《Death Upon the Dead》


 1. Do Not Interfere

    It was a cloudy day, with sunlight peeking through the scattered clouds. Occasionally, the sun broke through, and it was time for lunch break. The caf¨¦ was crowded with workers from nearby offices, and a long line had formed to place their orders.


    In the line stood a man in his early twenties. He was wearing a suit, like most of the people in the caf¨¦, but it wasn''t a proper suit. He wore a wrinkled white dress shirt with no tie, the first three buttons left open, exposing his bloodless, pale skin. Still, he caught the eyes of many people there¡ªmostly women.


    Although the man had huge dark circles under his eyes and a messy head of black hair that covered half his eyes and ears, one could still make out his handsome features: a small, high-bridged nose and dark, full lips. His already small face added to an almost outwardly painful expression.


    Some onlookers stared with pity, relating to his tired, overworked appearance. They saw someone who looked like a mess because, at some point, they too had stopped caring about things like a tie. They couldn''t even remember the last time they''d eaten and survived mostly on coffee and energy drinks.


    Well, in Xerxes''s case, he wasn''t worried about work right now. As he anxiously awaited his turn, his hand, holding the black tie, was moist with sweat, and his throat was drying up the closer his turn came. He repeated in his mind:


    Vanilla iced coffee with three shots of espresso... Vanilla iced coffee with three shots of espresso... One regular vanilla iced coffee with three shots of espresso?


    "What can I get for you today?" the girl taking the orders asked, repeating her line for the nth time that day, her smile plastered on her face.


    "Uh... um... one regular vanilla iced coffee with three shots of espresso, please," Xerxes nervously replied, speaking with a steady pace.


    "The sweetness level? Would you like a higher sweetness level or medium?" she asked, tapping the touch screen in front of her.


    "Medium, I think?"


    "Will that be all?"


    "Yes, thank you."


    Xerxes grabbed his coffee cup and ran out of the caf¨¦ as quickly as he could. He walked along the sidewalk, slowly sipping the coffee. It was made just right. Actually, he didn''t have many complaints¡ªso long as it was coffee, it was alright. That''s why he never had a favorite place to get his coffee from. But somehow it felt good to drink expensive coffee, especially when his last bit of money had gone into this cup.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    He felt satisfied spending it on the coffee, and his mood instantly improved. Even though he had just bombed his job interview, he couldn''t care less about it. But there was a problem now: he was completely broke, with just $2 in his bank account. He couldn''t pay this month''s rent or the bills.


    Maybe I should just die after drinking this...


    The road to his right was filled with rushing cars, all going in different directions to reach their destinations. Xerxes''s attention was on the road when someone bumped into him from behind, hitting his right leg. The rough clash made him drop his cup of coffee. Xerxes paused in shock, staring down at the spilled coffee on the sidewalk.


    I should just end it all today...


    Xerxes wasn''t mad. It had just ruined his day, that''s all. He wasn''t going to chase the person who bumped into him and ask for an apology or compensation. He just wanted to see who this person was¡ªwho thought they could run around like their father owned the sidewalk.


    Xerxes tried to run after the person, who was now a little ahead of him. As he got closer, he saw a kid¡ªprobably no more than waist-high¡ªrunning barefoot, his dirty feet slapping the pavement. The kid was hiding his face behind his little arms, as though he were crying. But that wasn''t the issue. The kid was heading straight for the busy road ahead of them, packed with cars. Xerxes picked up his pace, running with all his might to catch up to the kid.


    "HEY! STOP RUNNING!!"


    Xerxes tried to call out, but it was futile. The kid only seemed to grow more frightened, likely afraid of being scolded for bumping into Xerxes. The kid started running even faster. He dashed right into the street, cars skidding to a stop, barely missing him. Then, a white car came speeding toward the child, threatening to hit him.


    On the other side of the road, inside a black Mercedes-Benz V-Class, Nova had just placed the script for his new show down when he saw the kid in the middle of the road, about to be struck by the car. Just as the car was about to hit the child, a person from behind the child suddenly caught up with him and hugged him, turning the child away from the oncoming car. Nova''s manager had stepped out of the car to pick up lunch from the street behind, so no one else was in the car at the moment. Without thinking much, Nova got out of the car.


    The white car screeched to a halt just before hitting Xerxes. The woman in the driver''s seat was clearly frightened. Her left hand gripped the steering wheel tightly, while her right hand was pressed in front of the baby sitting in the passenger seat. The baby was crying so loudly it could be heard outside the car. Cars on the left and right also stopped in shock, their drivers sighing in relief as they witnessed the near miss.


    Suddenly, the ground began shaking with unimaginable force. In the blink of an eye, the ground seemed to collapse, sucking both the child and Xerxes into a dark hole. The three cars in front of them were swallowed up, along with Nova, who had stepped out of his vehicle to check on the situation. Leaving behind a black tie on the sidewalk and spilled coffee.


    Passersby stopped in their tracks, staring at the dark hole in the road with pure terror. They silently thanked the heavens that they hadn''t been the ones to fall in. But at the same time, they felt guilty for thinking that. They also felt sorry for the people who had been swallowed, knowing that only 1% of those who fell into a dungeon for the first time ever survived.

 2. The first dungeon

    Xerxes instinctively closed his eyes when he was about to be hit by a car. But when he opened them again, he was greeted by a dark blue sky, a large white-silver moon with a creepy, strange face on it, and bright yellow stars in wacky shapes that looked like some kid had hand-drawn them.


    Oh, right. The kid...


    Xerxes shifted his gaze down from the sky to the child he was tightly holding. The kid was wiping his tear-stained face with the sleeve of his gray hoodie, which was slipping down his shoulders. It seemed someone had forcefully grabbed him by the hoodie, causing it to unzip, and the sleeves were now hanging down to cover his hands. His short black hair also looked messy. Xerxes ran his fingers through it and patted it back down.


    After cleaning his face with determined effort, the kid finally opened his eyes and stared at Xerxes nonchalantly. His amber eyes had a glint of orange in them, but they were very clear. There was a slight cut on his face, still bleeding a little. That explained the bloodstains on his white undershirt¡ªstains that had even spread to the gray hoodie sleeves.


    "What are you staring at? Release me." The kid struggled to free himself from Xerxes''s grip. Instead of releasing him, Xerxes stood up, picking the kid up along with him.


    "You''re barefoot. You''ll hurt your feet like this," Xerxes spoke without looking at him, his gaze scanning the surroundings. There was a solitary wooden house behind them. Beside it stood a lone tree, and in the distance loomed a small mountain. Apart from these, the area was desolate, with bare ground stretching in every direction.


    "Just put me down, mister," the kid continued to struggle. Xerxes had no intention of letting him go. There were also about four strangers nearby, and... a baby?


    The woman cradled the sniffling baby to her chest as though someone might snatch it away from her. She had a fierce and scared expression on her face. Her brunette hair was tied up in a bun, and she wore a casual pink top and blue jeans. She was doing her best to soothe the baby while cautiously eyeing the strangers around her. To her right stood a couple, and to the left was a middle-aged man. Xerxes, standing in front of them, noticed the last person¡ªa figure shining unbelievably bright in the cold moonlight¡ªstanding between the woman and him.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "Where are we? I''m scared, Lucas," the girl from the couple asked, holding the boy''s hand. The boy''s face was hard to make out, as he was completely covered¡ªwearing a white tracksuit with the hood pulled up, a black jacket on top, and a black baseball cap covering the hood. He even wore a white face mask, making it nearly impossible to see his facial features. On the other hand, the girl looked like a model in a short blue dress and white boots. Her silky light brown hair cascaded down her back, and her light brown eyes complemented her gentle features.


    "We''re inside a dungeon," the kid said, giving up on struggling and accepting his fate. The boy''s grip on the girl''s hand tightened after hearing him, and the others grew visibly tense.


    "A... a dungeon?! How could a baby survive a dungeon? My daughter is only a few months old! How could that be?" The mother cried, holding her daughter even more closely than before. Everyone looked at the baby dreadfully. Xerxes walked over to Nova and whispered, "Go over and comfort her."


    Nova stared at Xerxes with widening sky-blue eyes, pointing a finger at himself in self-doubt. Xerxes pitied the mother even more, considering she had such a clueless partner.


    "So, should I go and comfort her?" Xerxes asked, clearly annoyed, when the kid whispered something in his ear.


    "He''s not the father," the kid said.


    Xerxes looked at the baby, who resembled Nova down to a tee, and then at Nova suspiciously. He decided to step back, just in case he was wrong¡ªafter all, that would be extremely embarrassing.


    "Wait, what about my project? It was so close to being completed!" The middle-aged man collapsed to his knees in agony over his work. Even the mother seemed to forget her crying over his devastated appearance.


    "Crying over it won''t do anything. It''d be better to save that energy and use it to clear the dungeon. If it''s everyone''s first time, it should be easy to clear since the first dungeon for every person is the easiest. We have a chance at clearing it with zero casualties," the boy spoke, seeing no one had anything more to say. It seemed like it was their first time in a dungeon.


    "That''s not entirely true. I know he''s trying to calm the situation, but the survival rate for dungeons is rarely 100 percent¡ªeven for professional infiltrators. Much less for civilians who accidentally fall into a dungeon. It''d be a miracle if even one of them cleared the dungeon and came out alive. The survival rate for newbies is only 1 percent," the kid said in a low voice, so only Xerxes could hear. Nova, however, was listening intently as well.


