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Post by Azul Eyes on Aug 23, 2007 13:46:07 GMT
"Don't you agree, Drama?" Steph asked curiously. "I mean, you're by that place a lot more then me."
----
Arg! Short post!
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Erissa
SOLDIER Third Class
Pretty boys are FTW.
Posts: 630
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Post by Erissa on Aug 23, 2007 15:13:13 GMT
“Let’s go then,” she said, smiling to Dramaya. She was so excited she found it hard to keep still.
“Sure thing! That’s what people usually call me anyway, except they spell it as J-O-S-Y for some odd reason. By the way, thanks for believing me Steph. It means a lot, since not many people believe in the paranormal.” Things were going well and she only hoped that they would last.
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Post by Dramaya M. Murasaki on Aug 23, 2007 15:22:55 GMT
No worries, Sylla. I always hate it when I can't think of the proper way to phrase something... ---- "Yeah", Dramaya agreed with Steph, nodding. "With all that's happened there, I wouldn't put it past the Maverick place." When Josephine mentioned not many people believing in the paranormal, Dramaya could only relate too well. "I know what you mean by that, Josephine. Even though we've lived near the mansion for so long, all of my family are still total skeptics, and after all the stuff I've tried to tell them, they probably think I'm crazy." As they were now outside, Dramaya glanced up towards the sky, and saw it was starting to get cloudy out. Great. She had forgotten there was rain predicted for tonight, and possibly even a thunderstorm. While Dramaya did love the rain, she wasn't too keen on taking nearly a half-hour hike through it. Maybe she convince Josephine to drive her home; it would be of the utmost convenience anyways.
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Post by Azul Eyes on Aug 23, 2007 18:05:48 GMT
"Okay, then, Josy, wanna hang out with us tonight? We can have a sleepover at my house if you want, Drama," Steph offered, trying to look like that was no big deal. Inwardly, Steph was wondering if there was enough room at her house for two guests. She wasn't as well off as most of her friends, but she really did want to get to know Josy better, and she wanted to hang with Dramaya.
"Of course, you'd only be able to come on one condition," she told Josy teasingly. "You'd have to drive us there. I don't wanna get caught in this rain."
Steph flashed a smile at Drama, sensing that she had be hesitant about walking in the rain.
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Post by Sylla on Aug 24, 2007 16:49:56 GMT
Sylla rounded the corner just as the kid and his sister pulled into their driveway. She had expected it to be hard to follow them without being noticed, but luckily most of the roads they had taken were fairly busy. It was only when the roads really became deserted that she had pulled over and parked, opting to follow them on foot. But even though it was less conspicuous, if the girl hadn't driven so slowly she would have lost them, waiting till they had rounded the corner until running after them. Luckily for her she was a fairly fast runner. (Years of running after various paranormal phenomena had seen to that.)
Taking advantage of the respite, she stopped to catch her breath, hoping the 'Maverick Stalker' would come out soon.
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Erissa
SOLDIER Third Class
Pretty boys are FTW.
Posts: 630
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Post by Erissa on Aug 24, 2007 18:58:00 GMT
“Well I used to be a bit of a skeptic myself, but after that incident with the painting…I can’t just ignore it, and there’s something weird, I feel like that painting is alive, like I can connect to it. Of course that could just be my overactive imagination…”
Josephine saw that the sky was turning dark and couldn’t quite decide what to do. It’s probably not possible to explore the mansion today, but the idea of having to drive back home and return another day was too much of a chore. Then Steph spoke and her invitation came as a solution to the problem. Josephine wasn’t usually comfortable with sleepovers at places where she hardly knew the host, but they had been kind to her, even believing her bizarre story, so her instinct told her that these girls could be trusted.
“That won’t be a problem Steph, I’m not that cruel so as to leave you guys to walk in the rain! And I’ll gladly accept the sleepover invitation; it’s been awhile since I last had a sleepover.” She grinned to show her appreciation at the invite and led the two girls outside into the car park.
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Post by Dramaya M. Murasaki on Aug 24, 2007 23:04:09 GMT
Chuckling a little, Dramaya shook her head. "An overreactive imagination-- just another thing I can relate to. That's what I thought I had after seeing all those... unexplainable things."
She halted her sentence there, aware that it might lead Josephine into asking more about what she had seen, being still uncomfortable about that subject. If she did inquire, Dramaya wouldn't be able to refuse her, being the pushover that she was. Besides... glancing upward towards the darkening sky, she decided it was the least she could do out of gratitude, in exchange for a drive home. Nonetheless, Dramaya made to change the topic.
"Thanks for driving us home", she said, smiling in response to Josephine's grin. "I think it's awesome that you will be sleeping over." Even though Josephine was still somewhat of a stranger, Dramaya did already feel at ease around her.
