"GHOULS NIGHT OUT"

HALLOWEEN 2007 HARDY BOYS FAN FICTION CONTEST ENTRY

THE GHOST OF VANDERBEEK MANOR

by

Author A

Chapter 3

The Chapters

INTRO

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

The moment they entered the room the four teens knew something strange was happening. The room was so cold you could see your breath.

“Weird,” said Joe, hugging Poopsie, who had started to whimper.

“You know, I read that when a room is cold like this – there is a spirit in the room.” Callie’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

“There are no such things as ghosts!” sighed Frank.

“Oh yeah? Well then…how do you explain…that?!” gasped Vanessa in fright.

Callie, Frank and Joe turned to see what Vanessa was pointing at.  They looked at the dresser mirror, where they could see a shadowy figure. Frank thought it resembled Sebastian Vanderbeek. Joe wasn’t sure who the figure was. Callie and Vanessa just saw a black shadow with no distinguishing features. As one, the group turned around hoping to get a better look at the strange being. But the figure was gone and the room was back to its normal temperature.

“Man, that was just…totally weird!” exclaimed Joe.

“I’ll agree with you on that,” replied Frank. “Cal, you and Vanessa stand guard. Let us know if you hear anyone coming.”

Callie and Vanessa stood by the doorway; Joe had given Poopsie to Vanessa.  Frank was tapping on the side wall trying to find if there was a secret passage. Joe went over to the closet and found that it was a large walk-in. A light jacket and a pair of shoes were the only things in the closet. He was feeling along the wall when a scream vibrated through the house.

“Who was that?!” Joe poked his head out of the closet.

“What now?!” cried Frank.

“Someone’s running down the hallway!” Callie told the brothers.  “I think it’s Mr. Vanderbeek!”

Clad in blue-striped pajamas, his hair in disarray Adam Vanderbeek came running down the hallway. With his hair sticking up every which way it would have been a comical sight if it weren’t for the sheer fright on the poor man’s face.

“Save me – it’s after me!” Vanderbeek screamed in terror.

The poor man tripped and fell to the floor. He curled up in a ball shivering with fright. Evan opened his door to find his uncle whimpering and shaking in fear.

“Uncle Adam, what happened – are you all right?!” Evan knelt beside his uncle.

Callie and Vanessa went to help Evan try to soothe his uncle. Frank and Joe helped the poor man back to his feet. Evan led them to his room; they seated Mr. Vanderbeek on a chair beside a writing table.

“I wonder if that catering service left any wine.” Evan gazed worriedly at his uncle.

“I’ll go check,” Callie volunteered; she turned to leave when Frank reached out and held her arm.

“Hold on, Callie. I don’t want you going alone – we’ll both go and check.”

Callie frowned – she was ready to protest and let Frank know that she could take care of herself. But one look at his determined expression and she knew it would be a lost argument. Callie gave Frank a soft smile. If she had to have someone to protect her – Callie couldn’t think of anyone better than the handsome Frank Hardy!

“While you’re down there, could you bring back any food?” asked Joe, a pleading look on his face.

“You know, there’s a joke in there somewhere but…I won’t say it!” Frank grinned at his brother. He grabbed Callie by the hand and hurried out the door before Joe could do anything.

Frank and Callie were walking down the spiral staircase when the lights began to flicker. The house was soon bathed in darkness. A flash of lightning was followed by a loud crash of thunder. Callie moved closer to Frank.

“Looks like that storm front came in a lot sooner than the weatherman predicted.” Frank squeezed Callie’s hand – he knew that she didn’t like thunderstorms.

When they finally reached the kitchen, Frank and Callie found that they weren’t the only ones searching for a snack. Nigel Spencer was lighting a candle when they walked in.

“Couldn’t find a flashlight! You’d think my aunt lived in the 18^th century!” Nigel huffed. “No microwave – I guess I should be glad she had a refrigerator!”

Frank took one of the candles, glad there was a gas stove as he lit it.

“Are you looking for something to eat?” asked Callie politely.

“Um…no – I was searching for a bit of…liquor.”

“We are too – did you find any?” inquired Frank.

“Aren’t you a little young to be drinking, young man?” Nigel’s eyes roamed over Callie and a he gave Frank a little smirk. “Oh…I see. Very clever!”

“It’s for your uncle – he’s had a scare and we thought some wine might help him.” Frank bristled with anger.

“I believe I saw a bottle of red wine cooling in the fridge just before the lights went out,” Nigel replied as if he didn’t believe a word Frank said.

Callie led Frank over to the refrigerator. As he held the candle she took out the wine and small platter of chicken.  She gave Frank the wine bottle while she added a loaf of bread to take upstairs. Frank led the way out, a grim expression on his face as he could hear Nigel chuckling softly.

A few minutes after Frank and Callie had left, lighting flashed rapidly, followed by a roar of thunder, then the lights went out.

Adam clutched his chest.  “My pills – I need my pills!”

“Where are they, Mr. Vanderbeek?” Joe asked with concern.

“My room…in my shaving kit….top of dresser,” gasped the old man.

“You wouldn’t mind getting them?” asked Evan. “I don’t want to leave him.”

“Sure, but where is his room?”

Evan told the younger Hardy where his uncle’s room was located. He then gave Joe a candelabrum that he lit with a cigarette lighter.  Joe and Vanessa hurried out of the room to get the medication. They were only gone for two minutes but when they returned to Evan’s room…the young man and Mr. Vanderbeek were gone!

Frank and Callie were halfway up the stairs when a loud crash of thunder sounded. Frank came to an abrupt stop.

“Did you hear that? It sounded like someone screamed.”

“All I heard was that thunder!” Callie looked worried. “Do you think something may have happened to Mr. Spencer?”

“I don’t know but I think we should go check on him.”

Setting the wine and platter of food on the steps, Frank and Callie ran down the stairs and into the kitchen.

“Mr. Spencer, are you all right?” Frank wished he had a flashlight.

“He’s gone! Frank, Mr. Spencer has disappeared!”

“Come on – we’ve got to get back to Joe and Vanessa!”

Taking Callie’s hand he led the girl out of the kitchen and back to the stairs, where they almost ran into Joe and Vanessa.

“Frank, Mr. Vanderbeek and Evan are gone!” Joe cringed when another crash of thunder sounded. Like Callie, the young Hardy didn’t like thunderstorms.

“How did that happen?!” Frank cried out.

“Mr. Spencer has disappeared also!” Callie told Joe.

Poopsie had wiggled out of Vanessa’s arms and ran inside the library. The four teens were wondering how the three men had vanished when they heard Poopsie barking.

“Now what?!” cried Joe in exasperation as he ran to the library followed by his brother and the girls.

They found Poopsie by the world globe, scratching the floor. Frank and Joe knelt down trying to see what the dog was getting at. Callie found another candelabra sitting on top of a mid-size table. Using the one candle she had, she lighted the other two candles and added her own. She walked over to Frank and Joe to give them more light, with Vanessa by her side.

Getting frustrated Joe slammed his fist on the floor, pushing one of the tiles down. Suddenly the floor opened…and with yelps of surprise Frank and Joe found themselves falling into the darkness!

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