    "How do you know that?" Xerxes whispered back.


    "I read about it on the internet," the kid replied vaguely, side-eyeing Nova, who was sneaking closer to them.


    "How about we introduce ourselves for starters?" Nova suggested.

 3. Mary

    The girl immediately agreed with Nova and proceeded. "I''m Savannah, and this is Lucas. We''ve known each other since childhood, and we are both pupils," she introduced herself and the young man beside her.


    "I''m Bailey, a single parent, and this is my daughter, Elise," the mother said in a somewhat quivering voice. The infant was calm for once, adorably fiddling with her lustrous blonde hair.


    "I''m Gerald," the middle-aged man declared, rising from the ground and straightening his black suit and rectangular spectacles. "I work in corporate." He removed the employee ID from his neck and tucked it into his trousers pocket.


    "I''m Xerxes," Xerxes nervously blurted out, making sure he wasn''t the last one to introduce himself. It would be too much pressure on him, but he also had nothing else to mention about himself, so his introduction ended almost instantly.


    "Kai," the boy followed, shortening it even further. He appeared indifferent to everything.


    "I''m Nova, a renowned actor. I''m sure you''ve all seen at least one drama with me in it." The man was dressed in a designer dark emerald suit. The black, untied tie hanging from his white dress shirt''s collar had intricate patterns imprinted on it. Everything about him screamed ''rich,'' so one couldn''t dispute his presence, even though they had no idea who he was¡ªexcept for the girl.


    Savannah eagerly waited to request his autograph. She would have loved a picture too, but since high-tech devices weren''t permitted in the dungeons¡ªthough there were exceptions if they fit the theme of the dungeon¡ªshe wasn''t that fortunate and had her phone confiscated. So, she could only gaze with admiration and breathe the same air as a celebrity, hoping to clear the dungeon with Nova.


    "Now that we''re more acquainted, should we explore the house?" Nova led the way, heading straight for the entrance door¡ªthe sole door the house had. Everyone hesitated and followed behind him, one after the other. Nova held the door open for the others to enter first, like a gentleman, even though he was the one who wished to explore the house. He didn''t dare enter first. Everyone simply exchanged glances, lacking the resolve to go first. Xerxes also watched the situation from his original position.


    In the end, Lucas was the one who chose to enter first, followed by Savannah and the others. Xerxes had felt uneasy ever since his arrival, but now he understood why. The house had a gabled roof and two levels, with two sizable windows¡ªone on the first floor and the other on the second. The upstairs window revealed a dark, unlit room. Only two vivid red eyes of a little girl were peering down at Xerxes.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    "Are you coming?" Nova asked, seeing they were the last ones left to enter.


    "Coming," Xerxes replied, walking toward the door. He tried to convince himself he was merely imagining things when Kai whispered, "She''s been watching us from the start." Xerxes shuddered at the chilling words but, despite that, entered the house, and Nova entered last, closing the door behind him.


    The interior of the wooden house was modest. The first room they entered was a dimly lit living room with two three-seater maroon couches arranged opposite each other, with a wooden table in the middle. There was a small open kitchen ahead of the living room with all the essentials, and a wooden dining table with two chairs. Savannah was seated in the middle of the left-side couch, with Lucas on one side and Bailey on the other. This left only the other couch, which Gerald had already claimed. Nova crossed in front of Xerxes and sat in the center of the sofa, patting the only spot left next to him for Xerxes to take a seat.


    Xerxes sat down, and Kai climbed onto his lap without throwing another tantrum. Xerxes immediately began removing his shoes after sitting, drawing odd stares from everyone, but he was too engrossed to notice. He took off his white socks, sniffed them, and placed them on the table in front of him. He then put his shoes back on, this time without socks.


    He then examined Kai''s feet, scrutinizing them carefully. After confirming there were no injuries, he dusted them off with his hand.


    "You can have them," Nova offered a packet of tissues to Xerxes, which he accepted.


    "Thank you." After cleaning Kai''s feet, Xerxes put his white socks back on him and stood up, gently placing Kai back in his seat.


    "Wait here," Xerxes instructed, and began walking when Kai tugged at his sleeve with force, stopping him mid-step.


    "Where are you going? Let''s go together."


    Before Kai could rise, Xerxes had already placed him back in his seat. "Stay here. Don''t ruin my socks. I''m going upstairs to look for some shoes that will fit you. The girl seemed like she was your age."


    The mention of the little girl made everyone confused and uneasy.


    "What girl are you talking about?" Bailey nervously asked.


    "It''s better you don''t know if you want to sleep tonight," Xerxes answered candidly. Bailey clearly didn''t ask further.


    "Would you like me to accompany you?" Nova asked with a grin.


    "No," Xerxes blurted out automatically. He would always refuse others'' assistance, but deep down, he wanted Nova to go with him. However, it was too late now. Xerxes would rather die than ask him to accompany him, so Xerxes proceeded upstairs alone.


    Creak.


    Creak.


    The stairs groaned with each step. The top of the stairs was engulfed in darkness, making it hard to tell where they were leading.

 4. The Golden Room

    After taking the final step, Xerxes was met by an even deeper darkness. The air felt heavy and suffocating, and although he didn''t want to admit it, his heart pounded in his chest. He was genuinely scared out of his wits. His trembling hands fumbled in his pants pocket, searching for the only source of comfort he had left. Pulling out an instant coffee sachet, he ripped off the tip and downed it in one big gulp. The bitter warmth shot through him like a jolt of energy.


    With the caffeine beginning to kick in, Xerxes forced himself to look around. His eyes strained in the pitch-black corridor, barely making out the shape of the walls. It was as though the darkness had swallowed everything. Maybe his eyes were adjusting¡ªor maybe it was the coffee¡ªbut he could somehow see better now.


    It was a narrow corridor, leading to a single door at the end. Xerxes took a steadying breath, trying to calm his nerves, and approached it. He placed his hand on the doorknob and slowly turned it, every creak of the knob sending a ripple of tension through him. He braced himself for a jump scare, but the door creaked open to reveal... nothing.


    An empty room.


    Xerxes blinked, scanning the room in confusion. The emptiness felt worse than if something had been there. The room was plain, almost too perfect, with a wooden bed that had white sheets draped neatly over it, positioned against the wall beside a window. There was a wardrobe tucked into the corner and a round carpet placed in front of the bed. The moonlight from the window bathed the room in a cold, ghostly light. The walls were painted a strange shade of gold, but Xerxes hardly noticed. His mind was still reeling from the tension.


    He headed straight for the wardrobe and began rifling through it, his hands shaking. Was it fear or the caffeine that made him so jittery? Maybe it was both. His body always seemed at odds with his mind, as if they were walking different paths. He sometimes wondered how he even made it this far.


    After what felt like an eternity, Xerxes finally found a pair of white shoes. Without a second thought, he grabbed them and rushed downstairs.


    When Xerxes appeared in the doorway, the tension in the room broke. Everyone who had been holding their breath let it out in a collective sigh of relief. He placed the shoes on Kai''s feet, and they fit perfectly.


    "Did you see anything strange up there?" Gerald asked, raising an eyebrow.


    "Kai, walk around and see if there are any problems," Xerxes said, trying to shake off the lingering unease. He watched as Kai moved around the room in the shoes.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "There was nothing strange," Xerxes continued, looking over at the others. "It''s just a bedroom upstairs."


    "They''re good!" Kai said in a much lighter tone, hopping around the place with newfound energy.


    Seeing that Xerxes had returned unscathed lifted everyone''s spirits. Confident, they decided to continue exploring the house. Everyone but Nova, who remained seated on the couch, looking like she was above it all. There were only two more doors left to check. One was on the left side of the living room. It opened to another bedroom with a double bed, a wardrobe, and a carpet, just like the room upstairs. It also had a window.


    The last door, tucked under the stairs, opened to a tiny room with just a toilet and a basin.


    "There''s only one toilet in the whole house?" Nova peered over the armrest of the couch. His eyes widened in disbelief. Until that moment, the dungeon hadn''t felt all that terrifying, but now, the idea of sharing a single toilet with everyone was enough to make him reconsider. "No way. That''s kind of messed up."


    "It looks clean, though," Xerxes remarked. But Nova was still frowning, clearly unsettled.


    "You can just hold it in until we clear the dungeon," Kai suggested with a shrug.


    Nova''s mind raced, torn between his discomfort and the reality that dungeons could take days to clear. Would he really be able to last that long?


    Unlike Nova, the others seemed content with the situation. A roof over their heads was enough to ease their concerns.


    The kitchen had plenty of drinkable water, but there wasn''t much to eat. So, they decided to sleep off the hunger. No one wanted to venture outside in the dark. Lucas had already dragged Savannah into the bedroom downstairs and locked the door behind them, eliminating one of the rooms.


    "I''ll sleep upstairs," Xerxes declared, eager to claim the last bedroom before anyone else did. But as he looked around, he realized no one seemed interested in taking it. In fact, they looked relieved to settle in the living room. Nova, however, remained determined.


    "I also want to sleep upstairs," Nova said, following Xerxes''s lead.


    "Just sleep in the living room," Xerxes said, giving him a weary look.


    Nova''s expression was as deadpan as ever. Behind them, Gerald and Bailey had already claimed their respective couches, settling in for the night.


    "The table''s free," Kai said, stealing the words right out of Xerxes''s mouth.


    "Come on, don''t be petty. The bed should be big enough for all of us. I''m already having a hard time here without my manager," Nova said with a grin, and before Xerxes could protest, he bolted upstairs.


