Chapter Text
The old mansion had secrets, doppio knew that much. The grand exterior of the building; large arches and dull colors, surrounded by a seemingly endless wall of overgrowth indicating the absence of an owner.
It was too awesome of an opportunity to pass up. Which is what led the man to this very spot. Standing right outside the entrance of a very large garden, guarded by a tall fence and two large double doors, holding a flashlight and a pocket knife. You could never be too cautious when exploring, something doppio did very frequently.
Pocketing the knife, doppio made an effort to climb the gate, seeing as there was no other way in. The layers upon layers of leaves and branches encircling the bars of the gate made the climb much easier. Doppio reached the top without much trouble, hopping over the doors fully but then-
“Agh!”
A thorn from the branches seemed to have cut through the gloves doppio was wearing to prevent this exact kind of mistake.
Doppio shrugged. It wasn't too deep of a cut, only drawing small beadings of blood to dribble from the thin line. The cut didn't seem like a big issue, and definitely not one that doppio would allow to put a dampening on his experience. No, he had a goal, what's the worst that could happen? The dirt from the branches probably helped the wound if anything. Doppio remembered reading something about dirt being a natural help for wounds.
He shook his head to clear the derailing train of thought, determined to finally enter the house with almost zero hesitation. He strode forward, moving through the waist height weeds that were scattered throughout the garden.
Doppio took his time admiring the layout. There were multiple square spaces of land that had different kinds of plants, anywhere from weeds to beautiful wildflowers. Dandelions and goosegrass ran along the cracks in the stone path that led to the front door of the old mansion and wild, probably poisonous berries were scattered across the vines that encircled the broken light poles and pots.
It was a beautiful sight and an even more beautiful experience.
Doppio didn't care much about flowers and bushes that normal people would call beautiful or the kind of modern homes that everyone seems to only dream of living in. No, he wanted to see overgrowth and wild flowers dance across an old timey pathway leading to a home that had probably been owned by 3 different families. He wanted to be able to see the years worn away from the place, to be able to see what the house has been through. What it's seen.
And it's a plus if it’s haunted.
A random gush of wind hit Doppio, causing him to shiver.
Doppio makes his way to the rusty wooden doors at the front of the house, slowly cracking them open with a loud creek, just enough to shine his flashlight into the space. The interior is clearly old and there are cobwebs scattered along the ceiling and the old, beat up furniture that decorated the room.
The first room in the house seems to be the living room with a long couch and two chairs in front of an old brick fireplace and a chandelier hanging above a large stained vintage rug. Various decorative chairs and tables littered the otherwise empty corners of the room. Doppio noted the glass from busted windows that was scattered on the floors. And the vines didn't seem to only inhabit the outside. There were beautiful branches that came up from beneath cracks in the floors, curling around the lamps and fireplace. Pots that once held most likely beautiful flowers were filled with dead shrubs with withered leaves.
A grand staircase stood in the corner of the room. Red, torn up carpet layered the steps. Doppio contemplated on whether or not he should even go up there, before deciding it wouldn't hurt to check after he finished the tour of the downstairs area.
This place has been around at least a century.
He walked further into the house. The floors creaked loudly with seemingly every step and the plants blew in the breeze that came from the holes in the walls.
I wouldn't be surprised if this place crumbled down right now with me in it. Would be an awesome way to go though!
Doppio strode through the other rooms in the house with a sense of awed hesitance, analyzing every piece of antique furniture and how it was placed, imagining what the latest residents were doing before they left the place. It was as if the house told a story, and Doppio was trying to find every tiny detail he could.
Eventually Doppio made it back to the staircase in the corridor, slowly stepping down on one of the steps in an effort to make sure he wouldn't just fall through the floor. The staircase creaked but did not seem to be any more unsafe than the rest of the house, so Doppio took it upon himself to stride up the staircase, reaching a long corridor with at least five different doors along the walls.
As he was shining his light into one of the various rooms, he heard one of the wooden floorboards creak to the side of him. A quick shadow seemed to sprint through the hallway into another room, the door slamming behind it, seemingly shaking the entire house. Doppio flinched at the loud noise and fell backwards, an even louder noise coming from the floorboards beneath him.
He was taken aback, his breathing quick and shaky. Steadying himself with a hand planted against the wall, the magenta haired man slowly stood from the spot he landed, eyes trained on the shut door.
He made his way over to it and shakily held a hand out to twist the doorknob open. Another gust of wind hit his back, making him jump and curl in on himself.
The doorknob fully twisted and he slowly opened the door to see nothing but…
A man?
He analyzed the boy before speaking, allowing time for his breathing to tone down.
The man was curled up in a corner of the room, dark black hair with hot pink highlights and multiple piercings adorning his ears. His clothing was very fashionable and honestly very extra with multiple layers and some accessories decorating his slim body. His breathing was labored and fast. He slowly turned his head up at Doppio.
“Who the hell are you?” Doppio finally breathed out.
The man stayed silent for a while, opting to seemingly analyze the one in front of him. Doppio was getting uncomfortable, assuming he just met some meth addict hiding out in this mansion.
“Ver.” The man, Ver, shakily began. “Ver Vermillion.”
Suddenly the floor and walls started shaking as if there was an earthquake. Doppio balanced himself against a dresser in the corner of the room.
“You have to leave!”
Doppio turned his attention back to the dark haired male who was still curled up in the corner. He had a terrified expression on his face, quickly turning his head back and forth, checking the windows and door, as if something dangerous was in the house. And that idea didn't seem to farfetched with how the floorboards creaked with each vicious shake.
“They’ll kill you if you don’t leave!” Ver shouted as he shakily stood, going to push doppio out of the room.
Doppio was shoved, desperately grasping for the wall as a way to balance his shaking form. He turned around once he got his bearings to hopefully yell at the man only to find that he had disappeared. Doppio’s head whipped back and forth, trying to find the missing man with the help of his flashlight but to no avail.
The shaking of the house didn't let up. Doppio ran down the corridor, down the stairs, through the living room and didn’t stop. He reached the front door, swinging it open so that it hit the wall behind it loudly and then-
The shaking of the house completely stopped
His voice is wobbly as he lets out a meek. “...What the fuck…?”