“Yea, Luke had just left.”

“But I didn’t see anything,” Luke told him. They then moved the chains from in front of their faces. As Jami looked over at Nell’s face she noticed a bit of tension and fear as the clinking of chains echoed in the house. They then began to inspect the perimeter of the fireplace. Finding nothing they both gave a questioning shrug. Then Luke looked down and noticed something that looked a lot like a door. He stomped his foot on it hearing the sound of hollowness. With the help of Dr. Marrow they pulled the door open. Everyone scooted forward, curious of what they had found.

“Just soot and ashes.” Dr. Marrow reported.

They then closed the door with a loud and echoing boom. Jami couldn’t help but feel like maybe she was just having some silly visions. It’s obvious that there’s no way the face she and Nell saw could’ve been real. She then erased the thought from her mind with a simple shake of her head. I’ve been around Luke too much…

She looked back over at Nell, who showed the same thoughts going through her mind. Jami liked having Nell seeing the same things she was seeing. It was usually just her who believed that there were ghosts when something happened and Nell would be the one to lecture her. Now Nell was getting a taste of her own medicine. It was almost like revenge to Jami, and it was sweet.

Luke looked up the large chimney of the fireplace and laughed, “Hello? Santa?”

Just then the noise of a whoosh came from the right side of the fireplace. Luke and Dr. Marrow quickly jumped out of the way at the sound barely missing the giant carving of a lion’s head that swung like a pendulum in front of Dr. Marrow. Theo then called out to him, “Are you all right?” In reply he said, “Yeah I’m fine.”

“It’s a flu!” Nell pointed out.

“A what?” Luke asked.

“It opens up the chimney.”

“Is that what you guys saw?” Theo strongly asked, trying to recover from the shock of the swinging flu.

“No,” Jami answered for Nell, “This wasn’t it.”

Safe from danger’s way Dr. Marrow stared incredulously at the gently swaying flu. He was shocked. How could it have released all of a sudden? Surely no human could’ve done it. What could he or Luke have done for someone to want to have killed them? But maybe a ghost… No, Dr. Marrow wiped the childish thought from his mind, Jami’s quite an influence on me. There’s no way it could’ve been a ghost.

Luke also stared breathlessly at the large ornament, confused and deep in thought. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest. If he hadn’t have moved out of the flu’s way, he would’ve been decapitated! And Luke liked his head; he wanted to keep it. “Are you ok?” Theo asked as she and Jami rushed over to him.

Luke looked at her with an expression of shock, “No I’m not ok! Did you see that thing? It nearly killed me!”

“Sorry!” Theo said with the same anger, “I was just wondering!”

Luke turned to Jami, “I’m surprised you didn’t laugh at that.”

Jami looked at Luke with a mixture of anger and surprise, “Why? How could I find something like you getting killed funny?!?”

“I don’t know but it seems like you can somehow.”

“Are you still upset about the scare? Really Luke, that is so childish! You should know that I couldn’t find a loved one’s death funny! I can’t even stand seeing you like this!”

Jami turned her back to Luke and felt her anger building. As she said that Luke felt rather stupid with what he said. In fact, he hurt more now than when he thought about the flu nearly killing him. He then meekly said to Jami, “Sorry, it’s just I nearly got killed. You saw me. I mean, you would feel the same way if it happened to you.”

He then began to exit to another room while he reached up and grabbed his head; as if he could just tear out the exhaustion in it. “It’s this freaky house!” He thought aloud. The group was quiet for a moment. Some because of Jami admitting she liked Luke, others puzzled about the swinging flu. As Luke passed by the stairs he noticed something was written over the large picture of Hugh Kraine.

“Hey guys! I think you should come and look at this!” He called out.

As soon as he said that everybody came running, curious about what Luke had found. As they reached the top of the stairs though, what they saw surprised them. In bright red letters painted over the picture it read:

Welcome Home Eleanor

“Welcome home Eleanor? What’s that mean?” Luke asked puzzled.

As Nell read it she felt anger arise in her. “Who did this?” She demanded.

Theo looked over at Luke, “Was this one of your sick jokes Luke?”

Luke looked at Theo incredulously, “What? Come on you guys, give me some credit! I think I have a better sense of humor than that! Did you really think I wrote that?”

“You found it, you could’ve done it!”

“Oh with what? The twelve-foot ladder I keep in my back pocket? Maybe it was you Theo! Your the artist!”

“Me? I wouldn’t do something like this!”

