Lines of pews faced the webbed altar. The procession was made entirely of decaying skeletons, posing in a most defeated manner. Hands over faces, in fetal positions and even embracing one another much like the two had just moments ago. Presely gently slid her finger over the nearest statue. Now her finger was even more caked in dust.

"Check out their clothes." The strawberry blonde pointed to their skeleton roomies. Some appeared to have worn suits from both the 1900s and the 1400s. Some wore franchised shirts from the 80s or 90s, some of the skeletons even being kid sized. But one particular skeleton caught Birch's eye. Thick rimmed glasses, one of the goofiest looking Hawaiian shirts ever to be worn, the classic early dad uniform. Their bracelet had reminded her of a previous conversation.

She had found a hobby in meeting with some of the local ghosts to hear their life stories. Unfortunately they can be hard to come by but with luck she found a few. There was a lovely little lady who reminisced on her husband's disappearance early in their relationship. He had been a board game enthusiast who planned to share it with their own kids. One night he and his kids planned a game night, onlt to disappear completely and without a trace. This would send her into a grief stricken state that took her life later that year. Now she haunts her disheveled home in hopes they will meet in the afterlife. When asked how she could help the lady told her if he was found to tell him to come home. She remarked that they had worn their friendship bracelets from their youth. And had rarely been seen without it.

The metal had rusted but the words of the bracelet could still be read.

"Paula's"

Well at least we know where he went now.

Birch wished she had her exorcism stickers on her but they were left in her backpack. Something she forgot to take with her from the living room. Instead she whispers a small plea on their behalf and promises to find a way to help them somehow.

Presely walked up to the altar, glancing over the displayed materials. Melted candles and incense circled the book at its center that was clearly in some latin language. Birch joined her and found one of the skeleton's holding a key in its gripped hands. With a bit of tugging it is eventually freed, she would have made a joke about the design if it wasn't such a grim situation. One of the altar chairs whines as Presely takes a seat. A cloud loomed over the normally positive girl.

"Hope Lou is okay." Presely prayed. Birch began to worry as well, though her reasons are different. Shaliver has been making trouble all night and clearly did not feel guilty about it. He then goes ahead and jokes about Presely's disappearance. Worse of all he somehow made Lou of all people mad. This was supposed to be an opportunity to bond, not to make the worst first impression ever. And without her around he has far more range to piss off Lou. She sat next to Presely with a frustrated sigh.

Maybe setting this all up was a bad idea.

Shaliver's words whispered in the back of her mind. She was about to apologize but Presely grips her jaw shut.

"Don't you dare." Presely gave her a stern look. The same one she and Lou would always give her when things went wrong. Birch returned it with a hug and resolved to herself she wouldn't give up just yet.

"20 minutes remain..."

Birch stood up from the chair and looked back at the key in her hand. "Let's just gather as many keys as we can. The only thing we can hope for is we'll meet the other two on the way." Presely nodded, her confidence returned. The two left the prayer room and began running down the halls in search of the remaining keys.

She went back to their interactions after, how they were able to cooperate when it came to making fun of her. Or Shaliver listening to her when he didn't have to. And even if he was rude to her at times she could tell he did care. If protecting her from a murderous kids toy was not evidence of that. Despite what he let on to others and his difficulty in having manners there was something benevolent to him. Hopefully he can extend that to more then just her.

Good luck.

..........................................................................................................

Shaliver hates hiding. Makes him come off as small. Weak. Useless. Escaping into the vampire sector the two eventually lost the horseman despite Lou's blood trail. They had found the Vampire's key with what appeared to be no problems. That was till the vampire creature guarding it was clearly pissed off and chased them into the library. They remained under a desk as Lou forced his jaws shut, his saliva-blood mixture spilling onto the key. Shaliver could feel the intense stare from Lou who was eyeing his recent wound like the last speck of food on earth. This was all happening as the vampire shuffled around looking for them. Dice clattered to his continued annoyance. He peaked around to find any kind of weapon, only spotting the fireplace across from them.

Shaliver starts sneaking away, tossing a book over the Vampire into a pile on another desk. The stack of books topples over, enraging the flying fiend. As it shreds the book pile apart Shaliver tip toes towards the fireplace. Among them logs a rather sharp piece of wood, thankfully not burned like the others. He grabs it just in time for the Vampire to discover his plot. He dodges the grabbing hands but is eventually caught. He gnaws at the twiglike arms but it does nothing. Their canines start growing as it closes in on Shaliver's neck. His fur begins to spike. Ready to defend himself within an inch of his life.