    Reluctantly, Xerxes and Kai followed, unable to leave Nova alone in his excitement. Nova entered the room with a burst of energy but froze when he saw the ugly golden walls. He frowned but didn''t seem to mind much. Kai immediately flopped onto the bed, throwing off his shoes and claiming the only pillow.


    Later that night:


    "Stop moving, Nova!" Xerxes said, fed up with Nova''s constant movements.


    "Move over to the side a little¡ªmy shoulder is hanging in the air."


    Nova, Kai, and Xerxes were squeezed into the bed, shoulder to shoulder, lying on their backs. But none of them were willing to sleep anywhere else.


    "There''s only the floor left to my side," Xerxes replied. He wasn''t lying. There was no space left to move over to.


    "Turn sideways. You''ll have enough space to sleep then," Kai provided a solution.


    "I like to sleep on my back," Nova said.


    No one spoke after that.

 5. The Calm Before the Storm

    The sun''s bright rays poked through Nova''s eyelids. He annoyingly got up, holding his body up by his arms as he looked at the messy bed. The pillow, which Kai had ditched in the middle of the night and given to Xerxes instead, was somehow on the wooden floor. Nova had more freedom to move around thanks to Kai sleeping sideways at the foot of the bed, and Xerxes, after being so resolute about not sleeping on his side, was now sleeping like a shrimp, taking up only a small part of the bed.


    Nova slumped back down onto the bed. He had been a bit cold last night due to the blanket being overtaken by Kai. The blanket had only warmed his feet, but now, with the warm sun hitting him, he felt sleepy again. Nova turned to the other side, away from the sunlight, and dozed off.


    When Xerxes finally woke up, the sun was already high in the sky. The room around him was eerily quiet, and the bed was empty. He could clearly see the disgusting, golden walls staring back at him... He got up and headed downstairs, where he was met with the sight of everyone already awake and making a commotion.


    "Sir, please hurry up your business!" There was already someone waiting for the toilet to be free. Savannah knocked on the door again impatiently.


    "Can you hold her just until I finish eating? She''s sleeping after drinking milk." Bailey carefully placed Elise on Lucas''s lap, who was sitting on the couch. "I''m telling you, I don''t know how to take care of babies," he protested.


    Nova and Kai sat quietly at the table, munching on bread with glasses of milk in their hands. Both looked half-asleep, as though the night''s exhaustion still lingered over them.


    Xerxes was amazed by the lively morning¡ªor afternoon? "What''s the time right now? Did anyone figure it out?" he asked as he took a seat on the empty couch, grabbing a piece of the milky bread placed on the table. "Where did the food come from?"


    "It was just there when I woke up¡ªand a lot of it, too," Bailey replied. After successfully convincing Lucas to hold Elise, she took a seat on the same couch as him and quickly started eating the bread as well.


    "No one knows what time it is," Savannah answered the other question, her tone tinged with frustration. "There aren''t any clocks here, and the wristwatches were taken too." The door to the washroom opened, and Savannah wasted no time in pushing Gerald aside, slamming it shut with a thud.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    Nova set his bread down, his stomach turning from the foul smell wafting out of the restroom. "I''m going to eat in our room," Kai spoke up, picking up his food tray and dashing upstairs.


    Xerxes''s stomach growled from hunger, so he didn''t pay any attention to the smell or anything else. Bailey, being on the same page, kept her eyes on Lucas.


    Did he already eat? Did he take off his mask to eat?


    Xerxes wanted to catch him in the act, in case he decided to remove his mask. Being in the unknown only intrigued him more¡ªit was like there was an unscratchable itch inside him, wanting to see Lucas''s face.


    Lucas stayed true to his role and didn''t remove his mask. He even ate with it, only lifting it slightly to take bites of bread. He finished his glass of milk in a single breath, leaving a sour taste in Xerxes''s mouth.


    Everyone gathered again in the living room after eating and shitting to their hearts'' content. The daylight was precious right now, so they needed to figure out what to do before the night returned.


    "I don''t think we can guess the story without knowing it beforehand," Lucas said, his voice quiet, but resolute his eyes fixed on something far away.


    Kai dragged a dining chair into the living room, plopping down with a confident air. "I have a general idea of the theme," he said casually, his gaze flickering between the others.


    "You know how the story goes?" Gerald''s voice was skeptical, his eyebrows raising. There was an edge to his tone, the kind of doubt that made it clear he didn''t fully trust Kai''s certainty.


    "Most of the early dungeons are based off children''s books," Lucas said, unfazed by the confession. He crossed his arms and pressed his body against the back of the couch.


    Kai nodded. "To confirm if I''m right, I need to see the girl who lives in the room upstairs." He pulled out a sheet of paper and placed it on the table. Everyone moved closer to examine it. The drawing depicted a little girl with two pigtails suspended in midair by large red bows. She was wearing a plain frock and she was barefoot.


    "Does she really look like this, or is this a product of your inferior drawing skills?" Savannah asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm, though she didn''t quite hide the curiosity behind her words.


    Kai looked up, unruffled. "She really does look like that. I couldn''t find any colors, but she should have red eyes and black hair. Keep a lookout for her. The girl from last night could be her."


    Kai''s request reminded everyone of the little girl. "I have a question: how do you know she lives in the room upstairs? What did you both see last night?" Nova asked.


    "Last night, we saw her staring down at us from the upstairs window, her eyes glowing bright red," Xerxes said, his voice devoid of emotion, but there was something in his gaze that hinted at unease. "When I went into the room later, there was no one there."


    "..." the room fell into an uncomfortable silence.


    "She could just be a nice little girl. Let''s think about it in a positive way," Bailey said, trying to be optimistic about the situation, though her gut feeling told her the exact opposite.

 6. The Little Girl

    "Whatever the case, we need to find her if we want to clear this dungeon." Xerxes originally didn''t care; in fact, he had thought it might be better if he died in the dungeon since he had nothing worth living for. Yet, somehow, he couldn''t abandon the idea of surviving. At the very least, he wanted everyone else to live. They all had something they wished to live for, something they deserved to live for. So, Xerxes had made up his mind: they would clear this dungeon and survive, no matter what.


    "Now that we have a clue and an objective, we should head out. It''s already getting dark outside." Lucas stood up, the drawing still in his hand. "Savannah, you stay here with Bailey. It could be dangerous outside."


    Savannah reluctantly agreed. They couldn''t leave Bailey alone, but neither could they take her outside. She had a baby, and no one knew what might be lurking out there.


    With the exception of Bailey and Savannah, everyone was heading out to search for more clues. "You can also stay in the house if you want," Nova suggested to Kai, but he immediately refused, shaking his head. "I''m the only one with a theory on the story right now." With that, everyone headed outside. Lucas opened the front door. The evening air was calm, and the quiet, empty view outside strangely appeared peaceful.


    Everyone quickly scattered around the house to search. Xerxes was gazing at the lone tree beside the house when he heard the meows of a cat. He turned to see Kai playing with a white cat, its black stripes making it look wild. The cat playfully scratched Kai''s bare knee, causing him to step back.


    "Did you get hurt?" Xerxes bent down to examine his knee, noticing two bloody scratches on his left leg.


    "It''s okay, it doesn''t hurt," Kai dismissed it, returning to play with the cat.


    Xerxes stood and followed behind him. "The cut on your face hasn''t even healed yet, and you''re getting hurt again."


    Kai didn''t respond, too focused on the cat to care.


    Nova noticed them under the tree and approached, curious. "Where did the cat come from?"


    "It was always here. We just couldn''t see it in the dark," Kai replied, then looked up at Xerxes. "With this cat, I''m 80 percent sure about the story," he grinned.


    Xerxes felt a strange sense of pride in Kai. For once, he believed the decision to save this little kid had been the right one. Though he had ended up trapped in a dungeon, he had no regrets. He patted Kai''s hair, as if petting a cat.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "If you''re that sure about it, just tell us the story. It might be the right one," Nova said, his frustration growing. "I know you just want to get out of this dungeon and use a clean, separate restroom. That''s why I''m not going to tell you until you''ve had the full dungeon experience."


    The cat quickly became comfortable in Kai''s lap, purring and rubbing itself against his clothes.


    "You''re not planning to experience a dungeon again, are you? Enjoy it while it lasts," Kai said, picking up the cat and running off behind the house, already knowing what awaited him.


    Nova didn''t get a chance to defend himself, and his frustration mounted. He gasped in exasperation. "Is he related to you?" Nova asked, a thought that had crossed his mind ever since he saw Xerxes rush ahead to protect the kid. No person in their right mind would throw themselves in front of a car for someone random... or so he believed.


    Xerxes was uncertain whether it was a compliment or an insult, so he didn''t know how to respond. He thought long and hard, and in the end, he only gave Nova some honest advice.


    "Just use the toilet. It''s not good to hold it in for so long." He patted Nova''s shoulder a few times before heading toward the mountain in the distance, leaving Nova speechless. Why were they so concerned with his bowel movements? Never in his pampered life had he been treated so poorly. He wanted to go online and complain to his fans, but in the dungeon, even someone as famous and rich as him was on the same level as everyone else.