“I want to know who did this right now!” Nell demanded, “How about you Jami? It seems like something you’d do! Ever since you let that tarantula loose in my bed I wouldn’t be surprised if it was you!”

“How could you blame me?!?” Jami replied with pure rage, “I thought family stuck up for each other! You of all people should know I wouldn’t dare do something like that!”

Luke saw the pain in Jami’s eyes, he turned to Nell, “Leave her alone! Even I know she wouldn’t do something like this!”

Nell still felt the anger in her, it had to be somebody. She searched frantically each face, hoping an answer would come. “Did you do this Theo?”

“No!! Maybe it was you!” Theo said in disgust.

“How dare you accuse me of writing this! What would I want to write this for?”

“I don’t know! Maybe you want to be the center of attention!”

Dr. Marrow watched the conflict break out between his patients. He was exceptionally glad he asked Mr. Dudley to paint some words on the wall. But why he would paint on the picture Dr. Marrow didn’t know. After all, he was the caretaker for the house. And why “Welcome Home Eleanor”? It didn’t make sense, but it got the same reaction he was looking for, and that’s good enough. As he put on his acting skills he asked, “Come on let’s stop this. Now who wrote it?”

Each of his patients looked away, all sure they didn’t write it.

Dr. Marrow looked at each one, trying to decide whom he would blame. “Jami, was it you? It seems like you were the one trying to make us believe your story was true last night, did you carry it on to today?”

“No!!!!!!! There’s no way I’d do something like this! I’m not that desperate!”

“Whoever did this,” Nell said also choking back tears, “It’s cruel.”

She then exited the room with Theo following behind. Jami watched them with tear stricken eyes. She then looked over at Dr. Marrow. His face was straight and serious, almost accusing. “I didn’t do it!” She exclaimed and began to retreat to the Greek room in which she and Luke had visited last night. “Jami wait!” Luke called after her. But she turned around and said without stopping, “Leave me alone! All of you! I just want to be alone!”

As Luke watched her leave the living room he felt pain and anger rising in him. He turned to Dr. Marrow, “It’s all your fault! If you hadn’t have blamed her like that everything would be ok! And you know what I think? I think you did this! You’re up to something David Marrow! And believe me, I will find out what it is! That’s a promise!”

Luke then stormed out of the room and continued on till he reached his own room. Dr. Marrow stood there for a moment in the silent room. Maybe his acting was too good. He defiantly didn’t mean for Luke to get mad. He didn’t realize that Luke didn’t like to see Jami hurt. This could ruin the whole experiment with Luke trying to figure out his true reason for bringing them here. Dr. Marrow just shrugged his shoulders. It was probably just a threat of anger, I’m sure he really didn’t mean it. He ignored the threat besides; he needed to find Mr. Dudley to congratulate him. But what he didn’t notice was that as he walked out into the hall next to his feet were a set of children’s footprints left in blood.


Dr. Marrow found Mr. Dudley in the greenhouse busy with taking care of the many overgrown vines that adorned the glass wall. He then walked over to him and said, “Hello Mr. Dudley. I just came to say that you did a great job on the message that you left for my patients.” Mr. Dudley turned around with a look of complete confusion on his face. By his reaction Dr. Marrow began to ramble on, “Although I don’t understand why you put ‘Welcome home Eleanor’ on there. It sure worked well to arouse suspicion.”

Mr. Dudley continued his look of confusion, “What are you talking about?”

Dr. Marrow began to exchange the same confused look. “Remember, I told you to paint some words on to the wall to scare the patients?”

“I didn’t do that. I wasn’t able to find any paint to do the letters.”

With that Mr. Dudley continued his work on the vines. Dr. Marrow just stood there; surprise and confusion covered his face. He was totally lost, if it wasn’t Mr. Dudley then who was it? It must’ve been one his patients. It had to have been. Because of course a ghost couldn’t have done it. Maybe Jami really did do it. Or maybe it was Luke. It had to be one of the two. They’re the only ones that would make sense to have done it. This would be something he would have to further investigate.

Dr. Marrow looked over at Mr. Dudley who seemed to have forgotten he was still in the room. “Um, Mr. Dudley? Hello? Are you listening to me? Good. Let’s keep this little accident under raps ok? I don’t want my patients to be distracted by the thought of ghosts and all that stuff. I have them where I want them.”

“Fine.” Mr. Dudley grumbled, showing he had no interest in what Dr. Marrow was saying and that he didn’t want to be bothered while clipping the long vines.

“So, uh, could you go ahead and wash the paint off the picture? I don’t think it needs to stay up there long.”

