Chapter 12 ~ Where Are You? ~

• ~ Where Are You? ~
• In each chamber, it had been decided that three contestants would share the accommodations. Bridget called out the names of the participants, her voice echoing slightly in the grand hall.
• "White Mexican ... Lunar Wanderer and Cyber Pink Racer!" With each name announced, the selected female candidates stepped forward. Their faces were glowing with excitement.
• As they entered the antique-style chamber, their joyful shrills filled the air. The pitter-patter re-echoed with the muttering of their voices. While they chattered, they claimed their beds and placed their belongings carefully in the cabinet designed for safe storage.
• As the last member of the group, Rosa trailed behind Bridget. She stepped confidently toward the furthest room at the end of the corridor. Stopping at the door, Bridget unlocked it and pushed it open.
• "Thank you!" Rosa said to Bridget. The room was modest, no different from the others. 'This suits my style!' Rosa thought with a smirk.
• Bridget had positioned a nervous hand on Rosa's shoulder, recalling the last thing Aiden had said to her and what it meant. “Miss Lancashire,” she whispered sharply, her voice hardly a breath, “you really shouldn’t have come here!” Her eyes skimmed around the space as if someone was watching her. Bridget glimpsed behind her. Noting no movement, Bridget hurried away.
• Looking ahead, her eyes were glued to Bridget's backside. 'Well, that was weird!' She gasped in her mind while wrinkling her forehead. 'I wonder what Bridget was talking about!'
• Like the others, Rosa unpacked her belongings and made herself comfortable. With her back turned a gust of wind brushed past the curtains. The movement had not gone unnoticed, stopping what she was doing. Rosa's eyes gravitated along the walls.
• Wheezing, "Where are you?" her voice was just above a whisper.
• The hairs on her arm began to stand at attention. Rapidly, Rosa gestured with her eyes to examine the place. 'Something is here!' Yet her sight revealed that nothing was out of place.
• Closing her eyes, she allowed her mind to wander freely. In her mind's eye, she could see tiny orbs of energy moving in and out of the Mansion, going through the solid foundation.
• "This place is like a graveyard!" She pushed the air out of her lungs. Unhurriedly, she unpacked her clothing. Behaving as if this were a regular day at the office.
• A shiver crawled up her spine as her sixth sense told her something was nearby. 'I swear someone is watching me!' Rosa's senses were on guard.
• Rosa turned her gaze back to the mirror. 'Someone is here ... I know it!' Rosa stepped closer to the mirror, her heart racing. Without a thought, Rosa pivoted her body at the suddenly loud thud as her bag tumbled to the floor.
• Wrinkling her forehead, Rosa shifted her feet away from the mirror over to her bag. Retrieving her prescription bottles that had rolled out of their holding spot. She sat the bottles on the nightstand. 'Okay! Where are you?'
• She was ready to confront anything that might occur. Rosa's stare was drawn to a suggestion of movement. Silently, a black whisp of mist slipped from the door toward the mirror. A tremble ran down her spine as a cold draft swept past her, leaving an unsettling chill in the air.
• Snorting out loud, Rosa whispered to herself. "Well, at least the contestants will not be disappointed!"
• The sound of tapping caught her attention. Rosa turned her head, noticing her laptop had come to life. Its screen was aglow as files were swiftly closed, and her writing program was displayed. "I did not take you out of the suitcase, " she said slowly, moving to the bed.
• Intrigued, Rosa observed the keys of the keyboard moving as if guided by an unseen hand. Suddenly, the laptop jerked sharply, positioning itself so the screen faced her directly.
• In a neutral tone, “When the seven arrive at the land, and the sun is gone, the land will be covered in blood!” Rosa read the message that had been typed. Frowning, “Who are the seven?”
• Rosa turned her head just in time to see a shadow opening the door and slipping out of the chamber. Quickly, she snapped the lid shut on her laptop.
• With a swift movement, she tucked the laptop beneath the bed as if hiding a secret. Frantically, she shoved her documents back into the bag. Placing the bag at the end of the bed, she pushed the suitcase under the bed.
• Rosa brushed her hand over the sheets on the bed and smoothed out the crease in the blanket. "Perfect!" Rosa was ensuring everything appeared perfectly normal.
• Rosa shuffled her feet toward the door, a chill creeping up her spine as an unsettling feeling rewashed over her. A low hiss came from Rosa's throat. She was hunting for the shadow that would be lurking in the shadows. Rosa's head snapped at the sound of movement. The silhouette of a black, misty shadow stood at the window. The second the ghostly figure knew it was spotted, it dashed at her, going through her body and out the wall behind her.
• "Why were you looking out the window?" Rosa pushed the curtain to the side. Her eyes caught the eruption of maids and butlers bustling about the garden. "They must be finishing up that last minute details to The Game Master's plans!"
• The sound of the door creaking open caused Rosa to jerk her head in that direction. A chill ran through her once more. A black mist had rushed from the door in the direction of the mirror. Stepping closer to the mirror. 'Why are the spirits always going to the mirror?'
• “Miss!”
• 'What now!' Rosa internally groaned. Slowly pivoting her body to look at the maid.
• The Maid continued, "The Earl of Lancashire and Lady Mother would like to begin the evening event!"
• Smiling, "Okay!" Rosa said. With a final glance at her reflection in the mirror, Rosa took a deep breath.