“It’ll be really hard, T.”

“I know. For me too. Let’s not think about that now.” Tina leans in for a reassuring kiss on the cheek. She threads her fingers through Bette’s hair, massaging the back of her head for comfort. The loving touch is soothing and relaxes the anxious teenager immediately as well as herself.

“Okay….There it is. What do you want to do?” Bette points to a dark and neglected house at the end of the road. It sits high on a hill. The backdrop of black threatening clouds makes it look even more sinister.

“Park and let’s take a look around.”

“Tina, are you sure? It looks kinda…old and we are trespassing.”

“Scared Porter?” Tina gives her a knowing smile. She winks then bolts out of the car. She walks quickly to the front and begins her examination of the entrance.

“Pfftt, Hardly.” Bette whispers to herself. She parks the car a safe distance then joins her eager girlfriend. She shakes her head when Tina looks at her a raised eyebrow. “I’m not scared!” She takes Tina’s hand just in case and leads the way bravely but her insides are filling with dread. It takes both of them to push open the heavy iron gate. Years of rust sprinkle from the hinges and the gate squeals eerily as if in protest as the girls slip through the entrance. They jump when an old and ragged crow makes a harsh and sickening caw. The scary bird stares at the young girls with a beady eye then flies away to a large dead oak tree in the middle of the yard. The bird stands sentry where it continues to watch the intruders suspiciously. Bette and Tina grin nervously at each other before turning their eyes to the enormous and daunting sight before them.

The Old Victorian style house has been a landmark in West Hollywood for over a hundred years, belonging to a very rich and eccentric family until a few years ago when the property was auctioned to pay off back taxes. Since then, it has changed hands several times, the owners not staying more than three months and always leaving without a word. It sits on an acre of land, the overgrown grass and dying plants adding to its ominous appeal.