Mr. Dudley didn’t answer. He mainly wanted Dr. Marrow to leave. Dr. Marrow took his silence as a yes. He then began to walk out of the room, a steady pride rising in him. Mr. Dudley will wash the writing off the wall. I’m sure everybody will be over it by then. Yes, I have everything under control… Everything is under control.


Dr. Marrow left Luke’s room quickly; though he tried to interview him Luke still seemed upset about their latest mishap. And he obviously wasn’t about to talk to him. Dr. Marrow had thought that if he interviewed each person he might figure out who exactly did it. But each attempt became as unsuccessful as the last.

Theo wouldn’t listen thinking that Dr. Marrow had decided it was her, and as mentioned Luke wouldn’t even bother to open his door to him. The one he got the most information out of was Eleanor. They were able to take a walk in the greenhouse and she also expressed how she felt about the whole ordeal.

Although Dr. Marrow was able to understand Eleanor’s background a little more; it still hadn’t helped him find any clues to where he could point fingers, and for that he was deeply disappointed. Unaware, he found he was just coming up on the room Jami had run to. But he wondered if she was still there. It seemed almost too quiet for a human to have collected their thoughts there. He peeked inside and found Jami resting her back against a corner. She was awfully quiet, and didn’t even acknowledge the presence of Dr. Marrow.

Dr. Marrow felt almost intimidated by her quietness and focus. He cautiously stepped into the room careful not to break her concentration, which seemed like it was on the carving of Artemis. “Do you people understand what it means when someone says ‘I want to be alone’?” She asked without facing him. Dr. Marrow didn’t reply, unsure if he was meant to answer the question. But before he could speak Jami let out a deep sigh.

She finally looked up at him and said, “I know you think I did it but I didn’t.”

“Oh Jami-” Dr. Marrow began trying to find an excuse.

“Now I know I tried real hard to make you believe me last night but I don’t hold grudges like that. And if I did do it, I wouldn’t put ‘Welcome Home Eleanor’ on there. That just doesn’t make sense.”

“I’m not here because I think it was you Jami, I’m here to see how you are. You’ve seemed to take this all more seriously than Eleanor has. I have to say, I’m a little worried about you.”

“Do you think I’m making this up? Do you think I’m just acting like I’m afraid?”

“Now Jami I didn’t say that-”

“All my life I’ve been afraid! Afraid of the dark, afraid of what might be hiding in my closet, afraid that in the middle of the night a ghost will come and kill me…You don’t know what I’ve been through, and this house tops it all off. I’m experienced with things like this. I don’t enjoy my encounters with ghosts! The only time I haven’t been afraid has been when I’m with Luke.”

Dr. Marrow looked into her eyes, feeling like he would be able to tell that she was lying. But he only saw pain and fear and a glimmer of hope that her nightmare of hauntings would end. At that moment Dr. Marrow realized that Jami couldn’t have wrote on the painting. She looked down at her feet, and then looked back into Dr. Marrow’s face.

“You know when the temperature drops quickly? Or when you feel the prickles on your neck or the hairs on your arm stand up? That’s them. Whether you like it or not they’re always near.”

Dr. Marrow didn’t quite understand what she meant, “What are you talking about Jami?”

“Last night, that’s how I knew that a ghost was trying to get to Nell and Theo. I feel that chill often in my own apartment. I feel it here.”

“What about your visions? Have those happened before?”

“No, I’ve never had visions before. I don’t quite understand it myself. But I know it has something to do with this house. Dr. Marrow? Have you ever had the feeling like something was telling you to leave?”-He shook his head no-“Well, I think we need to leave today. If something happened again tonight, or even tomorrow night, and we wanted to leave, we couldn’t. We’d be trapped.”

“But Jami, what would happen that would be so bad that we’d want to leave?”

“I don’t know. But I feel something coming. I think something bad is gonna happen tomorrow night and I think it might be best if we leave before it happens.”

Dr. Marrow thought deeply about Jami being afraid. He wondered about her past, “Jami, are you sure those horror movies aren’t what scares you? I know they can make you afraid of things, it happened to me once.”

“Really Dr. Marrow? What happened?”

He chuckled. “It was back when I was ten. I had just finished watching my first scary movie and it was time to go to bed. Well, I couldn’t sleep that night and I defiantly couldn’t have the lights turned off. But my parents insisted that I did. So I kept a flashlight with me the whole night thinking everything was some ghost or monster after me. Then, I see this faint object next to my wall that looked like a little boy. I screamed and quickly turned on my flashlight only to find it was my reflection in the mirror.”

