GHOST HOUSE

As you approach, the others turn their eyes to you. You decide there's nothing better to do than to dive right in - like ripping off a Band-Aid.

MANDY

Hey, uh, everyone. It's- I'm Amanda. Mandy.

LIL

No fucking way! I didn't think you were going to show up!

Lil - the loudmouth of the group, making up for her short stature in spunk - turns and struggles to pull out a $10 bill from her pocket. She thrusts it at another member of the group.

MANDY

What was up with that?

MIKI

She lost a bet to me. I had full faith you'd come, for what it's worth. ...Good to see you again, Mandy.

She nods at you, and you nod back. Miki was a younger sibling dragged along with the group, like you, and (again, like you) took after her older sibling, getting a deep attachment to horror games.

MANDY

Yeah. Like I told Vince, I was a little late. Sorry about that.

VINCE

We haven't been waiting long. The real estate agent's already inside, I think.

Another man, Miki's brother, is fiddling with a large, inconvenient-looking camera hanging around his neck. He mutters in response to Vince as he looks through his viewfinder.

SOKU

There were a couple of cars parked outside when we pulled up. Nobody's come outside to check on all the noise we've been making, though.

Soku doesn't make eye contact with you, doesn't even dare point the camera in your direction - instead, swinging it around to look at the house.

MANDY

...Still working on making movies?

SOKU

This could be the setting of the next horror blockbuster, Amanda. Like Halloween level.

MIKI

Why'd you have to bring that big stupid brick with you to scope the place, though?

SOKU

Need to know how the camera will see it, too.

The final member to the party comes hurrying up from one of the cars parked further into the yard, a basket dangling from her free arm as she adjusts the headband in her hair. She throws you a smile, which you can't help but return.

MANDY

Hi, Jennifer.

JENNIFER

Mandy? Oh, my gosh! It's been way too long, how have you been doing?

MANDY

...Just great.

She's gotten even more drop-dead gorgeous, a beauty that comes as naturally to her as breathing. The nausea in your stomach isn't caused by this fact, though. The former valedictorian, like everybody else here, bore some level of responsibility for what happened last time the group of you had been gathered. Given her responsible attitude and exceptional list of extracirriculars, her lack of action was one of the worse ones, to you.

Vince can see your mood's souring, as he claps his hands and looks around at the group.

VINCE

Right! Well. Thanks, everyone, for being here today. I really appreciate the support, after, uh- yeah.

He gestures loosely.

VINCE

Let's just, uh, go in. I guess.

LIL

Look out that you don't get hit by any falling debris or something! We're pretty far away from any civilization right now!

VINCE

Yeah, thanks for the reminder, Lil. Look out for, uh, that stuff, guys.

With that, Vince turns and leads the way up the cracked steps and into the house.