"So that's it, eh?"
Will Solace, Lou Ellen, and Cecil stood in the tree line staring up at the manor. It was ancient, built from black stone with gold plated columns at the entrance. There was a garden in the back that the Lou Ellen and Cecil had attempted to enter on more than one occasion, but to no avail. The walls were too high and smooth and topped with barbed wire. A man lived in there, his immense wealth inherited or― as it was rumored to be ―stolen from a family stretching back for generations. Now he lived in mostly solitude with only his third wife, son, and youngest daughter for company. Will had only ever seen the man come out of his mansion thrice, and none for a pleasant purpose. The first was for his first wife's funeral, after she was killed in an explosion that destroyed an entire half of the hotel they had been staying in. The second, for his eldest daughter's, who died in a car crash trying to save her friends from certain death. The third for his second wife who perished from an unknown illness. Every time, the man had looked the same. Long black hair and a look of intense hatred and sorrow etched across his sharp, pale features.
Naturally, this sparked a number of rumors across town and the man had been forced to call the police on more than one account of teenagers no different than the trio standing in the treeline now, who had attempted to break into his manor. Will himself was having a few second thoughts, but he felt the need to be here out of both curiosity, and the fact that there was an inevitable capture ahead of them.
Cecil nodded to Will. "Yeah that's it. Now, y'all remember the plan, right?"
The two nodded. Cecil grinned and pulled several pins from his pocket along with a couple of pocket knives ("Just in case," he had said), and a couple of flashlights.
"Let's go then!" he whispered excitedly. "The whole family's out. This is our chance. And don't worry, I've already disabled security."
Will knew perfectly well of Cecil's abilities to hack, pick, and all around ruin whatever he touched, but felt uneasy. Still, he shook off the foreboding dread and followed his friends up to the house.
Cecil went to the side of the mansion, to a small cellar door half buried in the ground. He flashed another grin before pulling out a pin and beginning to pick the lock. Will stood behind Lou Ellen, rocking slightly on his heels as nausea built up in his stomach. Finally, the door swung open silently, allowing a single beam of moonlight to illuminate some stairs leading into a somewhat barren looking cellar. The trio tiptoed down into the basement and saw only rows of boxes. Nothing special it seemed. Wandering through the labyrinth of dusty shelves and old possessions long forgotten, they found the door leading upstairs.
Looking ahead at the two corridors stretching ahead of them, Cecil suggested, "Why don't we split up?"
Lou Ellen elbowed him. "No way! You think we're gonna trust you in this place by yourself? Hell, we can't even have you go into a convenience store without you stealing something. And besides, splitting up is always how people die in horror movies."
Will couldn't help but chuckle. "Lou, as right as you are," he said. "I doubt we're going to be attacked in the next hour."
Lou huffed and glowered at him. "Fine," she snapped. "I'll go with Cecil over here. I trust you enough not to take anything and/or get killed."
Will snorted and waved goodbye as he turned on his flashlight and headed down the dark hall. He focused on the sound of his friends' bickering and footsteps to calm his nerves until they faded away completely. Now that he was alone, he realized how stupid he was being. Occasionally, he heard a thump or creak from the depths of the mansion that couldn't possibly be from Lou Ellen or Cecil. They sounded like footsteps though. Wait, did he just hear someone muttering to himself? It sounded angry. Was this place haunted? Will shook his head. Snap out of it Solace, you're being ridiculous.
Will turned down another corner, when he heard a loud creak behind him. He turned around and thought he saw a dark shadow dart into hiding. But even after shining his flashlight in that direction, he saw nothing.
"Okay... So this place is definitely haunted..." he said aloud.
"No, the shadows betray you because they serve me."
Will spun on his heel and fell over his own feet at the sight of a boy about his age standing in front of him. He, understandably, did not look happy. His overgrown black hair falling into equally dark eyes that gleamed with a kind of fiery madness.
Feeling as though his ego was now just as bruised as his backside from the fall, Will glared right back at the teen before him. "Oh yeah? And where did you read up that quote?" he shot back.
Will could've sworn he saw the flicker of a smirk on the boy's face. "I don't entirely remember, actually. But now felt like a good time to use it."
Will rolled his eyes. "I'm guessing you're Nico di Angelo then?" He knew his younger sister Hazel from school and while she didn't talk much, she was nice enough. She had mentioned Nico from time to time.
