The rolling of thunder had begun to mesh with the rolling of dice. Birch didn't dare look back at the two whom she could feel their animosity. Thankfully a distraction arrived to make them forget that for a moment. A door whose carvings imitated curling vines with pointed leaves. Lou obliged to help but Shaliver said he would, saying he was going to "make up" for earlier. The two were about to start something but Birch coughed into her hand. She dismissively waved her hand and pulled at the door.

Huh. This is heavy.

Continuing to put her whole weight into the door handle was exhausting. When looking back to her friend and/or roommate she found them just leaning against the other wall. She signaled for help but Lou simply smiled. She sighed as she glanced over to the faux-cat. Shaliver appeared just as uneager to assist, evening using his tail to give her a thumbs up. Strange. They grew more amused the longer she attempted to get the damn door open. She continued this for another minute before eventually relenting. Asking politely the two looked at each other and nodded. Lou strutted over and easily pushed the large, ornate door. Birch didn't even give him a reaction, something that still had him snickering.

Candles suddenly lit up as the chamber doors wheezed open. It was rank with what was equivalent to a compost bin. Pumpkin guts were spilled all over the browned grass. Knives were plunged deep into the craniums of the festive gourd which vary in shape and size. One was big enough to sit in, to which Shaliver nibbled at. In the center was a key in a dirt filled pot, its eyes glowed festively green. Upon closer inspection the design's inspiration was of the modern day jack-o-lanterns. Wriggling it out of the vines rooting it she takes the key. There was a gentle shaking of the house which subsided soon after.

The announcer dryly said, "Player 1 has acquired the Pumpkin Key." Shaliver noticed the rather large pumpkin he was eating flinched for a moment, the candle inside attempting to light. He would watch it try once more but he swatted the candle into submission. The other two didn't seem to notice when heading for the door. Before exiting the distant dice rolled and far off the sounds of the announcer echoed.

Checking the surrounding rooms they make an interesting discovery and clue. That based on the closest key the areas around it will more subtly show it through their design motifs. Like the wooden desks would have the same vines as the door and wallpapers would show repeated images of pumpkins. This could help figure out when they're getting closer to new keys. Again the announcer's voice echoes in the distance so she walks in its general direction. As they went they passed a suit of armor, a classic one for teen mystery solving cartoons of the 70s. Lou stopped to eye it up and down. He reaches for the blade's hilt, pulling at it like he was the future king of Camelot. It doesn't take long before with a tug it is pulled out.

Lou lays flat on his back as the announcer booms, "You've acquired the knight's blade." Getting up from the ground he inspects the sword while nodding in approval. Swiping the hilt as well he begins to jokingly pose with them earning a giggle out of her, and Shaliver to his oblivity.

Now the once muffled announcer was a bit louder yet still far off.

"AHA!" she says running towards the announcers voice. The two follow behind, only pausing when the announcer is getting more clear. No matter what scares and traps got in their way they trailblazed to the announcer's incoming voice. Lou and Shaliver soon caught on and made even more of an effort to keep up with the increasingly fast girl. This had the unfortunate effect of them slamming into Presely at the next corner. Shaliver had thankfully dodged it and watched as the trio immediately realized who they had just tackled. Lou's arms crushed the three into a tight embrace, happy tears running down his face.

Presely is quick to catch them up on her side. Thankfully she rolled her way out of the hell pit she was dumped in. Didn't take long before finding herself in a stitched together hallway radiating a rotting scent. She would have stayed longer if not for the mad man cackling nearby. Of course the horseman thing was certainly another motivator to leave.

Her eyes light up, and excitedly she pulls something from an invisible pocket. From complete nothingness a tall gothic style scythe is revealed. It was bigger than Birch and Presely stacked together. Her face curled into an eerie smile while twirling it in her hand. The two other teens were both equally fascinated and concerned.

Birch and Lou then catch her up, leaving out the arguments of course. Taking out their key, Presely excitedly shows off the one she had found. It was golden plated with an Egyptian mask staring solemnly back at them with ruby eyes. She mentioned passing through there before making it to this section, loving the Egyptian flair to no surprise. Birch thought back to the VHS.

"That's It! These keys are," she giggles, "-the KEY!" Lou smiled while Shaliver groaned in the background. "Technically we're still playing the game. That means according to the rules if we collect all the keys and find the door then we can go free!" Their eyes brightened with hope.

"But would that also apply that there would still be a time limit?" Shaliver chimes in. This immediately shatters the group's hope to pieces. And as if to haunt them even further the announcer echoed, "30 minutes remaining wanderers..." The three friends pout at the faux-cat who just shrugs.

"Either way we're two keys down, with only four more keys we can get out!" The three triumphantly high fived, Shaliver sneaking his tail in as well. Birch takes out the rulebook to see just which keys there were. She glances to see the tension between the faux-cat and Lou had appeared to cool off. She sighs in relief as Presely comes to look at their new objective. But as she made her way the four heard the familiar rattling of dice and taking of a card.

"Player 2 picks up the Curse Card: Vampire's Kiss." Presely freezes, the page she holds crumpling under her fingers tightened grasp. She gives Birch a concerned gaze, her lips a thin line on her cheery face.

Something thudded behind them, followed by a pained gasp. Lou was hunched over on the ground with both hands covering his mouth. They closed in to check but they jumped as purple ooze began spilling from between the gaps of his fingers. All they could conjure to do was back away while their friend groaned in agony. Shaliver sniffed at the pool before taking the moment to step back.

"Blood."

Presely swipes the book to check for the card's effect. WOOSH! TINK! An arrow plants itself through the book, thudding to the wooden floor. Slowly they turn to see its owner. Their lower half was a battle battered horse, with stiches barely containing their inards. Sewn into the horses back was a knight; who only had everything form his torse up. Their armor whines as they preps anothet arrow but the four break for it before the creature gets another shot. 

No one dare to look back, only knowing the continued pursuit from the sounds of heavy galloping and metal rattling. Lou straggles along while still trying to keep the ooze from escaping his mouth. Shaliver kept close to the back, occasionally throwing the set pieces at incoming arrows. However some had nearly cut Birch's ponytail off, cutting into her check as it missed. Suddenly as they are reaching a two pathed hallway the hunched creature magically appears in front. Presely and Birch scootch past it into the right hall, while Shaliver and Lou stumble into the left. Presely is about to go back but the hunched creature pursues them, forcing them to abandon their other friends.

Presely and Birch are continuously chased, having to escape through doorways and halls. The hunched creature narrowly grabs them over the sounds of rolling dice. In the dining hall they crawl under the tables while the monster attempts to follow. Only once he looks under the table cloth the two girls are gone. The other door squeaks and shuts loudly. The girls continue to searching for a better hiding spot in spite of their failing rolls.

Jumping into another room they only find that there are no exits. No other exits or windows anywhere. They were trapped. A shadow crawls from under the door, almost reaching the two. Both of the girls hugged each other while the hunched creature outside let out soggy breaths. Slamming on the door appeared to do nothing aside from shake dust off the raised ceiling. Iron groaned but held strong against the beast's anger. Moments later the hitting stopped, followed by the sounds of footsteps moving away. The two let out a sigh before taking in their new surroundings...