I walked up the stairs and saw pictures of people in sheer terror. They screamed into my head, “Leave before it’s too late!” but something caught my eye. A small boy curled up in the corner, surrounded by a legion of lit candles, rocking back and forth singing in a soft tone. “Hello?” I spoke hoping the boy was a figment of my imagination and he wouldn’t respond. Startled, he stopped singing and looked up at me. His face was terribly burnt. Could he be one of the twins, but how?

“Drop my mask and run!” He exclaimed. Still perplexed, I stood not responding. “Run! Get out of here before the lights go out!” His tone of voice frightened me. I dropped the mask and ran. The light in my hand was snuffed out by the wind. I ran down the step ladder and only then realized the reason for the pictures’ fear. The light from the candles was sufficient for me to see where I was going. As I turned the corner my foot caught something hard in the door way. My hand hardly breaking my fall, I crashed to the ground, and the lantern broke across the wooden floor. I kicked the chair behind me and quickly recovered. I shook my hand as I continued to run. I skipped a few stairs and I proceeded to the first floor. The steps yelped under my weight. Reaching the end of the stairs, I realize darkness has replaced my light. My eyes tried to adjust, but there was no time to waste. My gut churned with nausea as I ran into walls trying to find my out. Confusion and disorientation conduced to my fear. I stumbled through the rooms until I caught a glimpse of the open door, my way out; freedom from this insanity.

The door slammed shut, and all I could see was this white mask in the darkness. Oh, no! Is this the other twin? A low voice grumbled, “Say cheese.”

Everything went white.

Paralyzed, I stared at the white mask. Little hands held me up, and the low voice spoke again, “This picture of you will go nicely with the others.”