Urban Legend ♡

LOUIS' POV

With enough shut eye for at least the next 3 days, I woke up anything but exhausted and willing for adventure. The sweet scent of butter swam around the cabin and I knew for sure that Liam must have been up making pancakes for breakfast. Crawling out of bed and throwing a new shirt on, I wandered into the kitchen, pulling a chair up and yawning gently.

"Morning Li."
"Morning."

I saw that Liam had already gotten the paper and decided to flick through it, noticing on the front page a story of a hit and run.

"Must have been an early wake up for you to get this?" I murmured.
"Actually it was on the doorstep this morning."
"A delivery?" I asked.
"I don't know" Liam replied shrugging his shoulders, "Seems a little odd for a cabin don't ya think?"

"Morning fellas!" Stephanie chimed in, taking a seat beside me.
"Sleep well?" I asked with a smile.
"Would have been better if you didn't take up the entire bed."
"Oh come on.. you could have cuddled in." I teased.
"Creep.." she responded with a smile. "So what's for breakfast Liam?"
"Pancakes, and then-- I was thinking we could go for a wander."
"Sounds good. I'll go wake up Taylah!"

The morning seemed to flash through with the blink of an eye - breakfast served, showered and dressed, the girls complaining about how their hairdryers didn't work and knocks at the front door Liam and I heard which eventuated with no one being there when we checked. Getting out of the cabin was probably the best thing we could do today, with only a few weeks left in paradise away from the city, parents and problems. We needed to make the most of it.

The lake shone a royal icy blue shade as we walked by, making it look inviting yet tranquil. Mental note; swim after lunch. The rocky terrain crackled under our feet and the tree top canopy hid a majority of the daylight that tried to filter into the forest.

"So did we actually hit anything last night?" Stephanie asked. I watched as she slowed her pace down to walk beside me and let Liam and Taylah lead the trek.
"No..." I replied, it was the truth. Sort of.
"So what was with the blood?" she poked, "And the officer?"
"What was with you enjoying the kiss last night?" I asked, changing the subject.
"I... I didn't" she snapped in defence, "You're so immature" she called back, walking in front of me.

"Watch your step..."

"Huh?" I called, standing my ground. My head snapped up looking into the air and treetops before searching behind me.
"What's the deal Louis?" Liam called out a few hundred feet in front of me "Keep up."
"But I...?"
"You what? Heard something?" Taylah teased poking her tongue out.
"No... I... don't worry."

And surely enough, I caught up to them.

----------

"So where's this place you're taking us to Stephanie?" Taylah whined, having complained of already walking to far. "We should have taken the car."
"The cars to big to fit on the walking track" Stephanie explained, "Plus we're basically here."

Pushing some shrubs out of the way, she lead us through a tiny graveyard filled with tombstones which gated a dilapidated mansion you'd think was the backdrop for a Tim Burton film. Liam's eyes widened at the sight, his camera been pulled out and he started snapping away - he loved this stuff. The air was stale and there was hardly a breeze. I wandered over to the group, taking note of the tombstone - many unmarked, and stopped just behind the girls.

"So who's coming with me?" Steph asked with enthusiasm.
"I um... I might pass" Taylah whispered.
"Oh come on Tay..."
"I wanna wander around and take a look at the gardens. Maybe later?" she tried.
"You mean you walked all this way for nothing?"
"Yeah, come on babe" Liam coaxed, "You're not scared are you?"
"No." Tay replied, I could see her shaking slightly though. Time to intercept.
"I'll go" I mustered up, "Liam and Taylah can stay here and once the coast is clear - we'll send those two in and swap posts."
"Fine" Stephanie sighed, "Come on then."

The front door creaked as we forced it open and wandered through, a thick inch dust layer had scattered itself comfortably over the place - the I'm assuming once red stair runner was now a misty shade of grey. Portraits lined the hallway and the lounge room was only just interpreted by the fireplace and old furniture which had for sure seen better days.

"How beautiful is it?" Stephanie asked, twirling around, "I wish I had a place like this."
"It's... wow..." I let out, staring at one of the portraits. A young girl, black hair, green eyes, pearly smile. Next to her, a young boy. Brown caramel coloured hair, blue eyes, no smile at all. Reaching up to dust off the bottom of the frame so I could read the plaque, my fingers traced over a name that was all too familiar. Mason.

"Hey, these photos have your last name", I called out to Stephanie who was now seated in a chair, pretending to be upper class with the glasses she'd found and pouring her self and imaginary drink.

"Coincidence?" she called out, "My family's had the land for generations."
"Coincidence the girl in this picture looks like you?"
"She does not" Stephanie argued, getting up and walking over to me. "I... um... Louis I think you're bleeding."

I looked down to notice a small pool of blood on the floor and checked myself, definitely wasn't mine.

"Must have walked into something" I lied. It was the same amount of blood Liam and I found out the front of the car last night.
"Come on... We'll get you checked out."
"But we still have the rest of the house..."
"Duh, of course - the bathroom should have something in there I can fix you up with."

Wandering around we eventually found the bathroom. It wasn't hard to - just look for the only room in the house that didn't have a bed in it. The tap was running when we stepped in, Stephanie reached over to turn it off.

"Sleeve up", she ordered.
"Yes ma'am."

Hunting through the medicine cabinet she stumbled across some gauze and medical tape.
"I wonder how long this has been here for?" she questioned, looking down at the supplies in her hand.
"Just... come on, I wanna get back to exploring."
"Hold your horses son."

Wrapping my arm up the best she could, I dropped my sleeve down. I jumped as we realised the bathroom door had shut on us and the tap began running by itself again. We shot each other a worried look and began trying to force the door open. All effort and backs into it, it wouldn't budge.

"Louis what the hell is going on?"
"I've got no idea."

Water began to spill over the edge of the sink and crawl along the floor. It wasn't long before we were standing in a few inch deep puddle; shoes wet and the water only rising.

"Louis hurry."
"I'm trying.."
"Well try harder."
"I am..."

The argument was going nowhere. A final jam into the door with my shoulder and the old oak swung forward. The escape path was clearly visible and the water slowly stopped running. I turned my head to see Stephanie staring at the sink, and grabbed her hand, pulling her out of the room.

"Don't tell anyone?" I asked her, my breathing hitched. I could see her heart almost beating through her shirt. Her eyes had turned a darker shade of green - I'd only ever seen this when we were watching horror movies.
"Okay" she nodded, "Our secret."
"Good, let's go."

"So what took you two so long?" Liam teased as we wandered back out the front door, shutting it behind us. "Get up to anthing?"

I saw Taylah give Stephanie that look they always exchanged when they had gossip to share and the normal response of a smile in return.

"Nothing... let's go."
"But I didn't even get the chance to go in!" Liam argued.
"Let's go." I pushed again, "I'll explain tonight."
"Sounds like a good idea" Taylah cut in, "I'm not really in the mood for something like this Liam."
"Fine.." Liam let out in annoyance, "There better be a good reason behind it."

Notes

oooooh, what's the story behind this house?
And what's with the blood?

I'll update soon my loves, thank you for continuing reading :) x