in Florida
Enjoy the sixth installment to the epic tale of Gary & Liz. Remember, after the publication of this chapter the Newsletter will soon follow. In the Newsletter you will once again have a chance to install your ideas into the story. But only certain ideas will added into story. Enjoy reading...
“THE ORGAN PLAYERS LAST TUNE”
It had taken a moments time for either Gary or Liz to pick out the mistake in the seemingly common scene; but such a thing as a tree would not have seemed to be out of the ordinary. The shrubbery and such that surrounded the courtyard was coated in heavy dew, and a slight mist was caught in the air, blowing with wind and nicking their cheeks.
“I wonder why the mirror brought us here,” said Gary who turned to examine his surroundings. “I suppose the best thing to do now would be look around,” answered Liz who paced in circles around the tree. Gary stepped up to the door, the familiar brass lion knockers stared down on him like a predator eyeing his prey. But never the less he opened the large double doors. The mist from outside was quickly swept inside, curving upon the molding and cooling the warm foyer.
The archway stairs sat directly in the middle of the large room… Gary remembered first seeing Thomas stand atop them, a relatively young man who posed many riddles for both Gary and Liz. He could see the large red double doors that led into Long Hall standing atop the middle of the arch, and he could see the tunnel that led to the basement. The room was dark, or perhaps darker than Gary was used to; the large chandelier had not yet been lit… but even besides that something did not seem right.
The room was slowly becoming colder and colder. Gary turned to look behind him, Liz was striding up the front stairs and waltzing through the front door. She closed the doors, but after doing so began to ponder whether or not this was a mistake—but it was to late to worry about that. The chandelier suddenly came on, illuminating the room with orange light. Thomas suddenly came bolting through the door of Long Hall, his face cast with expressions of fear. “It can’t be!” cried Thomas, panning his vision frantically across the foyer. “Thomas what’s wrong?” shouted Gary, who stared up at Thomas from the floor. Thomas didn’t answer, he seemed to be caught up in so much adrenaline that he could not think. “Thomas what’s wrong?” asked Gary again, who walked up the steps. Thomas reached his hand out to touch Thomas… but as he reached out his hand to do so he pondered something. Why wasn’t Thomas in his mirror in the first place? Gary continued again to reach out his hand, but when he went to touch him his hand pierced through his body like a ghost.
Gary pulled his hand back frightened by this, but curious he reached out his hand to touch him again. “It can’t be!” cried Thomas again who turned around and rushed back through the door of Long Hall. “Something’s wrong,” murmured Gary under his breath as he quickly sprinted into Long Hall.
There was a sudden burst of music. It was the very same music that they had once heard back in the “dream”. It was coming from the house organ, and from the direct hand of Thomas Stockpot. Gary placed his ear to each door, listening to see where the music was coming from. “Wait!” shouted Liz who had just come to a sudden realization. “The music is coming from the end of the hall!” shouted Liz who broke into a sprint down the corridor.
It was a few minutes before they had reached a large door at the end of the hall with a sign that read:
“DO NOT ENTER…”
The two quickly burst into the room and the music suddenly stopped. “IT’S OVER!” shouted Thomas, his face bending and contorting as he pondered what was about to happen… but before he uttered another word he collapsed to the floor.
And so passed Thomas Stockpot, the twelfth keeper of the house of Gateway.
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