American Mansion

By Gabriel Olson

Is it a chance to win riches, or a trick? When strangers are brought together for a game of fortune on a secluded farm they, will find that there was more to the contest than they were told. What darkness comes with the American Mansion?  

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gabriel Olson
• Release date: Apr 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215715819

Book preview

American Mansion

Gabriel Olson

Published by Gabriel Olson, 2023.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

AMERICAN MANSION

First edition. April 1, 2023.

Copyright © 2023 Gabriel Olson.

Written by Gabriel Olson.

American Mansion

Somewhere in Pennsylvania

A white Cadillac moved down a stretch of wooded highway. The man in the car was talking on his cell phone to his wife in Spanish. He assured her that the training was going well, and that the company was putting him up in a luxury hotel for the duration. He grimaced when she asked where he was, and told her he was having dinner in the hotel. He ended the call, eyed himself in the rearview mirror, and exhaled in obvious uneasiness. Then in an attempt to divert his mind he, turned on the radio and began scrolling through the channels. He navigated through a couple music channels until he paused at a news station.

This is a big deal, said the anchor with what seemed to be genuine concern in his voice. This is a total overturn of Roe Vs Wade… That’s a total rejection of abortion rights on the Federal Level. This is like a back hand in the face to the whole sexual revolution… Maybe I’m wrong, but I thought that was what this country was all about… I honestly feel betrayed. I guess it shouldn’t come as a surprise; Donald Trump already trashed Globalism with his trade war on China, he might as well pulverize the liberation movement while he’s at it….

The man quickly turned off the radio and scratched his head. Presently, he spotted a mail box with the number he was looking for, and pulled into the forest lined driveway. Part way up the driveway the car encountered a gate, a bunch of other parked cars, and a small company of onlookers. He parked, and then looked up at the sun visor with mild consternation. After a moment, he sorted through some papers on the passenger seat until he found an advertisement with a heading; ‘Haunted House Challenge’. Below the heading, was a picture of a large well kept house with a footer reading; ‘Win a Mansion in Three Nights’. This sucks, he muttered as he checked the sharpness of a pocket knife with his thumb. With that, he got out and joined the group of people gathered at the gate.

The first person he met was a tall man of about sixty, with his thinning hair combed back, and thick coke bottle glasses. Hay Chotchy, grinned the man.

Edwin will do, grimaced the newcomer.

The tall man turned to the man next to him in the company who was even taller, and of a large flabby build. Hey Greg don’t he look like Chotchy on ‘Happy Days’?

A little bit, said Greg after removing a large smoldering cigar from his mouth, but I’m pretty sure that’s racist to say now. With this, he extended his hand to the newcomer. Just so you know, we’re all inclusive here; we like all the ethnicities… and queers too.

Edwin bowed his head for a moment but then shook the man’s hand.

I’m Mark, said the first man, taking his turn at shaking the newcomer’s hand. Don’t mind me, I’m just getting in the competition zone; the more people that get upset and leave the fewer competitors there are.

The next two people in the group were a man, Jody, and a woman, Crystal,both in their late forties. Jody asked Edwin if he was the guy that owned the house, and Crystal complimented him on his car.

No I’m here to win the place, said Edwin in response to Jody. I’ll have to give you a ride sometime, he added smiling at Crystal.

Just then, another car pulled into the driveway. It was an old Corolla with an obviously home done paint job, and a precarious tapping sound coming from the motor. A young man, nearing thirty, jumped out carrying a duffle bag, and locked the doors. Then, noticing his audience, he paused, and made a show of spit shining one of his headlights.

I don’t think it’s worth the effort, said Greg as the latest comer approached.

That’s quality, samurai, technology there, said the man, whose name was Fred, three hundred thousand miles, and counting.

It probably hasn’t got you very many women in all those miles though, reflected Jody.

Fred paused and rubbed his lips, but then smiled. Well, now that you mention it, I have had some difficulty in that direction. I’ve been ditched for a boy-chick, and an alcoholic, both of which had nicer cars than me.

You really should get a new car, said Greg. Women like a guy that can show them a good time… guy’s too if you’re into that.

I’m not into that, said Fred trying to hide his growing annoyance. The good paying job that I had for the last few years went out of business with all the Covid lockdowns… and the explosion. And now I just got fired from WalMart… I’m not dipping into my savings for style.

How did you get fired from WalMart? asked Mark.

They were trying to make me get a Covid shot… that, and I flipped a pallet of jelly off the loading dock by accident. I even went over the edge with the skid trying to pull it back, but that wasn’t good enough. But such is life… you save for the rainy day so the boss man can’t name your pay.

You know, you didn’t need to lock your car, said a toothless man of about fifty no one is going to break into that.

I always lock my car, said Fred. I just got in the habit when I worked in town, because of all the people from the mental hospital. I’m not worried about someone steeling it, I just don’t want one of them head cases crawling in there and going to the bathroom on my seats.

That’s not really a thing, grimaced Jody. Is it?

I know one or two people that it’s happened to. Fred paused for a moment in thought. In all fairness though, the perp’s never got caught; so I shouldn’t say it was one of the people from the hospital… It could have been just about anyone.

This note stymied the conversation. The toothless man, whose name was Dale, shook his head, and turned to the last three people in the group. The first two were white guys in their twenties, named Cameron and Kyle, and the third was a black guy in his thirties named Andrei. Cameron was tall and emaciated, while Kyle and Andrei were average in height and a little flabby.

What a savage, grimaced Cameron looking at Fred, and speaking in a voice that only those around him could hear. He’s going to need to learn some people skills if he’s ever going to go anywhere.

I know, said Kyle, you can’t just go around telling people about break ups and getting fired like that. If you wouldn’t put it on Facebook you shouldn’t say it.

Well they did grill him a little bit, said Andrei. "Besides, he’s around a bunch of strangers