    Nova took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and followed Xerxes to check the mountain. It wasn''t like he wanted to follow Xerxes, but there wasn''t much else to look at outside besides a mountain and a tree, which he had already seen. To be honest, he was sure that even if someone laid out the entire plot of the book in front of him, he still wouldn''t get it right. Why? Because he had never read any storybooks. He already had plenty of dramas to keep him entertained. He had become an actor in the first place because it seemed fun¡ªand it was. Playing a variety of characters, he never had time to be bored, always filming one project after another. But now, with nothing to do, the only source of entertainment seemed to be the little girl, so he was trying his best to find her first.


    Xerxes and Nova circled the small mountain a few times. It was strange: the mountain looked small, yet also steep and imposing. But when they tried to climb it, the trial was surprisingly easy.


    "You can go back; it''s dark outside now," Nova suggested, thinking that if the little girl was truly a ghost, she would likely come out at night. Ghosts were known to appear at night, after all. He planned to search alone now that night had fallen.


    "You sure? Come back quickly and don''t wander too far from the house," Xerxes replied, starting to descend the mountain. He had no complaints; the growing darkness was making him nervous.


    Halfway to the house, he started to feel uneasy about leaving Nova alone.


    Let''s just go back. Being alone was scary. Nova might be too frightened to return later.


    He turned around and began walking briskly toward where he had last seen Nova. Upon reaching his original spot, he looked around, but Nova wasn''t there. No matter how much he searched, he couldn''t find him. Just as he began to feel distressed, he heard clear footsteps behind him. Instinctively, he turned toward the sound.


    "Papa, can you get the moon for me?" A little girl stood before him, her piercing red eyes fixed on him. She smiled eerily wide, staring at Xerxes without a word or any movement.

 7. She Wants the Moon

    Xerxes was petrified by her appearance.


    What now? Should I say I''m not your daddy?


    The unresponsive behavior from Xerxes made the girl stop smiling and gaze directly at him. She repeated, "Papa," and stepped closer to Xerxes. "Can you get the moon for me?" Xerxes felt like maybe the unsettling smile wasn''t that bad after seeing the serious expression on her face.


    Let''s just say it¡ªI''m not your papa. She looks like she''s going to annihilate me if I don''t say something right this second...


    Xerxes was about to speak when someone grabbed his arm and started sprinting away from the little girl at such a terrifying speed that Xerxes stumbled a few times, struggling to keep up. They didn''t stop until they reached the house and entered through the front door, slamming it behind them. They panted heavily, trying to catch their breath. Only then did Xerxes realize it was Nova.


    "Where were you both? We were beginning to worry," Bailey asked, a bit taken aback by the sudden run-in. "What were you fleeing from?" Lucas stepped forward, checking to make sure the door was locked securely.


    They were both fortunate that the mountain had no trees, making it a clear path from there to the house. Otherwise, Xerxes was certain the little girl wouldn''t have left them alone so easily. Nova was the first to regulate his breathing, so he spoke first.


    "It was the same little girl Kai had drawn."


    ***


    They explained the entire situation as they sat down and drank water.


    "Was she really chasing you? That''s so terrifying," Savannah said, frightened by the image of her following them in the dark.


    Nova looked at Xerxes for the answer. He clearly had been too focused on running away to see if she had actually been following them. "I didn''t have the time to look behind either. I was too busy trying to keep up with you," Xerxes replied.


    "Kai, transcribe the story word for word." Lucas had already prepared a pencil and a stack of papers for Kai to reproduce the story for them.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    Kai got to work immediately, pausing frequently to recall the dialogue from the book he had read in his childhood. He finished an hour later, having written a total of...


    "That''s it? Barely two pages?" Nova read the story repeatedly, but he still couldn''t believe it was so brief. They had really gotten lucky with this book, he thought.


    "What do you mean that''s it? How are we supposed to acquire the moon?" Gerald shouted angrily at the ridiculous request. He was nearing the edge of insanity. There was no way they could obtain the moon. The dungeon was simply a trap for their demise. He gritted his teeth and removed his glasses to rub his exhausted eyes.


    The loud shout had startled Elise, who was crying uncontrollably while Bailey held her, walking back and forth, rocking her in her arms.


    "There should still be a way to obtain the moon for the story to progress. The moon is required, even if it seems absurd. The dungeons always have a method to complete the story. That has been proven by countless professional infiltrators," Lucas''s voice was tinged with frustration. Even though he spoke in a steady tone, he was clearly fed up with the others. "We can proceed to the next phase now. Since Monica has done her part for now, we need to find the ladder and retrieve the moon." He sighed and placed his head on Savannah''s shoulder, appearing drained.


    Mary, the little girl''s first dialogue, was the infamous line: "Papa, can get the moon for me?"


    "But when I didn''t respond, she looked like she wanted to kill me. However, her papa didn''t reply to her either. He was a man of action; he simply got a ladder and retrieved the moon for her." Xerxes was beginning to feel despondent. Why did Mary threaten him? Was he that unlikable? Maybe that was why he could never any make friends in all his life.


    "How much milk can one drink in a day? Leave some for me too!"


    "Why are you drinking so much when you can''t even use the restroom?"


    Nova and Kai were arguing over the last bottle of milk in their own world. No one was paying attention to Xerxes. Feeling even more depressed, he headed upstairs to sink into solitude. But even that wish wasn''t granted, because Mary was standing at the end of the bed, gazing at the moon''s profile from the wide open window.


    Xerxes was terrified, but his feet were still moving forward. Once again, his mind and body were on two different chapters. He actually went inside the bedroom and sat on the bed, his eyes never leaving Mary''s figure.


    Mary appeared less menacing as she stared at the moon, and she wasn''t moving either. So Xerxes''s nerves began to settle slowly when Nova burst through the door, screaming his name at the top of his lungs.


    "Xerxes!"


    Startled by the voice, Mary ran toward Xerxes at breakneck speed, about to strike him in the face. But she dispersed like a soul finding a new body to inhabit.


    "What was that?" Nova couldn''t clearly see where the black smoke originated from. He looked around the room, puzzled.


    Xerxes''s upper body fell flat on the bed behind him; his soul had left his body.


    "I... I thought I was going to die..." he blinked rapidly.

 8. The Difficulty Increases

    "Why? Did something happen?"


    Nova came and sat next to Xerxes on the bed. He was still looking around the room, but nothing seemed to be out of place. The pillow was still on the floor, the ugly walls were just as ugly as ever, and the mess of a bed looked the same too.


    "Holy shit, Xerxes, you''re freezing to death!" Nova had accidentally touched the other''s hand, and it was like he had touched ice itself. He shuddered and got the blanket from the bed, rolling Xerxes in it.


    "Just sleep if you''re that tired, man." Nova left, leaving behind his handy dandy work.


    Xerxes''s head was devoid of any thoughts, feeling the warmth returning to his body. He simply wanted to sleep now.


    The next morning, somehow Xerxes was the first person to go to sleep and the last person to wake up too. He grudgingly threw off the blanket and got out of bed making his way downstairs. It was uncannily quiet this morning. Everyone was sitting on the couch with pale and weary expressions on their faces. In Lucas''s case, he was just there, existing too.


    Why is no one speaking? Did they have a fight?


    Judging from the dreary atmosphere, it seemed more than just an argument, though. Xerxes was cautious with his steps as he approached them. The seat next to Nova, where Gerald usually sat, was empty this time.


    Maybe he''s using the restroom?


    "Good morning," Xerxes tried to break the ice in the room, to no use. He made his way to the kitchen in search of something to fill his stomach, but the kitchen only had utensils with no real food. "We didn''t get anything to eat today?" Xerxes guessed that the reason why the others were being so strange was probably because they also didn''t get to eat anything.


    "The kitchen did a reset while we were sleeping, taking the leftover bread from yesterday too," Kai spoke from the couch. He had his arm placed on the armrest of the couch, his hand supporting his head as he looked over to the kitchen.


    Xerxes, defeated, joined Nova and Kai on the couch, but the silence was unbearable. "Is Gerald using the restroom?"


    Everyone shifted nervously at the mention of Gerald.


    "We don''t know where he is," Lucas got up from his seat. "The dungeon will only get more difficult if we dilly-dally any longer. The story has already begun. If we don''t move it forward..." He paused. "I''m afraid there will be a disappearance after every night."This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    So that''s where Gerald went...


    Xerxes felt bad for him, but at the same time, he didn''t know him personally or anything, so he didn''t really feel all that upset by his disappearance...


    Maybe I should still try to look sad?


    "What are you doing now?" Nova followed behind Lucas, who was going up the stairs.


    "The ladder. We need it to get to the moon."


    Xerxes also got up after hearing Lucas climbing the stairs. He saw Lucas carefully observing the ceiling of the corridor. "There should be an attic in the house."


    "So you think the ladder is in there?" Nova asked as he helped Lucas in finding the attic door in the ceiling. Xerxes also tried to find it, but the ceiling was too perfect. It had not a single line of entrance, much less a square opening for the attic.


    Lucas impatiently searched every nook and cranny of the ceiling, failing to find the attic door. He brought the dining chair from downstairs.


    "What are you doing, Lucas?" Savannah worriedly asked. It wasn''t like Lucas to be so restless. He was usually very composed, so she couldn''t help worrying about him. "Stay downstairs, don''t come up until I say so," Lucas warned advertently. Savannah could only place her trust in him as she watched from the curtail step .


    Nova and Xerxes watched Lucas very interestingly as he placed the chair in the corridor. The small space was overtaken by it, so Xerxes moved behind into the bedroom and watched from the doorway. Unlike him, Nova was very fascinated by Lucas''s actions. He stood in the other corner of the corridor, unable to take his eyes off which he regretted very soon.


