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They stumbled up the creaking stairs, their eyes adjusting slowly to the dim light. A stubborn door at the top resisted their pushes, but finally gave with a groan, spilling them into a shadowy hallway. “Now this is getting interesting,” Julie breathed. Amanda just clutched her phone tighter, fighting the urge to bolt back down to the cellar.

With the phone’s screen lighting the way, Julie led them deeper into the house. They stood in a wide hallway running the length of the house, a staircase curving up to the floors above. Faded portraits hung on the walls, and dusty antiques lined the hall. The air was stale with years of neglect. “See, it’s just an old house,” Amanda said, trying to sound casual. “Let’s go back.”

But Julie was undeterred. She flung open a pair of doors, revealing a dining room frozen in time. A chandelier hung above a long table, the places still set with dusty dishes. Chairs were pushed back, napkins spilled across the tablecloth. It looked like a dinner party had been abandoned in an instant. “This is seriously creepy,” Amanda whispered. Joy just shook her head. “I have no idea. But we need to see the rest of the house.”

A sense of unease followed them as they explored room after room. But Julie was driven to uncover the secrets the house held. This was more than just an abandoned building - it was a mystery waiting to be solved.

The room across the hall was a parlor, frozen in a state of elegant disarray. Dusty antiques stood in conversational clusters, a silk shawl draped carelessly over the open piano. It felt like the partygoers had just stepped out for a moment. “I think I know what happened,” Julie whispered, her eyes scanning the room. “There was a party, and then something spooked everyone. They left in the middle of dinner and never came back.”

Amanda stared at her, impressed. “You’re like a detective! But what could have scared them so badly?”

Julie’s eyes glinted with excitement. “That’s what we have to find out. Let’s be detectives, like Sherlock Holmes. We’ll investigate, gather clues, and solve the mystery.” Even Amanda was caught up in the thrill of the idea. “I’ll ask my mom if she knows anything about this place.”

But Julie grabbed her arm. “No, you can’t tell anyone. This has to be our secret. We can’t let anyone suspect what we’re doing or they’ll stop us.” Amanda nodded, though she looked puzzled. “But how will we figure anything out if we can’t ask questions?”

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Julie just grinned. “Leave that to me. I have a plan.”

“We need to approach it differently,” Julie said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, but she didn’t elaborate.

“This candle’s almost done for,” Amanda interjected suddenly, her practicality cutting through the tense atmosphere. “Why didn’t you bring a bigger one?”

“Couldn’t find another,” Julie replied. “Let’s finish exploring here and leave the rest for another day.”

They began to walk slowly around the room, their footsteps careful and deliberate. The flickering candlelight cast eerie shadows on the walls as they peered at the old portraits and cautiously navigated the room, avoiding any contact with the dusty furniture. When they reached the grand fireplace, they paused. A heavy chair stood directly in front of it, oddly positioned with its back to the hearth.

“Strange,” Amanda muttered, bending to examine the intricate Delft tiles surrounding the fireplace.

Julie, stepping back to inspect the plates and vases on the mantel, suddenly gasped. “Look at this, Amanda! This is weird!”

Amanda, still focused on the tiles, straightened up just as the candle flickered violently and went out, plunging the room into darkness. The silence was heavy and oppressive, a stark contrast to Julie’s usual exuberance.

“Damn!” Julie hissed. “Where are the matches, Amanda? I handed them to you. We can use them to light our way out.”

Amanda rummaged in her sweater pocket and pulled out a small box of matches. “Only three left,” she whispered, her voice tinged with fear.

“Never mind. They’ll be enough to get us out of this room and into the hall. From there, the window will guide us.”

Amanda struck the first match, and they hurriedly made their way around the scattered furniture. The match sputtered out before they reached the door. The second match got them to the hall, but it too extinguished quickly. The third match broke, leaving them in darkness once more. Panic set in, and they stumbled along the walls, their fingers searching desperately for the cellar door.

Julie’s hand brushed against a knob. “Here it is!” she breathed. They yanked the door open and rushed inside, only to find themselves in a cramped closet filled with musty clothes.

“It’s not the door!” wailed Amanda. “I’m never coming into this house again!”

Julie took a deep breath, regaining her composure. “It’s okay. I remember now. The door is just across the hall.” She pulled Amanda out of the closet and guided her across the wide hall space.

“Here it is! Now we’re okay!” she exclaimed, opening a door that led to a flight of steps. As they descended, a dim square of daylight began to emerge, lifting their spirits.

Outside, rain pelted down, but the sight of daylight, even through the downpour, was a relief. They sprinted to Amanda’s veranda, drenched but laughing.

“Julie,” Amanda asked as they stood on the porch, shaking the water from their clothes, “what were you pointing at when the candle went out? I didn’t see.”

Julie leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. “There was a painting over the mantel, but it was facing the wall. Why would anyone hang a picture like that?”