Chapter 1

Orange-red leaves clung to tree branches as they fluttered in the wind, the brown ones falling victim to strong gusts. In a few weeks the trees would be bare, like skeletons, but right now they added the color of autumn to the countryside. The howling October wind rattled the mansion's heavy, warped door. It had just slammed shut, causing the little gray squirrel to jump and turn in mid-air. With bushy tail raised, its little feet scampered down the dirt path to the safety of the trees, its cheeks bloated with nuts.

Pushing on the door hard, Nick failed to stop the draft. His jacket collar was raised with the zipper closed to his neck. Rubbing his bare hands and blowing into them, he turned to see the two coeds standing on the cold marble floor, hesitant to take the next step.

With a mischievous glint in his eyes, Nick tiptoed behind the cute blonde and shouted, "Boo!"

The ensuing scream echoed in the large foyer. "That's not funny," Sandy said after her breathing returned, her hand on her chest.

She glared at Nick but soon joined the others in laughter, albeit hers a strained laugh. Sandy was nervous to begin with, entering the creepy old mansion, so when her fellow college student surprised her she jumped higher than the squirrel. Her laughter subsided when her eyes returned to the dark, cold room. It smelled stale and seemed like no one had lived there for years. It's not that it was dirty, just old and ... well, scary.

The whoosh of cold air caused all three to spin around and clutch their jacket collars to their necks. Professor Hill ineffectively leaned into the large, heavy door with his shoulder, losing the battle with the wind. Awkwardly carrying too many boxes at once, his glasses precariously slid down his long nose. Nick ran up to him and, towering over the professor, slammed the oak door shut.

The professor was taking three volunteers from his parapsychology class to the reputed haunted house for the weekend. They were going to discuss things such as Apparition (a visual appearance often of a person or scene), Astral Projection (an out of body experience), Clairvoyance (ability to perceive things that are not in sight), and Veridical Dreams (a dream that corresponds to real events -- past, present or future -- that are unknown to the dreamer). The professor had told his students that, in the right setting, they would experience a lot more. Unbeknownst to the volunteers, he was preparing a few surprises they didn't sign up for.

Professor Hill sized up his three students standing uncomfortably in the large foyer. They were all bright with quite different backgrounds. Nick was the athlete who easily charmed girls. He was dark haired, 6'1" and 210 pounds of muscle. Nick was very outgoing and a jokester, as Sandy had just experienced. Sandy was the rich kid who had everything she ever desired. She was a petite blonde, fair skinned, with blue eyes, small perky breasts and a waist that was impossibly small. She was always the most popular and reveled in being the captain of the cheerleaders. Jenny was almost the opposite of Sandy. She was from a poor, broken family, attending college on a full scholarship. Jenny was a loner and never developed her social skills. She had short dark hair and gray-green eyes. Her 35C breasts were large for her 5'6" height and, although she wasn't nearly as thin as Sandy, she had a nice body. The extra pounds contributed to her curves and full, round butt.

"Let's get situated," the professor said, forcing his eyes away from Jenny's butt. "We only have the weekend and I want to make the most of it." The professor held back his chuckle when he thought about what he was really planning.

The four picked up their luggage. Nick carried a large sports bag and Jenny a small battered suitcase. Sandy, of course, brought more than she could carry so Nick helped her. Professor Hill led them as they walked silently through the huge house until each disappeared into their assigned bedroom. The professor told them to unpack and meet him downstairs in half an hour. Each was left to investigate their living quarters and get settled.

Nick was unpacked in no time, basically dumping his clothes into the first two drawers he opened. He jumped onto the bed, bouncing on his back until his large frame came to rest. Putting his hands behind his head, elbows out, he stared at the ceiling. To him this was an adventure in more ways than one. He enjoyed the topic, but more importantly had volunteered after Sandy had. Nick hoped he'd get into the cute blonde's pants. He wouldn't mind Jenny either, but she didn't seem the type. "Hmmm, maybe I can convince Jenny," he muttered with a sinister grin.

Jenny looked around her assigned bedroom. It was old and dark and, although much larger than any bedroom she had ever been in, it reminded her of her unpleasant childhood. She had hoped her past was behind her, but the depressingly dark room brought back some memories she wanted to forget. Jenny was very meticulous placing her clothes in their proper places since nice clothing was a luxury.

