Alex brashly pushed the door at the end of the hall open. Despite her bravado, she wished she hadn’t gone in there. What was probably once a trophy room showing off the spoils of hunts gone by, it was now a macabre display of weathered and rotten taxidermied beasts.

She shone her light around, trying not to linger too much. She didn’t even know what she was supposed to be looking for, or was the journey supposed to be the treasure?

“Talk about creepy,” she said as she walked around. Lightning flashed again, illuminating the dark corner and revealing a giant snarling bear. A scream almost escaped her throat but she swallowed it before it could escape. At realizing what it was she chuckled to herself and got closer to examine it. It was a bit more convincing than her novelty costume.

Thunder rumbled, making her jump again. She glanced back at the bear as it toppled forward quickly and hard, slamming her to the floor. She cried out in pain as the claws slowly started to pierce the shitty material of her costume. She tried to call out for help but the bear had knocked the air from her lungs.

Off to the side, she saw a pair of legs start to enter her vision. She flailed and pushed harder on the bear but she couldn’t lift it up at all. Her biggest fear was that the claws would perforate the costume and then sink into her next. 

“Quick! Help a lass up!” Alex gasped out, only to scream weakly as the person stepped on top of the bear and pushed down. Alex moved her head to the side, out from under the bear and found herself face to face with a mask. A white rabbit mask with big black eyes staring soullessly at her.

Dash tried to force the lock on his door but it wasn’t budging. Despite the state the house was in, the door was holding fast. Alex’s scream filled the house. He looked at the hatchet in his hand and made a decision. He needed to get out of this room.

“Fuck this door! Alex!” He yelled loudly and started swinging it at the door around the handle until he could break the lock out. Chunks of wood started to chip off and fall away but the old wood was resilient and he was quickly wearing himself out. Finally, the lock seemed to move a bit and he brought his foot up and broke the handle off. 

Dash, panting and tired, ran down the hall to where Alex should be. He knocked open that door with his shoulder and raised his phone up. Illuminated within that den of horrors was a pool of blood on the ground, drag marks, and a gory looking bear standing in the corner. But no Alex. 

“Dash!”

He turned to the door at the sound of his name. No one was there but it sounded like it came from down stairs. It sounded like Jason and Daisy, where was Irene? Panicking, he rushed down stairs to find the two looking like they saw a ghost.

“Something grabbed Irene!”

“We heard Alex scream!”

They shouted at him at the same time, overloading his already terrified mind.

“Where’s Zane?” Daisy asked crying.

“Why do you have a hatchet?” Jason asked panicked.

“Calm down! We need to be calm!” Dash tried to say between the many questions. The three of them gasped and jumped as they heard another scream.

“Irene!” Jason yelled and rushed off to the direction it came from, running deeper into the mansion. Down the hallway that had the eyes and into the darkness.

“Jason! Fuck that man, we need to stick together,” Dash hissed.

“We should call the cops,” Daisy sobbed and Dash perked up. That was a brilliant idea! He looked at his phone but cursed as he saw there was no signal. Of course there fucking wasn’t.

“Look, Daisy, there’s no cell service here. I’m going to ask you to run to the police station,” Dash said as calmly and as soothingly as he could. He took her by the elbow and gently led her to the front door. Anyone could see she was second before breaking down, with the other hand he tried the knob but just like upstairs, it wasn’t opening.

“What the fuck is with this place?!” He demanded, losing his cool for a second. Daisy burst into tears and started hyperventilating. And as if things couldn’t get worse at the moment, they heard Jason scream. Dash shook his head and took off running, assuming that Daisy would follow.

She didn’t.

It was all too much for her. She whimpered and curled up in a ball at the foot of the stairs. She just wanted this nightmare to end. A pair of legs stepped in front of her, scaring her immensely. Daisy scrambled backwards up a few steps while the person leaned forward. Her hand shook as she raised her phone upward, illuminating the white rabbit mask.

Dash stopped short when he heard Daisy scream in terror. He was lost and confused and didn’t know who to go for. Ranking the lives of his friends to save was not actually something he had done before.

“Dash.”

Dash jumped again, away from a door he didn’t even realize was there. Worry, fear, and happiness washed over him at seeing Alex leaning heavily against the door frame. But then he saw the blood. Her arms were wrapped around her waist and her clothes seemed wet with it.

