"Did you see that?" said Peter.
"What's happening?" asked Adam, looking at the open front door.
Jake pointed the camera to the front door.
"Hello?" said Adam.
"Hey, shoosh, are you crazy? Do you want us to get into trouble?" said Jake.
"Why's that front door open? Is someone inside?" asked Adam.
"Hey, I don't know. Maybe Peter opened it."
"Me?"
"Yeah, you could've knocked hard and opened it up by accident."
"I didn't knock hard," said Peter, defensively.
"Would you be quiet," said Adam. "Let's just go home. This is weird."
"No, wait," said Jake. "We can't just leave. Let's, let's just think this through."
"Think about what, Jake? There's someone in that house and they're going to catch us. I'm not getting into trouble."
"Peter, I will show you there's no-one there. Come with me, I will show you," said Jake.
Peter stuttered a few words.
"Hey, leave him out of this."
"I'm going to go check it out. C'mon, Peter, let's go. We're going to be famous at school."
Jake unzipped his backpack and took out a small torch and switched it on. He gave it to Peter. He looked at Adam for a second.
"You will thank me later. This is going to make you famous," he said as he handed him a small torch too.
Adam took the torch from him. He wanted to scream out in frustration, but his curiosity got the better of him.
Jake grabbed Peter by the arm and said, "Come on."
Adam followed behind them as they reached the steps of the front door.
"Hello?" said Adam.
"Would you shut up?" said Jake.
"No, I won't. There's someone in there."
"Then shine your damn torch to see for yourself. There's no one here," replied Jake.
Adam pointed his beam of light at the entrance and saw that there was nobody there. The place looked even darker inside.
Jake held onto Peter's arm and pulled him along as they ascended the stairs towards the open entrance.
"Are you crazy?" hissed Adam.
"No, I'm brave. Peter and I are brave. Aren't we, pal?"
Peter gingerly nodded his head at Adam.
"Pete, you don't have to," said Adam.
Jake pulled him along before Adam could talk him out of it. They both entered the house and looked behind the door to see if anyone was hiding there. There was no one.
"That's weird. The door opened itself," said Jake.
"What?" said Adam, concerned.
"Ugh, what's that smell?" asked Peter.
"What smell?" said Adam, still worried about the door mysteriously opening itself.
He quickly ascended the steps to join them, trying to be brave. His heart was pounding in his chest. He knew that this was a bad idea to enter the place. He wanted to go home, but his legs kept taking him into the unknown.
As soon as Adam entered the house, he smelled what Jake and Peter were going on about. He nearly vomited. The air smelled of human body waste and alcohol. He stood with Jake and Peter near the doorway and tried to stifle his nauseating coughs. They all did the same. Once they calmed themselves down, they surveyed the house with their torch beams. The place was empty. The floor was strewn with rubbish and broken bottle pieces. Graffiti was smeared over the walls even up to the ceiling. They moved further into the house and found themselves in the lounge area. The fireplace was filled with burnt plastic bags, burnt wood, and ash. Everything about this place made Adam's hair stand on end.
"Wow, would you look at this place?" said Adam in a low voice. "So this is where your brother brings his chicks? He's classy, Jake."
"Shut up!" Jake hissed.
"We know what's inside now," said Adam, trying to convince Peter. "Let's get out of here."
"Would you relax? Jeez, you really are scared," said Jake.
"I'm not!" said Adam, defensively.
"Whatever."
They heard a dull thud coming from upstairs and they all quickly pointed their flashlights at the staircase and the ceiling where they heard the thud.
"Someone's here," said Peter, scared.
"Hello?" said Adam, loudly.
"Nobody's here," hissed Jake.
"You just heard that sound. Someone's here. What if they're dangerous, huh?" snapped Adam.
"Maybe it's my stupid brother playing a prank on us," said Jake, uncertain.
"How do you know?" said Adam, defensively.
Jake shrugged his shoulders.
"Hey, Chris, if you're up there, I'm calling the police," said Adam.
Jake rolled his eyes and shook his head. There was no reply. The place was as silent as before.
"See? Nothing. Maybe it was a cat," said Jake.
"It doesn't matter. We should not be here."
"Whatever. I'm going to go check it out," said Jake, holding onto Peter.
Adam grabbed him by the arm.
"Leave me, you loser," said Jake, pulling his arm free.
"I don't want to go there," said Peter to Jake, who had forgotten that he was clinging on to him.
"Gawd, you guys are lame. You'll all feel so stupid when you realize it was just a cat or even a rat that you heard."
"C'mon!" said Jake as he yanked Peter towards him so that they could ascend the stairs together. Adam looked at the front door and back at Peter who was being dragged up the staircase. He wanted to leave this place, but he could not leave his friend behind.
"Adam," Peter called out as he struggled with Jake who was much stronger and bigger than him. Jake held onto the wooden staircase rail and held onto Peter's arm. He was not going to let go. Peter was beginning to cry.
"Stop it, you baby!" said Jake.
"Hey, leave him, Jake."
"No!"
"I'm warning you," said Adam, clenching his fists.
"What you going to do? You're too scared to check out this place."
"I'm not!"
"Then show me! Or else I'm going to take him with me."
Adam wanted to punch Jake so badly, but he knew Jake was physically stronger than him.
"Okay," said Adam, relaxing his fist. "I'll come. But we only go upstairs and come right back down here. You got that?"
Jake looked at Adam, knowing he could not trust him.
"Okay," he said, holding on to Peter. "You go first then."
Adam swallowed his fear. He looked at the dark staircase and shone his light up the stairs. It seemed to go on forever.
"I knew it. You're a chicken," hissed Jake.
"Shut up!"
"Go on then."
Adam could hear his heart beating against his chest. He drew in a deep breath and walked up to the staircase. He looked at Jake.
"Go ahead," Jake urged.
Adam took one step and the staircase squeaked. He turned around and looked at Jake and Peter. They came up right behind him. Jake had the camera pointed up the staircase, past Adam's face.
"Hey, watch where you're pointing that thing," said Adam, blinded by the light.
"Just go ahead and stop complaining."
"Then don't point it in my face."
"I'm pointing it at the stairs, idiot. I can't see," said Jake.
Adam turned around and pointed his torch up the staircase. It was still dark.
"Move it!" hissed Jake.
"Shut up. I'm moving," replied Adam.
He drew in a breath and slowly took another step while pointing his torch at the dark staircase.