Sandy sighed and wondered what she was doing there. When she saw the ancient room, she immediately wished she was back in the off-campus apartment her parents paid handsomely for. It was filled with every amenity imaginable. This room didn't even have electricity. Sandy had come on this class outing simply to get a better grade. Now she wondered if the inconveniences were worth it. Sandy began unpacking her very expensive clothing.

Later, when Sandy walked down the rickety old stairs she again felt anxious. The others sat around a large table staring at her.

"What?" she asked.

"You were supposed to be here fifteen minutes ago," the professor said.

"I had a lot to unpack."

"I'll say," Nick said sarcastically. "Remember, I helped carry your suitcases. Why'd you bring so much anyway?"

Sandy opened her mouth to tell Nick off, but the professor held up his hand. He began his orientation, telling them the house was old and, since the mansion was rarely occupied, all the windows and doors were locked tight. The only way in and out was the front door. When the girls looked scared, Professor Hill assured them that there were very strong deadbolts on the door. The house was safe. Professor Hill explained that since there was no electricity they would have to carry candles for illumination. He added that it was critical they had the necessary lighting with them before it got dark, otherwise it could be dangerous moving around the unfamiliar mansion.

"Can someone come with me to get my candelabra?" Jenny said timidly.

"It's not dark yet," Sandy said, sounding irritated.

"I would feel more comfortable with it before it gets dark. That's what Professor Hill said."

"It won't be dark for a while. Anyway, why do you need someone to go with you?"

Jenny hesitated a moment, not liking the barrage of questions thrown at her by the popular girl. Then she took a deep breath and exhaled, saying, "I felt something up there."

Nick and the professor's heads turned to look at the shy girl.

"Yeah right," Nick said. "Hey, I'm the prankster here. Don't you forget it. C'mon, I'll hold your hand."

The two walked out of the room, not holding hands but Jenny obviously staying close to the strong male. When they were out of sight, the professor and Sandy turned to look at each other. Sandy shrugged her shoulders in her typical "what a jerk" gesture.

At her bedroom's threshold, Jenny hesitated and then leaned forward, peeking inside. The shove from behind caused her to stumble into the room, taking several quick steps to keep from falling. She glared behind her at Nick.

"That wasn't funny," Jenny said.

"I was pushed."

"Yeah right. Maybe you can scare the blonde bimbo downstairs, but not me."

"No really, I felt something push me into you."

"Yeah right. C'mon, I got the candle. Let's go back downstairs."

Nick was silent. He looked into the bedroom and down both sides of the hall, but didn't see anything. He hurried his pace to catch up to Jenny. This time it was he who stayed close.

While they were preparing dinner, the professor set a timer on a device he had previously planted. The four had just sat down to eat when a howl came from within the house. All three students jumped.

"What was that?" Jenny asked, clutching her hands to her chest.

"What? I didn't hear anything," the professor said, clamping his teeth to keep from grinning.

"I heard it," Sandy said.

"Me too," chimed in Nick.

"Should we go investigate?" the professor asked, holding in his laughter.

"No, let's just eat," Sandy said, her eyes darting into the other room where she thought the sound came from.

They ate mostly in silence, each stopping from time to time to strain their ears. After a while they all doubted hearing the strange noise. All except Jenny, that is. She was sure she had felt something in her bedroom earlier. She didn't believe Nick's story, but she definitely had sensed something.

"Anyone for some TV?" Professor Hill asked after they had cleaned up.

"Sure," Nick said. Sandy began laughing. "What's so funny?"

"Duh! No electricity, remember?"

"Oh yeah. So what are we gonna do?"

"How about telling ghost stories?" the professor said.

"No," Sandy shrieked.

"No way!" Jenny cried out almost simultaneously.

"Come on, young ladies," Professor Hill chided his students, "we're here to enrich our psyches. After all, it is a parapsychology field trip. Don't you want to broaden your minds?"

Professor Hill's finger toyed with the button on the remote control he held behind his back. He pressed it just as he concluded his sentence. A loud swooshing noise filled the room. All three students jumped, even Nick.

"What was that?" Jenny exclaimed.

"Must have been the wind," the professor said, again holding back his laughter.