Writers Game: Whodunnit?

Task One Females

Writer: @EverydayAwkwardness

Marie's nose crinkled with disdain as the door to the mansion opened.

Before her was a man who appeared fairly younger than her with cloudy gray eyes and a chiseled jawline. He was dressed in a crisp tuxedo, and would be handsome if not for the patch of baldness on his head.

Marie valued beauty and youthfulness even in older people. Those traits showed that you had a fairly good self-esteem and were confident in yourself. This man probably couldn't prevent his balding, but a cap could have been issued to him.

He smiled a little too widely for Marie, his dimples proving to be quite deep, and greeted her, "Welcome to the Rue Manor, Madame. I am Giles, the butler of this establishment." He bowed and looked at a clipboard in his hand with matching photos. Once spotting her portrait, the man took her coat and gestured for her to enter.

"Miss Chambers?" The butler queried.

She nodded to him, watching her coat to see where he would put it. Often times measly butlers like him would check the pockets for spare change. Marie wouldn't be fooled by him. Yet, he set it on the rack and began escorting her around the mansion.

"This will be your home for, at the most, a month or two. We thank you for coming and leaving your everyday life to enter this game of smoke and mirrors. You are the first to arrive, but by this evening all the rooms will be full with your competitors. Learn their names well, because you will have to work with them." He spoke like a gentleman, using the correct hand gestures and pauses between sentences. He was trained well.

The mansion was very pretty in a regal way. Dim lights in chandeliers lit the grand foyer, and a large carpet and sets of couches framed a fireplace. It was much bigger than Marie's apartment, but had a musky old person smell that she didn't want to be accustomed to just yet.

"Your room is upstairs, the second one on the right. And here is you key." He handed the golden key to Marie, their hands briefly touching. "If you need me, I will be here greeting the other guests, or in my chambers behind the dining hall." He smiled one last time, his eyes crinkling at the edges. "Enjoy your stay."

The butler left Marie at the bottom of the spiral staircase and moved to the door, staring at the oaken wood, his smile ever-present.

Marie frowned. He seemed nice, but she decided she definitely wouldn't want to be alone with him. Who knows how long he's been alone in the mansion. Marie didn't want to be the one he gets attached to. To win, she must stay focused, and having any ties to him would be a bad idea.

And so, Marie left Giles and ascended the staircase to her room. Upon entering, she collapsed on the bed and stared at the pale blue ceiling. This is going to be one hell of a ride, and she had no clue what Giles had in store for her. There's only thing she was sure of; If she was going to win, she might have to get her hands a little dirty.

That's when she heard a scream. Marie couldn't tell if it was feminine or masculine, but it stopped her heart cold.

The competition had begun.

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Writer: @MollyMoynihan

As the car swung around the hill I saw a glimpse of the manor I would be staying at. It was even bigger than my childhood home. Four or more stories, old, with dark paint peeling off the shutters. The car pulled in at the large detailed front door. "This is the place." The driver said getting out of the car. In my eyes this was all very strange and suspicious.

About 2 weeks ago I received a blood red letter addressed to my dorm which said "you have been cordially invited to stay at the prestige Rue Manor for this Spring Break." Of course at first glance I immediately thought that I would not go. But, after thinking about it, I decided I would much rather go to a strange unfamiliar Mansion than have to visit my parents... Yep, priorities. I lifted my hefty bag out of the black mini limo which had been waiting for me after getting off the short flight from San Francisco. I walked up to the door leaving my driver and my sanity behind. I grabbed the wrought iron lion head knocker, and banged on the door. An old man wearing a tuxedo opened the door. "Ah miss Charlotte Jones. We've been expecting you, welcome to Rue Manor. I'm Giles." I walked into the house and was immediately struck with a uneasy feeling.