    Lucas wasted no time. He stood on the chair; his head touched the ceiling as it wasn''t very high to begin with. He prepared his fist, wrapping it in his white long sleeves. His hands balled into tight fists, veins bulging beneath the fabric of his sleeves. Sweat slicked his brow, but it wasn''t from the heat¡ªit was the kind of sweat born from frustration.


    He took a long deep breath, and without hesitation, he swung his right fist upward, turning his face away slightly. His knuckles and arm collided with the wood with a sickening thud.


    Oh, so he''s fucking crazy!


    Xerxes moved away back into the room to avoid being hit by the wood. Nova had no chance of escaping, though; he could only cover his head with his arms to avoid his face from being injured.


    Splinters of the wooden ceiling rained down, the rough impact sending a tremor through the ceiling, and the floor beneath him creaked constantly. His breath got caught as pain shot up his arm, but he didn''t stop. He swung again, and again, each strike tearing away the wood ceiling to bits and pieces until there was a hole big enough to fit into.


    Lucas coughed a few times afterward, dust and bits of wood flying everywhere in the air. He dusted himself off and jumped right into the black hole, pushing himself up with a push of his hands and arms.


    When the racket died down, Nova groused, "Tell me before deciding to go ham. If my precious face had been hit, I would have filed a lawsuit against you." But Lucas wasn''t there when Nova looked up from the shield of his arms, leaving behind only the wooden dining chair.

 9. Want to Bet?

    Lucas hoisted himself up into the pitch-black attic in a swift motion. Xerxes caught sight of Lucas''s feet disappearing into the abyss of the attic. He quickly made his way over to the chair in the corridor, shouting after him.


    "Lucas? Lucas! Are you alright in there?" Xerxes would follow after him if he was brave enough.


    Which he wasn''t.


    As for Nova, why would he enter such a place, it was definitely crawling with all sorts of bugs and what not.


    Lucas ignored the shouts and tried to look, but it was really hard to see anything. He didn''t have night vision like the characters in the video games he played, nor did he possess a flashlight like them. The whole house didn''t have a single thing related to light. In fact, he had already seen everything this house had to offer.


    "If it''s too difficult to see, do you want my lighter?" Nova generously offered.


    "How¡ªwhere?" Xerxes was speechless. All this time, Nova had a lighter, and he only told them now, after all the struggling to find a light source. They had even stumbled on the mountain rocks due to not being able to see them in the night. Nova had not once pulled the lighter out.


    "I got it from the kitchen. I thought since it had been revamped, there had to be an addition, right? It wouldn''t just go back to its original state."


    So that''s why... I thought he was hiding it for another reason.


    "Gimme." Lucas''s half-body crawled out of the hole for the lighter. He extended his bruised hand, with a few small cuts.


    "Say please and promise you''ll warn me next time," Nova held the lighter in front of Lucas, teasing him with its presence. Xerxes could feel Lucas''s anger sparks coming through the oxygen. He was going to negotiate with Nova.


    "The lighter, please. I promise I''ll warn you next time." Lucas''s submissive voice stunned both Xerxes and Nova. They didn''t know what was going through Lucas''s mind as he said those words. They had greatly underestimated him. Lucas could do anything to achieve his goals.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "You should have just behaved like this from the beginning. If I knew you had such a soft side¡ª" Nova hadn''t yet finished speaking before the lighter was snatched from his hand. In the blink of an eye, both the silver lighter and Lucas were gone. Lucas took advantage of Nova''s guard being down.


    After what felt like an eternity, Lucas''s voice resounded. "Catch!" Before he threw down a foldable wooden ladder from the punched ceiling, almost hitting both of the bystanders. The ladder hit the dining chair before settling on the dark brown wooden floor of the corridor.


    Lucas''s promise was almost useless; the warning came with the object, not in advance. He jumped down, casually brushing his white tracksuit, which was plenty dirty. He was not wearing his black jacket, which only made it worse. The cover-up had still protected him from a lot of things, like the little wood splinters in Nova''s beautiful dirty blonde hair.


    "Lucas, you didn''t get hurt, right?" Savannah nervously asked. She had a last-row view of everything that he did, but the only worry in her mind was for Lucas''s safety.


    "Why would I get hurt? I''m fine. There were only spiderwebs and dust up there." Lucas still felt his right arm shaking from the earlier outburst, but in front of others, he would never admit being weak. He especially didn''t want to make Savannah alarmed by appearing frail. It would only dispirit her more.


    "Was that really all you saw?" Xerxes was a bit suspicious of his claim. Lucas had nothing more to say. He just picked up the ladder from the floor and placed it neatly against the wall. He descended, taking the chair with him, and with that, the show was over.


    For their next step, they had to wait for the moon to come out. Nova was bored out of his mind to the point he had even considered daring himself to use the bathroom.


    "Hey, I''m hungry." Kai poked Nova''s shoulder repeatedly as though it helped with suppressing his hunger.


    "What do you want me to do? I''m hungry myself." Nova whined as he lay sideways on the bed, his legs sprawled on the floor.


    "Didn''t you find anything to eat when you looted from the kitchen?"


    "The lighter was the only useful thing I got from the kitchen." Nova rose from his position.


    "Are you rich in the real world, Nova?" Kai fidgetingly asked out of nowhere, not acting like his usual self.


    "I do have a lot of money, although it''s of no use here in the dungeon." Nova earnestly answered.


    "Do you want to place a bet with me? If I win, you would have to support me with however much money I need until I can earn on my own." Kai said, carefully observing his reaction.


    Nova was amused by the bet. It was kind of a clever way to get money for a young kid. With a bet, he would have something to look forward to. So, he agreed. "Alright, but if I win, you would have to listen to one of my requests once we''re out of here." Money was never a problem for him; he wasn''t afraid of losing.


    "Okay, I bet that you will survive no matter what." Kai proposed.

 10. Getting the Moon

    Nova burst into laughter. He cackled until his sides hurt. "I like that bet," he straightened up. "I''ll bet the same then. I bet that you will also survive, no matter what."


    "What happens if we both survive?"


    "We''ll just have to survive if we want to find that out."


    The moon had just risen into the night. Everyone was in a bad mood due to not having eaten anything the entire day. Lucas had zero patience, and the others also wanted this torture to be over already so, on they moved. Xerxes, Lucas, and Nova were the only ones available for free labor. Bailey had to look out for Elise; obviously, there was no one else who could do her job. Savannah did offer to participate, but Lucas strongly refused any help from her. As for Kai...


    No one wanted free child labor.


    The three of them pulled along the ladder as they headed out for the mountain.


    "Say, what if Gerald is hiding somewhere just to avoid doing anything, hoping for a free pass? He wasn''t much help to begin with, but we could at least use him to pull the ladder with us," Nova suggested convincingly.


    Such a possibility never crossed Xerxes''s mind, but in all honesty, he didn''t care either way. If Gerald wanted to go, he could go. If he had really encountered something tragic, there was no way to save him anyway, making any reasoning for Gerald useless. Lucas also gave zero fucks about Gerald; he was only focused on his own and Savannah''s survival. Caring for others right now was the last thing on his list of priorities.


    The rest of the way was quiet since none of them replied to Nova. When they finally reached the mountain, Xerxes''s lower back and shoulders were starting to hurt. He was never a gym rat. He occasionally strolled in parks, that''s it¡ªhis physical condition was in absolute tatters, as was the case for most office workers. Oh right, he was unemployed right now.


    "Why do we have to carry the ladder? Let''s just drag it on the ground with us." Hearing the idea, both Nova and Lucas paused.


    They dragged the poor wooden ladder the rest of the way up the mountain. It was sturdy enough not to break; however, it was in rough condition from being dragged on the rocks and dirt. They were taking turns dragging it. The last person was Xerxes when they reached the peak of the stony mountain.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    "How are we supposed to do this? The ladder clearly can''t reach the moon."


    Lucas unfolded the ladder. It was about twice as tall as Nova, the tallest person in the group. He guessed to Nova, "Let''s just follow the storyline. If the dad could go to the moon, we should be able to, too." Lucas held the ladder by the rails in the air, because there were no walls this high on the mountain. Nova quickly held the other side of the rail. They both stared at Xerxes innocently in anticipation.


    Xerxes knew, even if they didn''t say it, that he was the one who had to climb the ladder and serenade the moon. As always to gain some courage, he needed some comfort. He took out the last source of comfort left in the dungeon: the last sachet of instant coffee.


    "What are you doing? If you had coffee with you, why didn''t you make it when we were in the house with the water?" Nova was eternally confused by Xerxes''s strange actions. But that wasn''t all¡ªXerxes tore the sachet from the corner and downed the raw coffee like a shot of sweet expensive alcohol, leaving Nova''s jaw wide open.


    "..." Lucas probably.


    Xerxes felt the bitter taste of life, which was somehow comforting to him. He threw the empty packet. "I always have one in each of my pockets. That was the last of them, though." He began climbing the ladder, which was surprisingly steady. It didn''t shake as he had thought.


    Xerxes ascended the rungs of the ladder, step by step, cautiously for what seemed like a long time. He didn''t know how much time had passed, but he strangely couldn''t reach the end of the ladder no matter how much he climbed. He was sweating profusely, and his hands were becoming slippery, so he stopped for a break.


    Xerxes wanted to see how much he had actually climbed, so he looked down the ladder. It was unbelievably far up in the sky. He couldn''t even see a speck of Nova or Lucas from this high. He fearfully dryly gulped, tightening his hold on the rungs.


