chapter 1--- Tony just got home from school. He was thinking about homework, and how he’s probably NOT going to finish it in the time he has till tomorrow. He sighed, and pointed his head towards the sky. Don’t worry... I'm just going to need a miracle to get this done... he thought. When he arrived at home, he looked at the letterbox. It was stuffed with mails, letters, folders and all other kinds of things. No way... Tony emptied the letterbox, and carried the enormous ‘shipment’ of papers inside. “Hey, boy. Have you been protecting the house while I was away?” Tony said to the dog while dropping the gigantic stack of letters on the table. He sat on the couch looking at some of his homework while his dog slowly appoached him. The dog shoved his manger at Tony. “Another portion?” Tony said surprised. Jeez, we should’ve never bought a St. Bernard dog. Those things eat more than the whole family together... Tony laughed in himself. He grabbed at the dogfood in the locker below the kitchen dresser. Well, let’s see wat we got here... Tony thought after he refilled the dog’s manger. He took a seat on the couch again, reading some of his homework. He couldn’t help peeking at the stack of mail from his eyecorner. “Wonder if there’s anything for me in there?” Tony said, and he started digging. What’s this? Tony found a folder that caught his attention. It said something about a searching contest. There should be a treasure chest somewhere in a deserted mansion at the edge of town. The folks made a game out of it. Whoever finds the chest gets to keep it. hmm... interesting. Tony thought, as he layed his homework aside. He read further. It is said that the mansion holds many secrets and if you solve any of them, you’ll also win a prize, no matter if you win or not. Registering could be done till 17:00 this afternoon in front of the mansion. On that moment, father knocked on the door. He was about to greet the dog, but he was too busy eating anyway. When he greeted Tony, he immediatly had to answer a very ‘important’ question. Tony asked him if he could take part in the contest. Father had to think for a few minutes before giving an answer that actually made sense. “Mmmh... I don’t know, son. There are some really weird stories about that mansion.” father said, holding his hand to his chin. “Did I mention you win all the stuff inside the chest when you win?” Tony said. Suddenly father’s eyes had dollar signs in them, and cracked a smile that reached from ear to ear. And so he approved that Tony got to take part in the search in the dark, deserted, and probably dangerous mansion. Tony got all the stuff he need together, and went to the buss-stop. The sky started to get cloudy as he arrived at the mansion. A man was standing in front of the mansion. “Um, hello. I’m here to search the mansion.” Tony said, putting his backpack on the ground, massaging his shoulder. “Ah! One of the candidates! We’re glad you came.” the man said joyful. Tony stood there for a few minutes, waiting. He looked at his watch. 16:38 already, still no competition. This’ll be easy for me! Tony thought, grinning happily. He put his hand in his pockets and tried to lower his smile. The man looked at his watch. 16:38 already, still no competition! This’ll be easy for him! the man thought, clenching his teeth together. A cold, quiet breeze slowly flew through the neighbourhood. The man looked at Tony. Tony looked at him too. “Say, mister. When are the others coming?” Tony asked, raising both his hands in a ‘what?’ position. The man started to sweat. “Eh, heh-he... They’ll be arriving shortly, I’m sure of that!” he said, grabbing a pocket handkerchief out of his pockets, whiping the sweat off of his forehead. At 16:41, finally, the first two competitors for Tony arrived. Two girls arrived by bike. “Callie, I told you we should’ve taken the left corner just now, but you wanted to take a ‘short-cut’! Good going!” one of the girls said. “Hey, we’re here, aren’t we?” the other girl said. The girls put their bicycles in the rack against the wall in front of the mansion. The two walked towards Tony and the man. “Hi! You must be from the staff! I’m Kelly!” she said, as she reached her hand out to the man. The man shook hands with Kelly. “Nice to meet you, Kelly. Are you ready?” he asked. Kelly shook her head. She looked exited. Callie reached her hand out to Tony. Tony smiled, reaching his hand out to Callie. She grabbed Tony’s hand. AAH! Lemme go! Tony thought, as his eyes watered. Callie was a tad big for her age. “Nice... to meet you.” Tony said while looking at his hand. He could feel the blood rushing back into his hand. Not much later, a shiny car stopped in front of the mansion. A guy with dark sunglasses stepped out of it. “See you later, mom!” he said, waving as he walked to the mansion. The car drove away. He looked at Kelly, and raised his sunglasses so he could wink to her. Kelly raised her eyebrow. Tony almost couldn’t keep his laugh in. That guy was pretty big though, so he kept it in. “Hi there, sir! I’m Don, and I’m here to win the contest!” “Glad you made it, Don. We’re still waiting for a few more candidates.” 16:45, and but a few people were standing in front of the enormous mansion. “Um... Tony, was it?” Callie said. “Yes, why?” Tony asked. “What did you told your parents?” she asked. “Heh. I told him I’d win a ‘fabulous’ prize!” he said laughing. Callie laughed with him. A minute from then, a black car stopped in front of them. The door opened, and a guy dressed in black came out. He whipped his long, dark hair aside. He reached his hand out the the man. The man wanted to shake his hand, but he had to look out for the spikes on the guy’s rings. “Hello... And what’s your name?” the man asked. “Bowie...” the guy answered, and kept watching at the mansion. He looked fascinated. Right then, a girl came walking to the mansion. She winked to everyone on the on the pavement. She stopped in front of the mansion, cheering: “Alright! Lizzie is in the house! Hey, Mel, where are you?” Another girl ran after her. “Liz, wait up, don’t be so excited...!” she said, panting. Lizzie approached the man. The man reached his hand out, but Lizzie welcomed him with a hug. “Hello, I’m Lizzie!” she said, as she went and gave everyone alse a hand. “Uh, hi. I’m Mellany... Sorry for Lizzie, she’s kinda... spontaneous.” she said to the man as she shook his hand. “That’s okay! We appreciate spontaneity like that!” the man smiled. It was almost 16:50, as another two peolpe arrived by bus. A boy, and a girl stepped out of the bus. The boy looked kinda like freak, with his long, spikey hair. The girl was holding his hand, but not in the ‘lovebird’ way. It’s almost like she was holding him in tone. “Hey there, I’m Sydney!” the girl said to the man. “This here’s Danny!” Sydney pulled the boy against her. He cracked a wicked though funny smile. Bowie, who kept his attention to the mansion all the time, peeked over his shoulder to Danny. 16:54. A guy on a bicycle arrived. He seemed to be in a hurry. He quickly put his bike in the rack next to those of Kelly and Callie. “Name’s Peanut, mister. Happy to see you.” he said, as he waved to the man while approaching him. Mellany couldn’t help but look at him. Peanut walked at the gates. He noticed Mellany looking at him. While approaching the gates, he raised his hand, saying: “Hey there!” Don started to grin. He struggled to keep his laugh in. PEANUT!? he thought. What where his parents thinking to give him a damn name like ‘Peanut’? Slowly the clocked ticked 17:00, as the man started explaining...
