The Merry Gathering at Wilford Manor: Chapter 9

Chapter 9: The Party is Over

When Gabe woke his head was throbbing and blood trailed from his ears. He didn’t know how long he had been unconscious and it didn’t matter. His limbs felt heavy and barely held him as he stood. Gabe needed to get out. He needed to find his mom. That woman in the mirror, whatever she was, seemed frightened at the mention of his mom. Maybe she could stop this. At the very least she could get everyone out of the house. As he stumbled into the hallway he knew he wasn’t alone. It wasn’t that he could see anyone but he could feel eyes on him and they were everywhere. Yellow eyes piercing through the darkness like some unholy jungle.

“Help! Someone help me! Can anyone hear me? Mom?” Gabe just started screaming for anyone to hear him and was shocked to hear a reply so close.

“Gabe? Is that you?”

The voice was vaguely familiar and it sounded just as scared as he was. He called to them again eager to find them and when she screamed he knew which door to burst through.

There was Sarah. God, he didn’t even know she was coming tonight. She was pale and shivering and a man Gabe didn’t recognize was holding her from behind his hands plunged deep in her hair and dress. Reaching for Gabe her tears mixed with mascara stained the front of her gown and the man clung tighter to his prey. Gabe wanted to run at him, maybe give Sarah time to run, but something was off about this man. A closer look at the dried blood under his right ear and around his collar and the grayness of his skin and Gabe knew this wasn’t a man, at least, not anymore. The man knew Gabe had found him out and merely smiled. It was too late. As Gabe screamed and lunged forward the man turned falling backward through the mirror with Sarah still locked in his arms and in the blink of an eye she was gone just as he had been when he had been pulled through to their world. Her screams abruptly ended in the room but echoed in his head and the look of terror on her face he was sure would haunt him until the day he died.  Which may not be long in this house.

The mirror began to ripple welcoming him to come on in. Gabe ran. Pride be damned. He had only been saved because his mother owned the house. Sarah may already be dead. So he ran taking the steps downstairs two at a time ignoring all of the shadows and shimmering people. How many ghosts were here he wondered?

To his surprise the party had ended and he ran into an empty cup littered living room. There were still some stragglers, a few too drunk to be driving home, and his mother was leaning by the front door wishing her guests a safe drive. There were more cars outside than there were people left and it looked like Sarah’s family had already gone for the night. How many people were missing and why did no one else seem to notice they were gone?

“Mom!”

“Gabe? Where have you been all night? You missed the entire party.”

“Mom I need to talk to you.”

“Can’t it wait until all of our guests have gone? Really, could it wait until morning? I’m exhausted.”

He could feel his face blush with anger. “No it can’t wait. Where’s dad?”

Her mouth twitched slightly as she tried to hide a small smile. “I don’t know Gabe. He didn’t want to come down for the party. I haven’t heard a peep from him since the party began. Maybe he's still in his office.”

An uneasy feeling crawled up his spine. “Mom, have you noticed anyone missing from your party? Did anyone leave after not being able to find their kid?”

Now she did smile. “No sweetie. No one is missing, at least I haven’t heard of anyone missing.”

Is she serious? How could Sarah’s parents have left without her? And all those other cars? It looks like a good portion of the party is gone.

“Mom?”

“Gabe, tonight’s party went so well I’m thinking of throwing a New Year’s Eve party.”

“Mom, no. There’s something wrong with this house. Haven’t you noticed? I went somewhere tonight and it sure as hell wasn’t a normal stroll down the hallway.”

“Watch your language,” she snapped. “There is nothing wrong with my house. You and your father, I swear. I’m finally happy somewhere and you want to take it away from me.”

He sighed, “It’s not like that.”

“Enough. We’re staying here and we are going to throw a party on New Year’s. We are going to keep the house happy Gabe.”

“Keep the house happy?”

The gleam in her eye frightened him. A new and terrifying light was living behind his mother's usually dull glare.

“Yes, keep the house happy and we will be happy. All you need to worry about is keeping me happy. Am I clear Gabe?

I could burn the house down. Maybe then it will let her go? Maybe it will let them all go?

His mother sighed and gripped his chin hard in her hand. “I love you son, but if you try to burn my house down I’ll have no choice but to hand you over to them. Don’t look at me like that. They know everything Gabe. You can’t surprise them and you can’t win. All you can do is keep mommy happy and mommy will take care of the rest.”