    Can''t fall down from this height, or I''ll be damned.


    Xerxes could only climb, and that''s all he did for a prolonged period of time. Finally, he reached for the last rung of the ladder. From there, he only saw the bright full moon, bathed in a soft white glow. The stars around it looked exceptionally humongous and sparkled with a golden hue, which reminded him of the lovely walls of the bedroom in the house.


    I should say my lines now.


    Xerxes was so focused on surviving¡ªbreathing in general¡ªthat he had forgotten to take the page of dialogues from Lucas. Kai had specifically written it down for him.


    Curse my bloodline! What do I say now?


    Xerxes had read it once before Lucas took it, but if he had such excellent memory, he would have the script in his hands right about now. He couldn''t go back down and get it from Lucas; he would probably die if he had to climb up all those steps again, so he crossed that option off. That left him with the last option.


    Well, I think it went something like this...


    Xerxes, in a cold sweat, cleared his throat. "Oh moon, I must take you with me." One of his hands reached for the moon. "But you see, you''re too big to come with me... Should you reduce your size, I''ll take you back with me."

 11. Star-Crossed

    As Xerxes expected, nothing happened. He was starting to get impatient when his foot accidentally slipped, scaring the living hell out of him. He reached for the moon for support¡ªand he was actually able to touch it. He stabilized himself on the ladder before noticing where he had placed his hand.


    I instinctively reached for it because it resembled a wall, but to think I can touch it¡­ wow.


    Mesmerized, Xerxes was almost blinded when he looked up at the moon. It seemed brighter than before. He tried to keep his eyes open as he felt the rocky surface of the moon. If he could describe it, it felt like he was touching the ground of the mountain beneath him. Suddenly, the moonlight flashed a sightless white color, and at the same time, his hand resting on the moon was electrocuted with a magnanimous amount of 15 mA.


    He quickly retreated his arm, gripping the ladder to keep himself from falling. His body shuddered multiple times, and his black eyes had white flashes reflected in them. For the longest time, he couldn''t see.


    "Get down already. What are you even doing?" A familiar voice rang in his ears from below his feet. He out-of-focusly peered down. It was a hazy image of a black baseball cap. Then he saw that the ladder had returned to its original size, and the ground was only a few steps away from him. He mustered the strength to climb down, barely holding his weight, until his feet touched the dry land.


    "Are you okay? You don''t look so good," Nova said. Xerxes was originally pale, but now he looked the same as the moon in the sky. His eyeballs were shifting consistently. He took a shaky step away from the ladder as he spoke.


    "I somehow touched the moon and got shocked from it. Other than that, I forgot the right lines, and Lucas had the paper with him, so I couldn''t come and get it," Xerxes explained, holding his vibrating head with his right hand, missing a few details.


    "We saw the ladder suddenly shoot up. We tried to call out to you, but you had already climbed a bit. I was scared of dropping the ladder, but it wasn''t heavy or anything," Nova explained, recounting their point of view.


    "So, what happened? Did you do it? Can we move forward with the storyline now?" Lucas asked, his tone impatient. He wasn''t willing to wait around for Xerxes to regain his senses. "Hold the ladder. I''ll go up and say it right this time."


    Xerxes was having an out-of-body experience, but he still obediently held the rail of the ladder. After all, it was his fault he couldn''t complete the task. He had no complaints.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Lucas climbed the ladder, but it was shaking so much that he thought it would fall over any second. The problem, however, was that the ladder stayed its original size; it wasn''t extending itself anymore. Lucas could only give up and climb back down.


    "Whatever you did must have worked, then," Lucas said casually, descending the mountain.


    "What about the ladder?" Nova asked, shouting from a distance.


    "Leave that garbage," Lucas responded.


    ***


    Lucas was the first to enter through the front door of the house. Everyone had already fallen asleep, except Savannah. She was patiently waiting for Lucas''s safe return. When she saw him walk inside, she ran over to hug him.


    "Thank god you''re alright, Lucas!" Savannah squeezed Lucas with a lot of strength.


    Nova was the next and last person to cross the threshold, carrying an unconscious Xerxes on his back, wearing his dark green suit coat. Xerxes wasn''t fully passed out; he was in and out of consciousness. He could see his surroundings now, though not fully clearly. He saw Lucas and Savannah hugging each other and, without knowing why, he broke into a small smile.


    "Where do you think you''re going?" Lucas''s arm blocked Nova from entering the bedroom next to the living room.


    "He''s heavier than he looks. I can''t carry him anymore," Nova groaned, shifting Xerxes''s weight back and forth. He tried to get past Lucas''s arm, but unsuccessfully.


    "Go to the other bedroom," Lucas simply replied before dragging Savannah into the bedroom with him and slamming the door in Nova''s face.


    Nova had never wanted to curse someone more than he did right now. His blood was boiling from anger and overexertion. Kai and Bailey were both sleeping on the couches, with the extra sheets covering their bodies up to their torsos. With no other place for Xerxes to sleep, Nova resisted the urge to throw him on the table in the middle of the living room as he walked over to the stairs.


    "I can... walk," Xerxes said weakly.


    "Save it for later," Nova replied. He could tell just from Xerxes''s voice how bad his condition was. Even though Nova had donated his coat to Xerxes, his back was still cold due to Xerxes''s body temperature being ice-cold. Not even a dead body would be this cold, Nova thought.


    Xerxes fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Nova wanted to take his coat back because, without it, his suit looked incomplete. Feeling a bit generous, he tucked Xerxes into the bed and left the bedroom in just his white smoke dress shirt. After carrying Xerxes all the way down the mountain, he was really thirsty. He drank three glasses of water, and with that came the last thing Nova had planned to do¡ªor maybe never intended to do.


    He had to use the restroom. Like, seriously. He didn''t want to go outside to do his business; Mary could be watching his every move. For all he knew, she might take him to the sky. He knew using the restroom was safe, though, as tested by the others.


    Nova opened the door under the stairs, which squeaked loudly in the silence of the night. He reluctantly stepped inside, only to instantly gain thirteen new wrinkles on his fair beautiful face.

 12. Gerald Ford

    Nova''s nostrils were immediately assaulted by a putrid, musty odor that made him want to gag. He covered his nose with his fingers to block the noisome smell.


    Through the opening of the door streamed a faint light, illuminating the toilet seat. Two arms and two legs hung in the air from the inside of the toilet seat. On the floor in front of it was an employee card with a blue ribbon. Blood was splattered on the card, barely showing some of the words on it.


    A half-covered picture with the letters underneath it: G-ral- F-rd.


    One could easily guess whose card it was if they knew the person and their name. One more step, and Nova''s shoes'' outsole would be met with the red, gooey juice that spilled from the toilet seat all the way down to the floor, like melted ice cream.


    Nova wasted no time in getting out of there and closing the door, making sure nothing could come out from inside¡ªwhether it was something terrifying or disgusting. He regretted his decision of ever coming close to this monstrous restroom. He would rather die than use that toilet now.


    The air in the living room had been infected with just the preview of that malodorous smell. Nova still had his fingers protecting him from it, but Kai, on the other couch which was just next to the restroom, was awakened by its evilness. He frowned upon lifting his eyelids.


    "What were you doing in there? That''s why you should have just used it from the beginning, instead of exploding all at once!" Kai threw cutting stares at Nova, standing next to the door. It was obvious he had used the restroom secretly. Maybe he was just waiting for the right moment to use it because he knew it would produce such results.


    "I would advise you to not use the restroom moving onward," Nova simply had enough tonight. It was one thing after another. Even the superstar who could pull several all-nighters to film was exhausted¡ªmentally and physically. He had really underestimated this dungeon. This was no fun place to entertain him anymore.


    Kai became a little curious at that comment. He was debating whether he should steal a peek inside, but the intensity of the smell was no joke, making him retreat his plan when he remembered something more important.


    "Did it work? Where''s Xerxes?" Kai impatiently asked, bothering Nova, who had just sat his weight down on the couch.


    "Xerxes is upstairs auditioning as the next Sleeping Beauty," Nova replied, closing his overworked eyes.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Kai was about to make his way upstairs when a clashing sound came from the bedroom right next to the living room. As more chaos resounded in the bedroom, Nova had no choice but to reawaken his tired eyes and look inside the bedroom to see what was causing it. The door to the bedroom wasn''t locked like yesterday. Conscientiously, he threw wide the door.


    The white bedsheet was barely on the bed, and both the pillows were placed in different places of the room. Lucas was towering on top of Savannah. She seemed to be struggling greatly, but Lucas was firmly holding her down. Savannah''s arms were pressed to the headboard. The position was rather suggestive until Nova saw the knife in Savannah''s hand.


    "Control yourself, Savannah!" Lucas was having a hard time trying to keep her in position. Blood was slowly but surely dripping from the cut on his palm, which he had gotten when Savannah had attacked him out of nowhere. Just when his hold began to loosen due to the pain in his hand, a pair of arms extended from behind, pinning her to the bed again.


    Nova had to help after seeing the knife so close to Lucas''s neck. He hadn''t even seen the slit on Lucas''s hand until he came closer to assist him. Savannah had unbelievable strength. Nova didn''t know how Lucas held up for so long. He was certain he wouldn''t last more than a minute against her might.


    "Tie her with something while I try to calm her down," Nova gritted through his teeth. "If we fail to overpower her, who knows what that knife will slice next?"


    Lucas searched around the bedroom with his vision, but there was nothing that could be used to restrain Savannah except...