SREEEEEEEEEECH!

He's dropped, the vampire joining him on ground. Lou is hunched on top of them, his own teeth sucking out their blood like a forbidden juicebox. The vampire flails about like a downed bird but was unable to resist the new bloods bear-trap grip. Shaliver admired the scene with what he could only describe as "gruesome pride". Lou's purple eyes well up with tears when he finally releases himself from their neck. Shaliver turns them over before sticking the wooden stake into their heart. Their body disentegrates in a fiery ash, joining the rest in the fireplace. Lou stays seated as he takes in wet breaths, Shaliver tossing his stake away. An amused grin had placed itself on the faux-feline.

"Nice job giving it a taste of its own medicine." He laughed. There was no response. Examining the teenager again his face is gaunt and afraid. An almost spitting image of the first time Birch as she discovered her toy car's kill streak. His purple irises small as a grain of sand. He just looked at the bloodied key in his hands, wide eyed. Shaliver was about to call him stupid for feeling bad but found himself unable. Instead he pulls at the teen's shirt sleeve.

"We can't stay here, they need us." This wakes him from whatever haze he was in. He thinks for a moment, before holding out the vampire key. Through the blood, saliva and terror he speaks.

"Go on without me." Normally he wouldn't question the request, but something about it annoys Shaliver. You call yourself her friend? Lou aggressively tossed the key at him and pointed to the large doors. He returns to his dejected pose.

"I'll just make things worse."

Hesitantly Shaliver takes the key, swallowing it to Lou's surprise. Slowly the faux-cat walks towards the exit while occasionally looking behind. The boy remains in the same spot with each turn. Each time he appears more pathetic. Just as he reached the hall Shaliver extended his tail back into the library, coiling it around Lou. He pulls him in just as the door closes. The boy squirms in his grip, yelling obscenities that would make his mother cry.

"The HELL! Do you ever listen to ANYTHING I say? I'm a liability! I could hurt them."

"Then don't." Shaliver interrupted.

Lou would have strangled the cat if he wasn't dangling in the air. "Wouldn't it make it easier just to leave me? One less thing to worry abou-"

"You're important to her. So you're important to me."

He shuts up. Shaliver starts carrying him, still caught in his tail, at a breakneck pace. His tone was not sarcastic or in jest. He was blunt. After spending almost an hour with him he could finally tell when he was being serious. As he questions how he could be carried by someone a fifth of his size they followed the muffled voices of the announcer. And as they got closer they heard approaching footsteps. They turn the next corner, Presely and Birch tripping over the faux-feline. Lou lands on the ground on top of the two. After realizing who landed on them the three rejoice in another tight hug. The reunion is short lived when the hunched beast also meets them again.

"Screw this!" Presely takes out the scythe she has had in her magic pocket space the whole time. Swings at the creature, merely scratching it. It touches the wound, no blood coming out. Taking one step forward it goes to grab Presely. BOOM! Her weapon disappears with the monster into a pile of confetti. Along with it was a key, the markings decorated with lily pads and vine patterns.

"That's 5, do you guys have the last one?" Lou grimaced as he gave Shaliver the look. Like coughing up a hairball, he spits out the last key. Presely's eyebrows went high enough to nearly touch her scalp.

"Congratulations Shaliver," she says slow clapping, "you have found another way to gross me out." Taking the vampire key the house began to growl, shaking to its hinges. Dice clattered and cards flew just outside of their vision.

"ONE. Key. REMAINS..."

"WHAT!" Lou shouted, kicking at the confetti on the floor. "Wasn't there six?" The three panicked for a short moment before Birch snapped her fingers. She may not be the expert when it comes to horror games, but she does have enough knowledge based on the commercials to remember one important detail.

"We need the Master Key."

"Master Key? Where will we find that?" Presely asked.

"Back where this all began." The two had found one key in every themed area. There is only one place left on the board where they didn't claim one. The living room. The beginning.

"10 minutes Remain..."

The group raced down halls, trying to find the double doors that once kidnapped their strawberry blonde friend. Like ticking clocks the dice were non-stop clattering on the ceilings. Hallways began spiraling, pictures were now grabbing at them with little success, and they almost didn't notice the approaching monsters in the chaos. Lou's head pulsed as the dice continued to rain above. Despite it he and the group were able to keep from being grappled or pelted by arrows.

Lou's eyes suddenly locked on the unassuming Birch. His taste buds were aching to know how sweet her blood may be.

One wouldn't hurt...