Jami smiled. “No, I know it’s not the movies. It’s just, ever since I’ve moved into my apartment I hear these strange noises and a few times doors have opened by their selves. But, I’ve gotten used to it; it’s just another day in my life.” She then looked back at the carving of Artemis.

“Jami?” Dr. Marrow asked bringing her attention toward him again, “Why do you think all this is happening to you and Nell?”

“I don’t know. I guess it’s just a family thing,” She joked, “but you really don’t think we should leave here?”

Dr. Marrow began to leave the room with Jami following behind, “No, why should we? There’s no solid reason why.”

Right before Jami exited the doors of the room, she looked back to the carving of Artemis with a look of regret on her face that said, “sorry”. With that, Artemis lowered her head and looked away.


Jami walked into the Red Room, it had been awhile since she had been in there. Although the faces of children still made her nervous, she felt like she had to talk to Nell. As she looked around the room she noticed her cousin resting on her bed, most likely deep in thought about who wrote on the painting. Silently she walked over to her.

“Nell?” she said. Eleanor jumped at how Jami suddenly broke the silence.

“Don’t scare me like that!”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to. I’ve been wanting to talk to you.”

“Really? Would this be a confession about the writing?”

“No, I thought I told you I didn’t do it! Come on Nell, please just believe me, I’m your cousin for crying out loud!”

“Oh alright. What is it your wanting to talk to me about?” she asked sitting up and patting the bed for Jami to come and sit down.

“Well, I don’t know if you have thought about it but I don’t think Hugh Kraine was as nice as he seemed. There’s something more about him wanting children. I haven’t quite figured it out yet but I know something happened. Because…you need to save the children, Eleanor.”

Nell’s reaction to this was a lot different than when Luke mentioned it. She looked at Jami with a look of fear and knowledge. She then said, “Jami, I have something I want to tell you.”

“I’m listening.”

“Last night after everybody went back to bed, I saw something.”

“What?”

“I couldn’t go to sleep and when I rolled over I saw a child’s face on the pillow next to me. It said, ‘Find us Eleanor.’ The it left.”

Jami in amazement looked down at the ground, her eyes seemed to search the floor although she was looking for nothing. The children, they were hidden! Hugh Kraine probably killed them and hid them somewhere. She saw that happen before in one of her horror movies. Or maybe his butler did it. That’s also happened before.

“You know what we gotta do then Nell?”

“Oh no. Not now Jami. Let me rest some. I feel so exhausted! Come back for me in a few minutes.”

“Alright. See ya Nell!”

“Bye Jami!”

But right before Jami walked out of the room Nell called out to her. “Yeah?” She answered. “I’m sorry for bothering you so much about how ghosts aren’t real. Maybe I was just scared. But I know how you feel now. We can be afraid together.”

Jami smiled. “Apology accepted.” Although, as she rested in that Greek room watching Artemis, she realized that she wasn’t afraid anymore.


After leaving Nell’s room, Jami decided to rest herself. The past few hours really had gotten her exhausted. So she decided to take her nap on the couch in the living room. She knew everybody needs some time alone, especially after what happened. She wasn’t worried about the fireplace or it’s flu, for some reason for once, she felt relaxed.

Although she couldn’t help but get the feeling to look for herself in the pile of soot and ashes, there was something about it that made the hairs on her arms stand up. She simply shrugged it away. She could always check it when she wakes up. As she laid her head on the arm of the couch she looked up at the large painting of Hugh Kraine.

Mr. Dudley wasted no time in cleaning it up. There was not a single trace that there had ever even been writing on it. She looked at the face; it seemed to have taken the worst of the cleaning. It looked smeared and there was a long line of a drip of paint. His skin color had faded and his eyes had darkened and it didn’t seem like he had lips, just teeth. It looked a lot like…a skeleton’s head.

Jami was too tired to think deeply about it. So she just closed her eyes relaxed on the comforting couch.


Luke eagerly searched every room that he passed for signs of Jami. Surely he could talk to her now, she couldn’t stay upset for this long could she? He began to loose his patience with looking for her. Maybe he should hide somewhere and let Jami search frantically for him. He soon came upon the entrance to the living room and walked in.

He wasn’t planning on finding Jami here so he continued to walk across to the next hall. But the sight of movement from his peripheral vision stopped him. Luke looked out over the rail and found her sound asleep on a couch. He smiled. Then walked over to the banisters, looked both ways for anyone that might see him, and then slid down it. As he reached Jami he sat down beside her.

