They quickly discovered Nell in a quiet room apart from the rest of the house. This room, a quiet and comforting room, Nell said, was the place where Caroline gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. From what Nell had said, Caroline was her great, great-grandmother. This house was hers and she belonged there to guard the children, as did her great, great -grandmother.

Nell stood up and placed a cow-horn crown on Vixie's head. In the center of the horns lay a red circular disk and protruding from the front of the crown was a cobra. Vixie immediately recognized the crown and gladly accepted it. Nell told her, "You've got to accept your goddess rule my lady. Remember, you are the comforter of the dead before the meet Anubis."

Vixie turned to Luke. Luke suddenly realized how Egyptian Vixie really was wearing the cow horns. He remembered seeing the mosaic of Hathor wearing the exact crown that Vixie was now wearing. It dawned on him that Vixie was truly Hathor, the Egyptian Goddess of love and fertility. It was a small wonder why she had been so comforting to be around, Luke thought.

Nell stood up, exclaiming, "Come, I'll show you the way out of here. My place is here among the children and Hathor will be by my side. But you mustn't stay here any longer or else Kraine won't let you go. I'll show you a way out!"

Nell led them out the small door and into the hallway. All around them the doors began slamming shut. A thunderous growling echoed through the house as the thunderstorm outside raged and the terror inside Hill House began. They skidded into the library and started towards the entrance but were cut off as the huge metal doors slammed shut. They were now trapped!

The rain beat heavily upon the steeping roof of Hill House, cascading through the drainpipes and out the mouths of sculpted children. The water produced an eerie roar through the large living room, adding to the growing hysteria.

Vixie watched Dr. Marrow batter the barred glass windows with the wood chair. The ghost of Kraine would not allow the unfortunate five out of the house. They were trapped; just like the children that Kraine had previously kidnapped from their parents at the mines.

Nell stood at the base of the stairs, trying to find a way to save the spirit of the children from being locked in the house forever. Already Nell had told the four that Kraine wouldn't let them. But the group wouldn't listen to Nell, trying to reassure themselves that there was a way out of the house.

Theo and Vixie clung to each other, watching Dr. Marrow and Luke continue smashing the windows without any effective results. Vixie felt a disturbance in the chaos around them. An enormous force seemed to be lurking just outside the house, searching for a way in. Vixie realized that Anathor, after spending nearly a century in purgatory, was set free by the god Seth, and allowed to walk among the mortals once more. But this time, as a king. The children were still an obsession by Anathor and since he wasn't able to have children of his own, he took the children from the mills by force and locked them in the Taj Mahal of Berkshire.

The two together would have to stop Kraine before he locked Luke, Theo, and Dr. Marrow in the house or even worse, kill them. Anxiously Vixie looked from the windows to Luke and Dr. Marrow.

Vixie exclaimed, "Stop trying to escape! Hugh Kraine won't let you go! You must hide from him!"

"Yes!" Nell agreed. She turned to Dr. Marrow and said, "Kraine loved playing hide-go-seek with the children. You must hide!"

Dr. Marrow growled hotly to Nell and Vixie, "Does he think this is some sort of game?"

Luke pulled away from the window as Kraine yanked the chair out of the window and threw it back at him. Picking up another chair and angrily throwing it against the wall Luke screamed, "God damn it! Let us out of here!"

Turning towards the painting of Kaine that hung just near Theo and Vixie, Luke marched over to it, screaming, "You bastard! Let us out of here you sick freak!"

An angry storm raged in his eyes as he grabbed the candle holder and raised it to strike the portrait.

"No Luke!" Vixie cried, pulling free from Theo and racing towards him, "Don't touch the painting! He'll kill you!"

Luke dropped the candle holder and leapt off the desk. But the damage had already been done. Five slash marks rattled the painting. He yelled, "Come on! Lets burn the house down!"

Nell suddenly glanced up to the black metal door and saw one of the dark clouds on the Door of Judgment swirling and the children crying.

Vixie looked to Luke, pleading with her eyes for him to calm down. She reached out to Luke and met his hand in hers. She smiled weakly at him, "It's family business. You should not have gotten involved."

Luke gave her a gentle smile and kissed her tenderly on the lips. He whispered, "I know my place now."

Luke gazed up at the portrait of Kraine, expecting to see the slashes he had inflicted on the painting. Instead, he saw the portrait smeared in blood where he had slashed the painting. Luke gasped and backed away from the painting. Just then, the painting came to life, emitting a dark plume of smoke that knocked Luke off his feet and sent him sliding towards the fireplace fifty feet away.

Kraine's angry cry rattled through the house. The ghost floated past the terrified group and over to the base of the fireplace where Luke lay face down. His eyes were closed as he lay motionless on the sooty floor. Again Kraine gave a triumphant cry, hovering over Luke's lifeless body.

Nell shouted, "It's not about them Hugh Kraine! It's about Vixie and I! It's about family! I'm your great, great granddaughter! I've come back home grandpa! Leave the children and my friends alone!"