    "The bedsheet! Lift your feet, you''re standing on it!" Lucas tried to get it from under Nova''s shoes while Nova tried to take the knife from Savannah''s hand. The grip on it was as solid as a brick.


    "I can''t really move away right now, Lucas. Forget the sheet, just take the knife from her!"


    Before Lucas had even changed his direction, Savannah suddenly went crazy, throwing Nova off with an elbow to his chin, which resulted in his lips being torn from the inside. Nova held his jaw in pain as the rusty iron scent filled his mouth.


    Everything happened so quickly that no one in the room had any time to react. Before Savannah''s knife in hand passed by Lucas''s ear, it was a lucky coincidence he had moved his head to change his field of view on the target.


    ***


    The noises from downstairs didn''t take long to reach Xerxes''s ears, jolting him from his sleep. The room was pin-drop silent, but the commotion coming from the bottom was hard to ignore. Xerxes was kind of uneasy by all the yelling. If he was in the real world, he would have just gone back to sleep, but he wasn''t at his home right now.


    Xerxes''s whole body ached as he got up from the bed. He had a splitting headache. He was dehydrated, still sleepy, and it was cold after leaving his warm blanket. But other than that, he was fully aware of his surroundings. It took him one minute to descend the stairs.


    Kai was standing in front of the open bedroom door, and Bailey was shedding tears silently while trying to keep Elise from wailing. Bailey looked ready to run away hiding behind the couch, but was also hesitant. Kai turned to his side when he saw Xerxes coming, but what Xerxes saw shook all his sleepiness away in a blink.


    Savannah tossed Nova across the room with just a single hit of her arm, like he was made of paper and the knife in her hand was nearly about to enter Lucas''s abdomen.

 13. Confession

    An inch away from the body, Savannah''s movements stop like a broken puppet. She starts glitching her hand, moving away from Lucas, and then returning the next second. She was battling herself on whether to keep the knife away from Lucas or not.


    Xerxes was anxiously watching, deciding when he could interfere because the knife was flying everywhere in all directions. Even Lucas was having a hard time avoiding it. Xerxes would definitely catch the knife straight to his head if he stepped in now. On the other side of the room, Nova was also watching intently as he got up from the floor with the help of the wall behind him. His entire body hurt. It was difficult to breathe without feeling the gut wrenching pain in his ribs.


    "Savannah, can you hear me? Your not the one trying to hurt me, are you?" Lucas bravely got closer to Savannah as he gently spoke to her. The knife was currently over his head, but he seemed to not even see it, and surprisingly, the knife was still. Savannah''s whole body had paused after hearing Lucas, she seemed to have regained some of her consciousness.


    "Do not come any closer, Lucas; I can''t." Savannah backstepped, "I don''t want to harm you or anyone, Lucas." She sobbed, trying to increase the distance between them.


    Lucas paid zero attention to the danger in front of him. He all at once closed the gap in between and hugged her small, shivering self. "I wouldn''t mind dying by your hands, Savannah," he caressed her back carefully. "But if you die alone, that is something I can''t accept; I''ll never accept it." Savannah''s eyes widened in shock at the meaning behind those words. She looked frightened more than ever. She stopped crying and, with a serious expression, pushed Lucas away. She abruptly withdrew from the embrace.


    "Why do you get to choose what I do? Get away from me; I never want to see you again." Savannah could only show Lucas her loath to get him away from her. Savannah knew she would not be able to fight anymore if she lost control again. Lucas would inevitably die by her hands, so she could only act like she was repulsed by his confession and run away, but the stir of emotions overthrew her mind, losing her authority over her own flesh and bones.


    Lucas noticed the shift in her brown eyes. After coming to a resolution; he was no longer afraid of the knife in the air. He held the blade by his already bleeding palm, trying to snatch it from her. It was obvious who held more power¡ªthe one holding the knife scales¡ªbut they both shared the same goal.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Once Lucas subdued the knife, Xerxes and Nova both rushed over simultaneously. They arrived just in time. Two more hands joined the already gripped blade, which was touching a nick of Lucas''s neck.


    "What are you doing?" Nova shouted at Lucas, who had purposely brought the knife over to the side of his neck. Xerxes was breathing heavily; the quick movement made him dizzy. He was glad he could make it in time to hold back the knife, or Nova wouldn''t be able to hold over two people.


    Savannah and Lucas were both moving towards the neck while Nova and Xerxes resisted it by moving it away. "Don''t interfere; this is between me and her. The dungeon craves a death; if I die, Savannah will be free!" Lucas yelled.


    "How do you know it will end with your death?" Don''t be ridiculous now, Lucas." Xerxes replied, but he knew Lucas wasn''t stupid enough to think that a single death will solve everything and that he would probably do the same in such a situation because they didn''t really know anything about the motives of the dungeon. Maybe it will leave Savannah alone after Lucas''s death. There was still a silver lining of hope in his actions, which was why he understood Lucas, but he also couldn''t bring himself to watch him sacrifice himself.


    Sigh, I wonder why I am like this.


    If a single death could resolve everything, the person who should be sacrificed should be the one who already wanted to die and held no attachments to life, not someone so young who loved someone more than himself, right?


    Before Xerxes could try to move Lucas away and move in front of the piercing blade, Savannah shrieked deafeningly, casting everyone off in different directions. It felt like a hurricane had pushed them to the end of the room. Nova hit the wall again, and Xerxes was sent out the door. Lucas was the only one who''s hold on the knife was strong enough to not hit the wardrobe behind him; he was only shoved a few inches back, but that was all Savannah needed to stab herself with all her newfound energy.


    Using both hands, Savannah grabbed the hilt of the knife, twisted it towards herself, and pressed the steel edge to her upper right of the abdominal. "SAVANNAH!" Lucas bellowed, but she didn''t stop there. After inserting most of the knife, she pulled it out with force as it splashed hot, dark red blood that painted Lucas''s white tracksuit as he came closer.


    Lucas snatched the bloody knife from her hands, throwing it to the other far end of the bedroom, and covered the stab wound with his hands to stop the blood that was rushing out. Soon, Savannah clasped on the floor after finishing her task. Lucas held her head up from touching the wood with one hand, and his other hand reached for the bedsheet by the side in a hurry.


    "Lucas," Savannah called out as she coughed. A little bit of blood was flowing down the corner of her lips as Lucas frantically tried to ''bandage'' the open cut in her body with the bedsheet.


    "Lucas, listen to me one last time." Savannah weakly lifted her hand and cupped Lucas''s face.


    "For you, I can kill myself too." she confessed.

 14. Savannah Solace

    "Don''t speak, Savannah. I''ll listen to everything you say after we get out of here, okay? Just don''t say anything right now." Lucas was terror-stricken from all the blood pooling on the wooden floor; even after wrapping the bedsheet, there was just too much, and Savannah''s sudden words only made everything worse.


    "Let me see your face, Lucas." Savannah was at tranquility with the situation; however, she only wanted to see Lucas one last time so she could remember him, even in death. Lucas, in a swift motion, took off his face mask, which used to be white but had gotten incredibly dirty in the past few days. He also removed the black baseball cap, causing his hood to fall off his head. Lucas''s reddish-brown short hair fell onto his straight eyebrows, and his barely black eyes shone with the tears welling inside them.


    Although it was not a crystal clear view of Lucas due to the dim surroundings, she could still see the face of the only person she loved in all her somewhat of a short-lived life, illuminated by the streaming moonlight that flowed from the wide window in the bedroom. She was satisfied with her ending.


    "Lucas, promise me..." Savannah willingly pulled her protesting body up and took Lucas in her arms. "You''ll live and see all the things I missed out on for me. I''ll be watching you, so don''t you dare try to come back to me unless you die of old age. You hear me?" Lucas nodded with a tear streaked face and hugged her back. He gently patted her soft hair. He was afraid that his hold might cause her pain, so he held her ever so tenderly.


    "I''ll always love you, Lucas," Savannah said as her body slowly started to slip from his embrace. Lucas tried his best to collect anything left of her, but her figure had turned into glitter-like dust, which flew away with the wind and became one with the air. He stared at the empty ground, which had only two things: the blood dripping from his own palm, which was suspended in the air, and the tears which were dripping down uncontrollably.


    Nova and Kai were watching the scene with a grieving expression from nearby. Xerxes couldn''t watch anymore. He turned around, visibly shaking with lost eyes. He beat himself mentally.


    What were you saying? You didn''t care about whether you lived to see the next day or not, right? So why... why do you always hesitate at the last moment? Coward! Loser!


    Xerxes fell to his knees after he felt like he would fall from the lightheadedness.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    If only I had been a second earlier... if only I had just gotten right back up and...


    Xerxes''s spiraling thoughts were interrupted by a hand on his back. He looked back unsteadily. Nova was horrified by the dead-looking face he held. Not a single trace of liveliness.


    "Are you hurt badly? Where does it hurt?" Nova worriedly searched for a visible injury, but Xerxes only had internal damage, which was invisible to the naked eye.


    "Xerxes!" Kai sniffed and ran to Xerxes''s side. He seized the hold of his right-hand pinky finger resting on his left knee. "Xerxes, please don''t leave me alone." Kai might have not reacted like a kid, but in truth, he was still a child at heart. He instantly became fearful at the thought of Xerxes being injured and disappearing like Savannah.


    Xerxes was confused by them. He didn''t know why they were worrying over him. He wasn''t even worth their concerns. "I''m fine. Lucas seems to be in more pain. Why don''t you both go over to him?" he dispiritedly replied.


