"So, you kids lost?" the old man asked, his yellow teeth flashing in a toothy grin. Kiara looked at him with a mix of disgust and confusion, her eyes widening slightly at the sight of his disheveled appearance. I stepped in front of her, a protective instinct kicking in.
"Yeah, we're looking for Oakridge Mansion. Do you know where it is?" I asked, trying to mask my irritation. The man's breath reeked of rotten onions and cheap alcohol, making me recoil slightly.
"Hmm, why do you wanna know?" the man inquired, his gaze lingering on us with an unsettling curiosity.
"It's actually none of your—" before I could finish my sentence my mother (rudely) interrupted me.
"Excuse me, sir. We're sorry for my son's behavior. He's just... um, hungry. Children, am I right?" Mom interjected with a forced chuckle, clearly trying to defuse the situation. The man stroked his beard thoughtfully and shrugged as if he were weighing whether to help us or not.
"I might have an idea or two about what that's like," he said, looking me up and down with a scrutinizing eye. I met his gaze with a glare of my own, feeling a mix of frustration and embarrassment.
"You came all this way, so I assume you know about the house's history, right?" he asked, his tone shifting to something more serious.
"Uh, yes. We're prepared to handle any damages from burglaries or animal attacks. We have insurance for that," Mom replied, her tone bright but a bit too forced. She didn't really believe in the supernatural tales surrounding the house, so she'd constructed her own version of the story to make her feel better.
"That's part of the history. You're aware of the previous victims of the house, aren't you?" he pressed, his voice carrying an edge of dark amusement.
"Yes, yes. We've heard about it. Can you just tell us where the house is so we can get on with it?" I snapped, my patience wearing thin. I could feel my frustration bubbling over.
"Trish! You don't need to be so rude to this kind gentleman. He's just trying to help," Mom scolded, her voice rising slightly. "Stop being so... obsessive. We need to be polite."
I shot her a withering glare, but before I could retort, the old man chuckled. "Well, looks like you've got the right spirit for this place. Oakridge Mansion is a bit tricky to find, especially if you're not familiar with the town's layout. It's hidden off the main road, down a path that's easy to miss."
"This whole town's easy to miss." I rolled my eyes.
"Trish!"
"Where exactly?" I pressed, trying to keep my tone civil despite the growing irritation.
He stroked his beard again. "Just follow the old mill road until you see a large oak tree. There's a narrow path that branches off there. It'll lead you straight to the mansion," he said, his eyes twinkling with an odd mix of mischief and even a little sympathy.
"But be careful. This town has its secrets, and Oakridge Mansion holds more than its fair share."