Vixie nodded, stepping forward, "And I know that within you Hugh Kraine that the evil pharaoh Anathor still lives. Do you remember me Anathor? I am Hathor, the wife you took but could never have! I'm back to make sure you are sent to the Underworld where you belong!"

Kraine whirled around to Nell and Vixie, giving a low hiss. Nell stood firmly on her spot, raising her voice to a booming bellow, "Your entrapment of the children and my friends are over! It's time to face family!"

"Exactly!" Vixie cried. "I loved Marcus Comdassius more than Egypt itself! Did you really think that you could separate us?"

The ghost growled deeply. Just then the house fell quiet. Outside the rain ceased all together as the clouds parted above House Hill. The moon reflected down on the house. A seeping hiss rolled throughout the house and wove itself into the interior of the living room. Kraine's figure disappeared with the storm. Theo and Dr. Marrow glanced worriedly at each other. Nell stood her ground, glaring at Kraine.

Vixie's angry glare shifted to a concerned gaze at Luke's still form. The sudden calm unnerved her and she felt an even greater urgency for Luke to wake up. Vixie whispered urgently, "Luke! Wake up Luke!"

Luke did not stir. Above him, the lions eyes began glowing red. The eyes of the griffin and the eagle statues surrounding the living room began glowing red.

Gazing fearfully at the still, motionless figure of Luke lying on the floor, Vixie called out louder, "Luke! Luke! Wake up Luke!"

Vixie decided to go over to Luke and wake him from unconsciousness. Just as she was starting his way, the house began to tremble and shake. The roof began to dip inwards as the walls began to flex. Dr. Marrow and Theo backed away from the walls and the creatures that were coming to life.

Nell grabbed the discarded candle holder that Luke had used to slash the portrait and began beating the bronze eagle, screaming, "You leave them alone Hugh Kraine! If you want to solve family problems, you better face just Vixie and I alone!"

The lions and the beasts roared loudly in anger.

Luke slowly opened his eyes. The heavy vibrations he felt through the floor had woken him up. He felt a cough surge through his throat and a warm liquid following it. Spitting out blood with each cough, he rolled to his side and tried to spot his friends. He saw Vixie beating at the griffins that were beginning to swarm around her. Again Luke coughed up blood. Luke didn't think that the blow had caused that much internal damage but by the amount of blood that he was coughing up, Luke knew that Kraine had done more harm to him than what he saw and felt. Luke's eyes rested on the determined and fearful eyes of Vixie's. Vixie paused to gaze into his eyes. Luke saw her fear, her fear for him.

Vixie whispered, "Don't be afraid."

The lions began tossing their manes. Loud roars erupted from deep within their throats. The lions first looked out at Nell on the stairs to Theo and Dr. Marrow near the metal doors, and Vixie in the center of the living room, and to finally Luke below them.

Luke heard the lions and rose to his knees, gazing nervously above him. The lions roared down at Luke, licking their chops. Then the lions began searching for a way off the mantel. While they peered over the ledge the lions leered at Luke and greeted him with threatening hisses.

Just then Kraine sent an enormous force that swept Luke off his feet and slammed him into the firewood in the fireplace. Luke gave a soft cry of pain as he landed on the ridged logs. He fell from the logs to the sooty floor.

Vixie remembered the flu and cried, "Luke! Get out of there Luke!"

Dazed, Luke shook his head, releasing a cloud of ash from his hair. The ash momentarily blinded him as well as choked his throat. He could barely hear Vixie screaming for him to get out of there. He had no sooner heard her when the sound of the flu echoing through the chimney.

Luke leapt against the back wall of the fireplace just as the lion-headed flu swept down into the fireplace. Luke couldn't believe his luck. So far the thing had nearly crushed him twice! He hated to think what would of happen if he hadn't gotten out of the way in time! The menacing lion's mouth would of at least taken his head clean off!

After a bit of observing the flu's arch, Luke quickly got out from the fireplace and staggered to the opening of the fireplace. Remembering the active lions above, Luke hesitated moving any further.

The lions hissed and growled above, trying to break free from their bondage to climb down the mantel and attack Luke.

"Leave him alone!" Vixie screamed through tears and anger. "Luke has done nothing to you!"

Through the dust and soot swirling in the fireplace, words began forming:

You will not be loved by another.

From behind him, the metal doors on the base of the fireplace began rattling. The fireplace doors burst open, spraying the room with a thick coat of ash and bones. Luke had to shield his eyes from the ash, shoot, and bones as they hurtled at him. Luke began backing out of the fireplace, coughing from the ash. He exited the fireplace, choking on the soot, completely forgetting about the lions directly above him.

One of the lions swatted the three and a half-foot metal ball off the mantel. Before anyone could warn him, the metal ball struck Luke's right shoulder, knocking him hard to the cement floor. The metal ball smashed into Luke's upper back before rolling off him and down the fireplace stairs.

Theo gave a scream as she saw the ball fall on Luke. Theo glanced over at Vixie, unsure of what to do. Theo knew how much Vixie loved Luke and how much he loved her. Judging from the weight and the position of the ball, Theo hypothesized that Luke had been killed immediately by the ball crushing down on his spine.

