHO HAD THE AUDACITY TO KILL HIS OWN SON IN HIS OWN WAR!
Dante: Mark’s a murderer?!
Cheryl: OMG, we gotta leave-
Mark: NO! Don’t listen to the skull!
Cheryl: Dante, let’s go!
Dante was already out of Door 6 as he yelled “Way ahead of you!”.
Sal and Wendy didn’t move, and Jonathan took out his phone again and stretched his legs out on the dining table.
Sal: You’re not scared, Wendy?
Wendy: Why should I be? Plus, Nameless tells me that Mark means no harm, killing his son was an honest mistake.
Jonathan: Oh, come on. That stupid toy can’t talk.
Wendy: Not to you. Just to me.
Jonathan: Whatever.
Sal felt like teasing.
Sal: Are you scared, Jonathan?
Jonathan: Me? Hell no! I’m not scared of anything!
Sal: Really? How many horror movies have you watched then?
Jonathan: Huh?
Sal: Horror movie count. Mine is 66-
Jonathan: 67.
Sal: Okay. Which one’s your favorite?
Jonathan: Um, uh… Pennywise.
Sal cackled and laughed harder than she ever had before, almost crying tears. Wendy snickered but stopped when she caught Jonathan giving her a death stare.
Sal: *laughing*That’s… not even, the name of the movie!
Jonathan: Right. Is the movie called… Balloon??
Sal burst into even more laughter. She wheezed. Wendy didn’t care about the death stare this time, she laughed too.
Sal: It’s called ‘It’, you idiot.
Skully: This kid doesn’t know the name of one of the most iconic horror films! I’ve been in this dining room for more than 80 years and even I know!
Jonathan flushed red but turned around so Sal couldn’t see his tomato face.
Jonathan: *flustered* Whatever. It just… didn’t come to mind.
Sal: Keep telling yourself that.
Jonathan and Sal smiled at the same time. Wendy hugged Nameless tighter.
Sal: I see why you like teasing now. It’s fun.
Jonathan: Now you see my perspective.


Meanwhile, with Cheryl and Dante…
Cheryl: Where’s the main door again?
Dante: It was over there, right?
Mark: There’s no use kids. You agreed to stay for 17 days, so the main door is hidden and locked in legal reasons.
Cheryl: This is legal?
Mark: I think so. And if it’s not even better, Ha-ha!
Dante: *whispering* Freaking nutjob.
Cheryl: Dante! Find the door!
Dante scattered around the mansion, but the only open door was Door 6. It was like a maze, and without Cheryl helping him, Dante was running around like a mindless mouse.
Dante: *panting* Cherry-bear, can you help?
Cheryl: I’m sorry sweetie, I can’t. Running around in heels is a hazard and sweating makes me gag.
Dante: You don’t have to run around.
Cheryl: YOU don’t have to run around.
Dante grunted and continued running around. In his head he thought about the good times they used to have together, and how now he was just her little plaything, toying with his emotions, using him without knowing. Dante questioned if Cheryl still good intentions was what she had, if she still loved him. He suspected no. If they won, they weren’t even going to use the money for good. Dante wanted to give it to a charity event his dad had been talking about, but Cheryl wanted to brag about it and blow it out in a day at the mall.
Dante: *in mind* Where’s the Cherry-bear I used to know?
A few minutes later, they came back to the dining room, moping.
Jonathan: You guys decided to stay for more?
Skully: No. Dad won’t let them leave.
Mark: Look… how about this? Your challenge was actually something a lot more, brutal, but to make up for all this, your challenge is to prepare a meal for my son, Ezekiel.
Skully: Oh, for the love of Aralia. You know I hate that name.
Mark: It’s a biblical character.
Skully: You kill your son and call yourself a Christian or a man of religion? Alright kids, call me Skully. For generations, Skully is what I’ve been referred to, NOT Ezekiel. That stupid name reminds me of a past life. Becoming a talking skull was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. I see things in a new perspective now. And none of my 18 wives could make me change my mind.
Sal: Aw.
Jonathan: Whore.
Sal: Jonathan!!! Mind your language.
Jonathan: Like you’ve never said the ‘sh’ word.
Sal: *angrily*Because of you, I’m about to lose my sh-
Mark: Okay! The kitchen is to the left. The ghosts of the mansion have upgraded the food so now it’s not rotten or spoiled, so no excuses. Hope your moms taught you how to cook! You have 3 hours. And that starts… Now!
A horn blared from above and the teens rushed to the kitchen! It was time to cook!