Chapter X - Intruders

Smashes and bangs filled Horror Hill, and shrieks and cries of havoc resonated off the walls.

"Stay there, I will see what is going on and if you need to... hide." Lord Horror Hill diligently asserted as he left the safety of the library.

Scurrying towards the chaos, Lord Horror Hill gasped in terror. The front door had blown off its hinges, and splinters of wood surrounded the floor.

"I am terribly sorry, but Master Burns died yesterday morning; we couldn't do anything to save him. We tried." Lord Horror Hill informed the infuriated intruders.

"What?" they grouched in atrocity. Unexpectedly, the men charged past Lord Horror Hill and into the manor house looking for Butler Burns as they didn't believe the Lord for a second.

"Hide!" Lord Horror Hill wailed at the rest of the Horror Hillians in the library, desperate to protect them.

Dr Lazer clambered up behind the door, hearing the Lord's warning. Viscount Phantom perpetually jumped left to right, afraid if he was going to die today. Electro dashed out of the room towards the intruders - attacking them!

"You will pay for what you and your organisation did to my hometown!" Electro howled as he recognised the intruders - his face as red as crimson.

Pouncing on top of one of the men, Electro clawed at the man's face, creating gashes in his cheeks. The man retaliated and swung his heavy fist at Electro's face. Electro dodged whilst pounding his fists alternatively onto the man's chest. He continued to slam his hands down on the man's ribcage. The incessant clash of bones grinding and scratching in the man's body didn't make Electro stop. Irritated at the man, he watched as blood poured out of his mouth and nose. Then, Electro gritted his teeth in rage and punched the man one last time. The man lay on the ground with blood everywhere - his face a mess of flesh and skull. Slowly raising to his feet, still fixed on the man he'd just killed, Electro turned towards the next man and wiped his nose free of the cascading flow of blood.

The unusually small Sir Hollow Eyes was jammed between two bookshelves in the library. The three of them hid, reassuring each other that they would all be fine. They whispered to each other like in an intense game of hide and seek.

"I doth bethink we shouldst moveth from the library. We could possibly go up to your room Dr Lazer and yond is very high up and safe there," Viscount Phantom murmured.

"Good idea! Right, let's go." Dr Lazer squeaked.

The three scrambled softly like mice down the hallway and into the lift. Screeches and shrills of pain ricocheted off the blood-splashed walls as they waited until they would get to the top of the mansion. Ding! The doors opened. The deafening silence in the uppermost floor juxtaposed the ear-splitting mayhem that continued to happen downstairs. Dr Lazer unlocked his room, whilst the other two scurried in behind him. Slamming the door shut in terror, he impulsively pushed furniture and objects to block the door.

Gasping for breath, the three of them waited in silence - holding their hands on each of their mouths. Noises of thumps and clatters outside increased until there was a loud smack on the door. The intruders, who had taken the stairs, continued to knock on the door. They repeatedly hammered their fists and screamed behind the door; the intruders still believed they were hiding Butler Burns from them. Terrorized by the angry threats they screamed; Sir Hollow Eyes was baffled at how they knew they were in there.

"Open the door!" the men yelled like zombies on a rampage.

The three Horror Hillians surreptitiously plotted their escape. Instantly, Viscount Phantom opened the window, went first, and climbed down the side of the house - using the guttering and trellis as a ladder. Astonished but also nervous, Dr Lazer and Sir Hollow Eyes followed.