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Post by Azul Eyes on Aug 25, 2007 0:35:27 GMT
"And here we are!" Steph said happily as Josy pulled into the driveway. They were on the outskirts of town, about a ten minute walk from Drama's house. She smiled at the sight of her small house. She told Josy where to park and jumped out happily. She took a deep breath of air and ran inside. "I'm HOOOOMMME!" she yelled, well aware that her friends outside could probably hear her. "Hey, honey," her mom said with a smile. "I hope your new friend is as polite as Dramaya," she said in her British accent, a warning lingering in the air. "Josy's cool, Mom. You'll like her." Steph dashed up the stairs to her room to clean a little as she waited for Drama to guide Josy to her. --- Yes, my mom really does have a British accent. And, no, she wouldn't allow me to make plans that quickly, but I'll pretend she does.
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Post by Captain Wee on Aug 25, 2007 9:45:29 GMT
As they were driving home, Nicholas couldn't shake the feeling that he was being followed. He kept asking his sister to drive fast, but she was too busy talking on her cell phone.
"Geez Nick, you're acting really weird." Lisa gave him a sly smile. "Does this have something to do with those girls at the mall?"
"What? No, this doesn't have anything to do with them."
"Sure, little brother, sure. When you're ready to tell your big sis the truth, I'll be in the kitchen."
Nicholas looked indignant. "Whatever. Just make sure you put that book in my room. I'm off to Maverick Mansion."
Nicholas started to walk off, looking at the number on his hand as he was leaving.
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Post by Sylla on Aug 25, 2007 10:03:17 GMT
And there he was.
Swallowing a triumphant grin, Sylla walked up to him quickly. He was staring wistfully at the gates of the mansion, and he jumped when she laid a hand on his shoulder.
"Excuse me."
He whirled around, a look of surprise on his face. "Umm..." he appeared uncertain. "What is it?" he asked.
"Are you the one they call the 'Maverick Stalker'?"
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Post by Captain Wee on Aug 25, 2007 10:40:02 GMT
Nicholas grinned. "Yeah, that would be me. What do you want?"
He looked her over. She had one of those photography cameras with the big noses.
"Are you here to take pictures of the mansion?" He asked, intrigued.
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Post by Sylla on Aug 25, 2007 11:07:03 GMT
"In a manner of speaking," Sylla answered. "Actually, I'm a paranormal photographer. I was hoping you could tell me about that mansion."
"Oh... Wait- so you think it really is haunted?" His eyes lit up with excitement.
"I was going to ask you that. Have you ever seen anything... strange going on in that house? Or have you heard of anyone who has?"
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Erissa
SOLDIER Third Class
Pretty boys are FTW.
Posts: 630
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Post by Erissa on Aug 25, 2007 16:27:58 GMT
“You’re welcome Drama!” Josephine answered before they entered the car. I should thank you guys too for being so friendly to a stranger who caused you trouble. Oops we forgot all about the smoothies and new T-shirt didn’t we? Maybe we could just get it tomorrow when a storm isn’t coming.”
The three of them entered the car and Josephine drove off, taking directions from Steph.
***
While the two girls were studying the painting in the car Josephine called her father and told him that she was sleeping over at Cecilia’s house. Her father told her to have fun and to be careful before ending the call with a “I love you”, which only heightened Josephine’s guilt. She was not used to lying to her father and because she had never given him a reason to worry she had earned his complete trust. Now she was breaking it and it caused her dread. She believed bad things usually happen to kids who lie to their parents. Well at least I’m not out partying and drinking and I am at a girlfriend’s house, although it’s not Cecilia’s. There’s no reason to worry him with horror stories and he won’t believe me anyway.
Ten minutes later they pulled up in the driveway of Steph’s home; her house was small, but it looked cosy and welcoming so Josephine was glad to be there. Steph told them she would go inside first to tell her mum about Josephine and clean up her room a little, so they should just take their time.
After Steph was gone, Josephine asked, “So what do you think of the painting?” They didn’t make any comments back in the car and that got Josephine worrying. Maybe they think it’s just an ordinary painting, after all they hadn’t seen the painting change.
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Post by Dramaya M. Murasaki on Aug 26, 2007 16:13:59 GMT
It was true, Dramaya hadn't commented on the painting at all. Indeed, her hands had actually been shaking a little as she had held it, feeling anxious and nervous. As she had studied the painting, her apprehension had been realized. She might not have ever set foot on the Maverick grounds, least of all be inside it, but she had recognized a window off to the side. It looked very much like the windows that dotted the walls of the Maverick Mansion. Also, that girl that stood in the corridor... she did bear a striking resemblance to Josephine.
When Steph had gone inside, and Josephine had asked her for her opinion, Dramaya was silent for a few moments more. She had studied every inch and detail, but could glean nothing more from the painting.
"It certainly looks like it, that's for sure", Dramaya remarked. "If you want confirmation... it's not that far from here, so we could drive there. I need to get my stuff anyways, if I'm going to be sleeping over at Steph's."
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Post by Captain Wee on Aug 26, 2007 21:05:51 GMT
"Hmm, I might know someone. I've never seen anything myself, but the girl who lives right next to the mansion might be able to help you more." Nicholas jerked his head toward Dramaya's house.
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