Luke didn’t bother to wake her up. He enjoyed just watching her peacefully sleep. At times like this he wondered, Wow, she’s everything I’ve wanted. But, does she feel the same way I do? As if his thoughts stirred her sleep, she woke up. They both smiled. “Well, I thought you told me you got enough sleep last night.” Luke jokingly told her.

“I did but these ghosts really take it out of ya.”

“A ghost taking away your energy?”

“There is such a thing, it’s called a Boo-Hag.”

“A what?”

“A Boo-Hag. It’s kinda like a vampire except instead of sucking your blood it sucks your energy.”

“Well that sucks.”

Jami laughed. “But anyway, when you’re asleep it takes your energy away and that’s why sometimes when you wake up you still feel tired when you’ve actually had enough sleep. I think one got me while I was awake.”

“Maybe I don’t have insomnia then! Maybe I just have a Boo-Hag following me like a black rain cloud.”

Jami smiled.

Luke then began to wonder something that stuck out in his mind ever since the painting accident.

“Do I really have that bad of a sense of humor?”

Jami’s eyes searched the room, “Uhhh…No. You have a great sense of humor!”

“Come on, tell me the truth. Do I?”

“Yes. But at least you’re cute!” She then planted a kiss on his cheek.

He smiled, not sure if that was a complement or a put-down. He thought it was both.

“But you’re still funny. At least I think you are.” She positively said.

“Thanks.”

“Hey Luke? Does all of this ever remind you of the song “Hotel California” by the Eagles? Or at least, some of it?”

“Yea in some odd way. Though we’re not prisoners here. And we haven’t gotten so scared that we ran for the door.”

“True. But it does seem like Nell’s heard voices in the night.”

“Huh?”

“You know, There was voices down in Corte Voir, thought I heard them say…”

“No I mean what do you mean by Nell’s heard voices?”

“Oh, well, she told me that last night she heard this child say, ‘Find us, Eleanor.’ Don’t ask me, with my imagination I might get you off on the wrong track.”

“Find us Eleanor?” Luke thought aloud, he then remembered what Jami had told him when that carving of Artemis talked to her, “And then ‘Save the children, tell Eleanor.’ I tell ya, there’s something up about those children that Hugh Kraine build this house for. And what does Eleanor have to do with it?”

“That’s what I wonder. You know what I think? I think Hugh Kraine killed the children and hid them somewhere and the children’s spirits want us to find it to ruin Kraine’s reputation.”

“You’re right about your imagination. And can I remind you of something? Hughie Kraine’s dead. How can they ruin his reputation when he’s not around to be blamed?”

“I don’t know, I’m still putting this together.”

Jami and Luke soon felt a cold chill. She scooted closer to him and wrapped her arms around one of his. “Phew, It’s cold in here,” She announced. “Yea,” Luke agreed. For some reason, they both got a feeling to look over at the fireplace. Jami once again got the urge to poke through the ashes. “Luke, do you have a feeling where you want to look through the soot and ashes?” She asked.

“Yeah, you do too?”

She nodded her head.

While her arms were still tightly clasped onto his, they got up and began to walk over to the fireplace. They cautiously crept up right next to it and peered over it. Jami then let go of Luke, even though the temperature had dropped dramatically in the past few minutes. As if it was a snake about to bite, Jami hesitantly placed her foot on one of the doors to cross over.

Suddenly the roaring noise of last night came again, but this time, it sounded angrier. “Come on Jami, step back. I don’t think you should be on that!” Luke told her glancing around the room. She smiled, only because he heard the noise, “What are you talking about?”

“Didn’t you hear that noise?”

“What noise?”

“Seriously, did you hear it or not?”

“I did.”

“Then step back!!!”

“No, I’m not afraid.”

The roar grew louder and angrier.

“Please Jami, for me?” Luke pleaded.

“The only way we can beat him is to resist.”

Then, the roar grew stronger and the door she was standing on quickly flipped open and then shut, sending Jami on top of Luke. “Well, at least you got off it,” Luke said positively. But the roaring didn’t cease. A new noise was added soon, the sound of footsteps. “Ok, now I’m scared.” Jami admitted.