Nico rolled his own eyes in return. "Obviously. Though, let's stop the pleasantries and cut to the chase here: Who are you and why the hell are you in my house?"
"I-uh-I..."
"Are there others with you? I heard voices."
"Well, if you're hearing voices, you might want to see a doctor di Angelo."
"You know what I mean!"
"Oh yes, I think I do, and I happen to be an excellent―"
"SHUT UP!" Nico's voice echoed through the hall and he glared down at Will. "Now, I'm going to call the cops if you don't tell me why you're here. And if I find your friends because yes I know they're here too, I'm going to―"
"Ugh fine! I was here because we were playing truth or dare and I was dared to break in, okay? I swear, it was just a stupid dare and I was stupid enough to go along with it. I swear I'm not here to steal anything or do anything to you. My friends followed me inside, but booked it out when I got out of the basement. Look, I'm sorry and I promise I'll leave immediately."
The air froze around Will and tension built like water behind a dam. Nico stared at him in both disbelief and annoyance. Will prayed he bought his lie. Hopefully his friends had heard Nico yell and had gotten the hint to leave.
"Fine. Get out."
Will didn't wait for him to change his mind. He jumped up and sprinted back down the stairs and out the cellar door to where he saw Lou Ellen and Cecil already waiting for him, their eyes wide and mouths open in shock. Will turned on Cecil first.
"I thought you said nobody was home!" he yelled.
Cecil flinched and looked at Lou who only glared in response. "Will was caught Cecil! Oh god, last time I ever join either of you on these stupid night outings! Please don't tell me you stole anything."
Cecil gave a weak smile that quickly dissolved under Lou's gaze. "Just... Just a box of cash from off the living room table..."
"WHAT?!" Will and Lou shrieked at the same time. Cecil flinched and hesitantly reached his hand into his backpack, pulling out a small ornate box.
SMACK! Cecil's face jerked to the side as Lou drew back her hand again for a second hit. Will grabbed her arm to spare Cecil's already reddening face. "Lou, that's not going to solve anything. Hand it over Cecil, I'll return it."
Lou shot Cecil one last glare before he nervously handed over the box. Will marched back up to the house― this time going to the front door ―leaving Lou to deal with their little thief.
He tucked the box under one arm and knocked as loudly as he could with the other. No response. He knocked again. Still nothing. He knocked again.
This time, Nico did answer the door. "What?" he snapped.
Will gulped. Under the porch light, Nico seemed less like a demon that had come to collect his soul and more like an extremely tired and annoyed emo kid, but something in his gut still thrashed around nervously.
"Hey, uhm, sorry to bother you again, but I lied..."
Nico raised an eyebrow.
Will cleared his throat to continue. "I lied when I said my friends abandoned me for some stupid dare. They came with me into your house and..." He glared back over to where he could see Lou beating the living daylights out of Cecil. "My friend decided to take a box that had been left on your living room table." Will pulled out the small box and handed it to a very shocked di Angelo. "I came to return it and apologize. Seriously! I'm sorry."
The moment hung still for a few seconds too long as Nico stared at Will. "You have got to be kidding me," was all he said.
"I'm not! I swear! Look, is there any way I can make it up to you?"
Another tantalizing pause.
"Come in," Nico said. He ducked back into the shadows of the hall, his brown aviator's jacket billowing out a bit behind him like a cape.
Will followed in after him, albeit a bit wary, down a hallway to the living room where Nico gingerly placed the box before turning to Will.
"So, uh, why did you bring me in here?"
Nico's mouth twitched and Will couldn't tell whether he was trying not to scowl or smirk. To his surprise, the black haired boy stepped closer to him.
"I needed to do something real quickly, if you don't mind." Nico stepped closer again.
Will felt a slight flush creep up his face as Nico looked up at him.
And then he felt a sharp pain shoot through his jaw and his head jerk to the side as Nico punched him dead in the face with all the strength he could possibly muster.
A/N- I apologize for the wait. I know quite a few people were requesting a Solangelo fanfiction for a while and I didn't have any ideas or time until recently. I also apologize for the lack of romance in this, but I couldn't find any way to work it in. It just didn't seem realistic to me given the situation. I know someone also requested a Solangelo Truth or Dare, but again, I couldn't really find a smooth way to make it work. Continue to send in requests and hopefully I'll get them done sooner than I have. Bye for now. : )