Vixie fought the urge to run to him. If Luke was alive, any action towards helping him might make Hugh Kraine decide to end his life now. Vixie gazed expectantly at Luke, silently praying for him to show signs of life. Tears began flowing down her face as she gazed at Luke's unresponsive, tortured body. No signs of life and little hope. Vixie desperately wanted Luke to make a slight movement to show that he was okay.

Nell screamed, "Settle this with the family Grandpa! Don't take it out on any of them! What are you afraid of you coward!"

Hugh Kraine then burst from his painting into a hideous black spirit. Hugh Kraine drifted down the stairs and flew at Nell and Vixie. The two had gathered in front of the Door of Judgment.

Vixie cried, "I am no longer afraid of you! You may kill those I love but you can never take away the love I have for them or the love they had for me!"

Nell lured Kraine closer to the door of judgment, relying on the demons to take Kraine to hell. As soon as Kraine stopped in front of the door, Anubis, the Jackal-headed god guiding the children on the door, suddenly reached out and grabbed Kraine's spirit. Anubis yanked the panicked spirit of Kaine into the door, knocking Nell in with them. Vixie managed to leap out of the way, avoiding Anubis's flight. Nell though, for a brief period, was sucked into the door before she was released back into Hill House.

Her body slumped lifelessly on the floor. All around her, children's spirits began drifting upwards towards heaven with a golden glow surrounding them. Each of them whispered their thanks to Nell and Vixie before disappearing above the roof. For a while Nell watched the children ascend to heaven, a delightful smile resting on her face. Then Nell closed her eyes and let her spirit join the children's'. Nell had fulfilled her duty to her family.

As Dr. Marrow and Theo rushed to Nell as Vixie stumbled over to Luke. The ash scattered beneath Vixie's feet as she wearily staggered to him. When Vixie reached Luke at the base of the fireplace Vixie fell to her knees. She saw the crimson surrounding Luke's upper torso and knew immediately that Luke had been crushed underneath the heavy metal ball.

"Luke," Vixie wept, gently picking his upper torso and holding him close to her. She cried, "No! It is not so! Tell me it is not so!" Tears flowed freely as she mourned the loss of her love. She gently shook Luke, crying, "Come on Luke, wake up! It's over now! Come on Luke, you've got to wake up! We're free now Luke, we're free!"

Luke's eyes remained shut as he lay motionless in her arms. Vixie began to sob uncontrollably, her cheek resting on Luke's hair. Vixie felt her mortal life dwindling and the urge to fall into a deep sleep began overtaking her. She heard more mournful sobs from Theo as she and Dr. Marrow mourned the loss of Nell.

Theo glanced over at Vixie and their anguishing eyes met for a brief second, each recognizing the others' heartbreaking loss.

A faint whisper came from Luke, "I finally scared you didn't I?"

Vixie stared at Luke in amazement. Tears continued to flow freely from Vixie's eyes as she gently stroked Luke's cheek with her delicate fingers. She laughed, replying, "Yes you did."

Luke gave a soft chuckle and held Vixie's gentle face in his eyes before closing them for one last time.

Fighting her father's, her mother's, and her brother's beckoning to the After Life, Vixie delivered one last kiss to Luke's lips before resting beside him. Gazing out at Dr. Marrow and Theo, Vixie smiled softly to herself. She would miss her new friends but as she remembered, death was only the beginning for a new life. Vixie then closed her eyes and drifted off to her awaiting family in the After Life. Her years of purgatory were now over.

The next morning, the caretaker and his wife trudged towards the gate. Non- surprisingly, the caretaker was not astonished to see the feeble attempts of getting out of Hill House. Nell's beige Volvo still was stuck into the iron gate in which little damage had been done to the fence but a lot of damage had been done to the car.

The caretaker looked up to see Dr. Marrow and Theo solemnly making their way towards the gate, waiting to be released. Sorrow and betrayal lurked in Theo's eyes while bewilderment shone in the doctor's.

The Caretaker's wife shook her head sadly, scoffing, "City people."

Grinning broadly, the caretaker fumbled for the key and unlocked the chain that held the gate shut. Releasing the two, the caretaker asked Dr. Marrow, "Well Doctor, did you find what you were looking for?"

Dr. Marrow leered at him. The caretaker knew how haunted Hill House really was. Both the caretaker and his wife had previously warned him about the phenomenon that dwelled in the house but he had not taken either of their advice. Now three people were dead due to his negligence. How could any rational person smile at a thing like that?

Dr. Marrow passed the caretaker and helped Theo into the awaiting Volkswagen bus. Their weekend of terror was finally at an end.

FOREWARD: Yes, yes, there's that damn freaky "Carousel" music that they put on the end of the movie. I think the only reason why they put that piece for the start of the ending credits was to totally trip you out. I mean, it's a dark, ominous movie and so to keep with the theme they put that ridiculously haunting music on at the end which begs to asks the question, was this whole story really a big joke? Hmmmm….




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