This chapter is dedicated to: Roberts Feb and octtotf.
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"What do you think?". Ian turned and asked me. My face flushed.
"You might find this weird....". I was afraid I would give them the creeps as usual.
"Just say it already". Ian implored.
"Fine,it's a coffin".
"A what?".
"Yes heard me,am not repeating myself".
"It still doesn't add up. I mean a coffin in a library". Arianna said.
"It's a haunted house, didn't expect less".
"How else do you explain it then,he who makes it doesn't need it,he who buys it doesn't use it and he who use it doesn't know it". I explained.
"Wow,yeah right".
We went in search of the coffin and found it in a inner room in the library.
"I didn't know this library was this big".
"The house itself, it's gigantic".
"I am not going near that thing". Arianna was scared and didn't do anything to hide it. I knew the others were scared too but they didn't mention it. U walked further and opened the coffin. Inside the coffin was an a large white costume with another riddle on it.
"With pointed fangs I sit and wait,with piercing force I crunch out fate, grabbing victims, proclaiming might, physically joining with a single bite". I paused "What's that". I asked the others. I had a guess in my mind but I knew it would freak them out. I was excited anyways.
"You think...you... think...it..might be a ...a.. vampire?". Maurice stuttered.
"What do you think?". I asked Melvin. I didn't want to voice out my guess so as not to scare anyone one. It would be less scary if the answer came from someone else.
"I think not". Melvin said.
"Really". I was surprised.
"Yeah,I mean I get the idea of this haunted Mansion thing but I am still not convinced". He paused. "Isn't anyone getting my point?".
"Nope".
"No at all".
"Not even the slightest".
"Let's think about it,it could be anything".
"Like what?".
"Anything Ian. If the answer was a vampire we would have found the vampire in the coffin. Isn't that where vampires stay in the afternoon? This can be any set up to make sure we don't solve the mystery. We are not falling for this. We have come way too far".
"Fine so what do you suggest?". I was almost too sure that it was a vampire. I really hoped it was. Melvin had his head up in a way that suggested that he was thinking of the answer.
"I think I know what the answer is". He finally said. "A stapler".
"Oh". We said in unison.
"That makes sense". I tried to sound happy but I was disappointed.
We went looking for a stapler.
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"Here come over". Maurice called. "See this". She pointed to the drawer and picked the small card.
"What has many keys but can't open a single door".
"A piano". We chorused.
"Wow,that was easy". Maurice reacted.
We found the piano in no time and a note was lying aimlessly on the keys.
"The more there is the less you see".
"Darkness obviously". I answered.
"And where does that lead us?". Arianna countered.
"That room I guess". I pointed to a small dark room. We could barely see what was in it.
I walked to the room and crossed the rug. Immediately I stepped on the rug something fell from above. I picked it and it was another riddle.
"You walk into a room that contains a match,a kerosene lamp,a candle and a fireplace. What do you light first?". I asked.
"A match".
I took the match box before me and opened it. It contained a single match stick and a note.
"This means that we can't afford a mistake at this time". Ian commented. "So what's the riddle?".
"I am tall when I am young and short when am old". I read aloud.
"A candle". Maurice answered.
I switched on my torch to look for the candle. I took it and lighted it. With the illumination the candle provided,we walked into the room.
"WHAT DOES MAN LOVE MORE THAN LIFE,HATE MORE THAN DEATH OR MORTAL STRIFE, THAT WHICH THE CONTENTED MEN DESIRE,THE POOR HAVE,THE RICH REQUIRES, THE MISER SPENDS,THE SPENDTHRIFT SAVES AND ALL MEN CARRY TO THEIR GRAVES".
The inscription was boldly written on the wall in red.