It seemed to come from the left hall. They watched it intently. Luke though, soon noticed something else. “Good God!” He announced. Every statue and carving in the whole room was staring at them; even the lions looked down from their cement post. But they lost their fear of the statues as the footsteps had drawn so close that it seemed like any second someone would walk out. Someone did walk out-

It was Theo. As she entered the room the roaring stopped and the statues gained their original position. Luke and Jami both relaxed from being tensed up and let out a sigh of relief. Breathlessly Luke began to ask her, “Did you? Did you-awe, just forget it!”

“What? What’s the matter with you two? You look like you’ve seen a ghost!” Theo asked.

Jami just slightly nodded her head, realizing that it was just her and Luke that saw and heard what all that happened. There must’ve been something in the fireplace, she thought, that Hughie didn’t want us to see. Theo then walked down the stairs and began to head toward the dining room. She looked back at Jami and Luke, they hadn’t moved. “What are you two waiting on? It’s time for supper!” She informed them, and then disappeared into the next room.

“She’s right,” Jami agreed looking at her watch, “We’d better go eat.” She then got up, followed by Luke. But as she began to walk, Luke grabbed her shoulder. “Jami, I’m sorry for telling you I didn’t believe you all those times. But uh, don’t tell anyone this happened. I want to remain one of the sane people.”-He then realized what he said-“I mean that in the most positive way that I can!”

She play pushed him in the shoulder, “Right.”

“Really! I do!”

“Oh, I believe you Luke. I believe you all the way.”

She then began to walk off towards the kitchen.

“Jami, you’re not very convincing! Jami? Wait for me!” He then hurried off after her.


Night had fallen on the old Hill House. It’s massive structures darkened with only the light of the moon to make it appear in the dark. Each curve and arch had a dramatic shadow making it look even more gothic and spooky. It remained solemn, even the lamppost gave a creepy look to the house. It wasn’t welcoming in the night, it looked almost forbidden.

The hallways also were dead silent. It looked almost chilling to walk along them. The large beams towering over each side of the hall created more of a darkness on the burgundy floor. Two sconces shone their light on the other end of the intimidating hall. Though they didn’t illuminate your way, they did at least show you there was a door. And the statue that seemed to almost guard the passage to the hallway looked as if to huddle in his clothing for warmth.

The door of purgatory in the living room seemed to beckon even more with darkness filling every crevice. It looked lonely; it looked like it needed another soul for its collection.

Then there was the portrait of Hugh Kraine. His new skeleton head surveying the whole room. It seemed to almost smile at the silence and that night had come, for, night is when spirits can roam freely.


Jami stared into Luke’s blue eyes. “It might sound stupid to ask this but why’d you come to this insomnia experiment?” Luke inquired. “What do you think? To cure my insomnia.” She replied. It was only half of the truth. Luke seemed to be able to realize it too. “No, I mean, like why didn’t you come signed in instead of just inviting yourself?”

“Well, one day Nell called me and told me about this insomnia thing in the paper and invited me to come with her, she said since I was being told at a late time that there would be no use in signing in. But the weird thing was that when I got to her house yesterday she said that she never called me. I didn’t believe her, she’d never admitted she liked me but I thought the ‘I didn’t call you’ excuse was just some cover up to hide that she really did like me.”

“I’m glad you came. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you here.” Luke’s heavy eyes closed but he quickly forced himself to open them again. Jami could realize he was fighting sleep. Amazingly this house had really cured their insomnia. Luke finally reached a decision, “I’m still gonna be listening to you, but I’m just gonna rest my eyes for a little while, k?”

“K.”

With that, he lied down on his bed.

There was silence for a moment. Jami wasn’t sure what to talk about. She didn’t know why but she felt more like she should stay with Nell for tonight. It was tough for her to believe that it had only been yesterday since she first arrived here. It already felt like she had spent her whole life in this house. And to her the most exciting part was that she was beginning to figure out the truth behind these old Victorian walls.

She brushed Luke’s bangs from his eyes. Then leaned forward and kissed him on the forehead. He gave a wry smile as she sat back up. She began to speak saying, “Luke, I-” But Luke showed no sign that he was paying attention. “Luke?” She began; soon her voice was noticeable of agitation, “Luke!” He didn’t flinch, though his smile was still on his face. He was asleep.

Jami chuckled and shook her head in amazement. Once Luke gets past his insomnia he can sleep anywhere at anytime. Besides, she told herself, this is a great time for me to go to the Red Room. She winced at the name of their room, the Red Room. It was red, but it also reminded her of blood. She didn’t like the thought of blood. She always connected it with murder. Gee, maybe I do watch TV too much.

She then walked out of Luke’s room half regretting she ever left. She wasn’t aware of what would happen tonight, or even tomorrow night.