“Oh my god, Alex! What happened?” He asked worriedly. He put his arm around her and helped into what turned out to be the kitchen.

“Someone bloody fucking toppled a bear onto me and then proceeded to shove it deeper before dragging me away,” she gasped and hissed when he tried to move her arm.

“Did you see who it was?” He asked and she shook her head.

“Fucker was wearing a mask. Looked like a rabbit,” she panted. Dash’s heart tripled in speed. That’s what he saw in a flash in the study with him. They startled when they heard Jason scream once more.

“Go to the big lug, I’ll be here, don’t think I’d be much help,” Alex said and Dash looked unsure.

“Go!” Alex yelled and he nodded before running off.

The bleeding woman sighed and tried to get more comfortable but her wounds had sapped so much of her energy already so she just slumped to the side as she fought to keep awake.

Her eyes closed momentarily, but opened again when she heard someone enter the kitchen. Of course he came back. Always had to be a hero to the ladies. But when the figure entered her view from the dimming light of her phone, all she could see was the rabbit mask. 

Something caught the light and a harsh cut opened on her cheek, sending her face first onto the ground. Alex rolled over onto her back, gasping and hissing in pain. Once again, the white rabbit mask crouched down and leaned in close. Alex shut her eyes and fearfully whimpered.

“Jason! Where are you?” Dash yelled as he entered what looked like a tiny ballroom. In the middle of the once pristine floor was a lump that did not belong there. Dash rushed over and turned the big guy onto his back.

He fumbled his phone and managed to spot a number of injuries on Jason’s person. He looked up and saw a balcony ringing the room. It wasn’t hard to put together what happened. Jason managed to open his eyes.

“Stay…away from the rabbit,” he choked out, his breathing erratic as he slipped unconscious.

“Rabbit? You were attacked by someone in a rabbit mask too?” Dash asked but Jason’s grip on his shirt had loosened and his head dropped backwards.

“Fuck,” Dash cursed as he looked down. He had to keep himself from crying and giving into the fear. He took a few calming breaths as he laid Jason down. Shuffling in front of him drew his attention.

“You!” He hissed at seeing the figure stand there with a tilted head, wearing the stupid rabbit mask. He saw the glint of a knife, blood dripping from it.

“I’m going to kill you,” Dash growled as he gripped the hatchet tighter and stood. The rabbit figure turned and ran, Dash gave chase.

“Get back here and fight me like a man!” Dash yelled and found himself back in the foyer where he left Daisy. He seethed as he turned around to try and see where the person went.

Lighting struck outside along with thunder and he fell back as the illumination revealed Daisy to him. She was hanged from the banister upstairs. It was frightening to see her there, lifeless. His attention drew back in front of him as he saw the rabbit stand there.

He wanted to get up and attack, but there were hands gripping his shoulders, forcing him into his back. He gasped and looked up to see another rabbit mask. There were two of them?!

The other rabbit walked closer and straddled his kicking legs, pinning him down. He cursed and yelped as it raised the bloody knife. Lighting struck again, glinting off the blade, but all went black before he ever saw it come down.

The night went silent and all seemed to have gone back to normal, but Dash managed to open his eyes. Everything hurt and he knew he needed medical attention. When the hazy fog of unconsciousness dissipated he frowned. He was no longer in the foyer, but it looked more like a basement.

There were a few candles lit and he noticed the bodies of the other two men laying next to him. They started stirring and groaning and Dash’s attention was drawn to the rabbit figures in front of them. He briefly worried about where the girls were, or rather where Alex was. Daisy was dead and he’s sure Irene was too.

The taller of the rabbit persons tilted their heads and two more rabbit masks joined them. Dash wanted to speak but the tilted one removed it’s mask to reveal glowing ice blue eyes. He’s never seen this woman before. His heart started beating out of his chest as the others moved their masks too.

“Irene? Daisy? Alex? But how?” Dash asked confused. His breathing increased as he realised they looked wrong. Their eyes were glowing and Alex and Daisy looked like they were agitated.

The unknown female figure smiled, showing sharp fangs.

“Good work my dears, I think you deserve your rewards,” she said in a husky voice. Dash’s eyes widened as the men either side of him screamed. Daisy and Alex had moved so fast. Their growls drowned out by the other two screaming as the girls ripped into their necks.

Dash felt faint as blood splattered onto him and he couldn’t even scream when Irene and the other woman descended onto him.