    Nova and Kai exchanged glares and looked at Lucas, who was stuck in the same position. Only his open hands had turned into fists. Both of them reluctantly left Xerxes alone and went over to Lucas.


    Nova wasn''t good at comforting. He looked at Kai for a miracle, but he also seemed clueless as to what to do. Kai could only say a few words anxiously, "Lucas, your hand is bleeding a lot."


    Nova was also thinking the same. He was already ripping the other end of the bedsheet, which was still somewhat clean, after taking a considerable size. He went to Lucas. "Open your hand so I can bandage it," he requested.


    Lucas listened to him without any complaints. He opened the large slit on his palm as his hand slowly opened, the poor hand had such deep cuts on it. Nova was astonished he could still move it around. He didn''t have anything to clean the gash, and a great amount of blood was oozing out, so he quickly wrapped it in a somewhat tightly dressing, which immediately became red from white due to heavy bleeding.


    Xerxes felt even more useless sitting there, so he dragged his body over to the kitchen to get Lucas a glass of water. At least Bailey and Elise weren''t in the living room anymore.


    Bailey probably went upstairs to avoid Savannah...


    When Xerxes saw her, she already looked ready to run, so it was within expectations. He didn''t blame her. She had a baby in her arms to protect.


    "Here, drink some water," Xerxes passed the glass of water to Lucas, who was still on the blood-soaked ground. But he was listening and doing whatever they told him to. They moved him to the couch. After drinking the whole glass of water, he sat there in silence. The whole house seemed quiet without Savannah...


    No, it was too eerily quiet, which was too strange.


    "Where is Bailey and Elise?" Lucas asked.


    "I think they went upstairs. I''ll go check on them," Xerxes replied as he got up to ascend the stairs. He was also just thinking about going to see their condition.


    Xerxes called out to her a few times in the corridor.


    "Bailey!"


    There was no response to his calling.


    No way.


    A chilling thought crossed Xerxes''s head.


    What if one dead wasn''t enough?

 15. Two Hearts

    Xerxes had a bad premonition, mainly due to previous events. He was still a bit on edge. He called out her name again, this time in a much quieter voice, as he neared the bedroom door, which was slightly ajar. He clearly remembered that he had left the door wide open when he ran out of there. Hypothetically, Bailey should be inside the room.


    However, the bedroom was completely devoid of any humans, much less Bailey and Elise. This was the last room they could be hiding in though, so Xerxes wasn''t sure of it just yet. He looked behind the door and searched the few hiding places. He was about to look through the wardrobe when he heard a gasp from under the bed.


    Xerxes spun around to face the bed. He had yet to check under it, saving it for last because he was daunted by the thought of something actually lurking beneath. Maybe he had just seen too many horror movies but there is always something under the bed.


    Xerxes swallowed nervously as he slowly bent his body. His knees met the wooden floor, and he tilted his upper body to the side, instantly locking eyes with the person underneath. He was barely able to hold the scream inside his mouth. The only reason he did so was because it was Bailey¡ªnot anything else.


    "What are you doing? I kept calling your name¡ª" Xerxes couldn''t finish his words as Bailey gave him a horrified look and tremblingly put her index finger over her lips.


    "Shhhh! She will hear us," Bailey said as her eyes circled around the room, scanning for something or someone.


    "Who are you talking about? Savannah? She''s not here anymore. You can come out now," Xerxes whispered, guessing that Bailey was still stressing over the dispute with Savannah.


    "No! No, you don''t get it. It''s not her." Bailey shook her head wildly while whispering, "Take Elise with you. She''ll get her too otherwise. Keep her safe, please. This will be the only time I''ll burden you. Please." Even in a psychotic state, the safety of her daughter was at the forefront of her thoughts.


    Xerxes had no other choice but to grab the baby, who was sleeping without a care in the world, entrusted to him by force. "Are you alright, Bailey? Just come out. Staying with others is still safer than staying alone." This statement was half wrong, half right. Anyone could be possessed at any given moment, but having others by your side brought a bit of comfort and security too. It was far better than swaying alone in the ocean.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    "I''m coming. Just take her with you first. Hurry." Bailey aggressively pushed Xerxes to leave. He didn''t have a chance to refute, since she agreed to follow him soon, but he felt bizarrely perturbed by it all.


    "Let''s go together after all, Bailey," Xerxes said, turning back, shaken by the sight of Bailey sitting on the windowsill, swaying her legs playfully in the dark outside.


    "Bailey, get down from there! What are you thinking?" Xerxes'' voice shook with panic as he rushed toward her. But Bailey didn''t wait for him. She leapt from the window without looking back, as though it was nothing.


    Although it wasn''t much of a distance, it was still the second story. In the worst-case scenario, she could hit her head on the ground and die on the spot. In the best-case scenario, she would get a few sprains or broken bones. Xerxes tried to catch her with one of his hands, but he was unsuccessful. She had vanished after leaping out of the window.


    Xerxes was on the edge. His head throbbed as if it might split open at any moment. He glanced up at the moon, usually round and glowing brightly, but now obscured by clouds. Even the moon seemed to have had enough.


    ***


    Returning alone with Elise in his arms, Xerxes was lost in thought. He felt numb, as if everything were a cruel joke. What was he supposed to feel right now?


    "Where''s Bailey?" The question Xerxes had been expecting from everyone hit him harder than he''d imagined. He was lost too. Where was she?


    Nova grabbed Xerxes by the shoulders, gently shaking him. He asked again, "Where is Bailey? What happened?" Xerxes struggled to meet their questioning gazes, feeling like a criminal condemned. He lowered his head, dejected.


    "She jumped out the window. I tried to catch her, but she just... disappeared into thin air..." he replied, his voice heavy with remorse.


    After a moment of silence, Nova sat back down on the couch, sighing heavily, his face buried in his hands. Lucas and Kai also had nothing more to say. They were seated right next to each other. Kai''s left hand was gripping Lucas''s black jacket, holding on to it in case Lucas decided to remove it and he had to put it back on him.


    "This is the last time..." Xerxes''s voice broke through the stillness, capturing everyone''s attention once again.


    "What are you talking about?" Nova asked, his voice laced with confusion as Xerxes became the center of attention. Xerxes felt awkward saying it, but he knew he had to.


    "This is the last time someone other than me will die," Xerxes said, his expression unwavering, his voice calm but resolute. There was no hint of doubt, no quiver in his heart. He would not run from this anymore. Xerxes would face death head-on, no hesitation, no delay.


    He didn''t announce it just to solidify his own resolve. He wanted to give the others a chance¡ªan extra life. Just like in video games, if you know you have an extra life, you can act without restraint. Where fear of dying makes you hesitate, if there was even the slightest chance of clearing this dungeon, everyone needed to feel free, knowing they had a life to spare.


    So, he would become that extra life for them.

 16. Is it a Bird? Is it a Plane?

    "Everyone present here will survive and clear this dungeon; the only exemption would be me. I''ll take full responsibility for your lives."


    "PFFT," Nova laughed out loud. He was totally caught off guard; he never expected something of this caliber from Xerxes. "Oww ouch," his ribs ached from the unexpected strain.


    "What?"


    "Why are you talking in riddles?"


    "What does that mean?" Kai persisted xerxes relentlessly.


    "Idiots," Lucas muttered to himself.


    Even if they didn''t really believe Xerxes when he made that claim, it felt like they were given life insurance for free, which was enough to cheer them up in such a depressing situation. To put it mildly, it felt good to even have a phony guarantee. Sometimes just the hopeful words of someone can bring the other a sense of comfort.


    "I don''t fully get it, but we are getting out of here together, Xerxes." Kai replied, "I noticed the natural light in the house decreasing with time, so I looked outside the window. The moon is gone. We are in the last stages of the story. After the moon becomes small, the last step is to give it to Mary. After that, we don''t have anything more to do other than wait, and the dungeon should be cleared subsequently."


    "It''s the waiting that''s dangerous more than the tasks." Lucas spoke, which everyone agreed to: "I don''t think the house is as safe as it seems." Xerxes had also deducted the same. The most agonizing thing was waiting with having nothing else to do, and the house might seem like the perfect place to wait and rest. But it was all just so they would end up in here. This dungeon got what it wanted, being the only house on the map. Everyone naturally fell into its trap.


    "I think so too, even if it''s not the house itself. The only other thing we are afraid of bringing harm to us, is the little girl Mary, and guess where she lives." Nova hinted bluntly, he hadn''t even shown them the restroom yet, but everyone was already convinced because every time something unpleasant happened, it was in this house.


    Nobody wanted to stay in the house any longer after the confirmation, so they decided to leave after throwing some essentials, like water, out the downstairs window in case the front door sounded a secret code or something. First in line was Xerxes, who cautiously opened the front door.


    "Meow," the white cat was perched directly in front of the door. Xerxes was a bit taken aback by it because the cat never got this close to the house and it would never enter it. Now that he thought of this again, maybe the cat was warning them but they failed to notice before, Xerxes picked up the cat to move it aside so it doesn''t get hurt.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Following Xerxes, Nova and Lucas emerged from the door, "Kai?" Xerxes waited a few seconds for him, but he never made his way out the house. "Wasn''t Kai with you, Lucas?" Xerxes asked, holding the front door open nervously.


    "He was right behind me until the last moment." Lucas had become less sharp due to being severely weakened; he couldn''t even notice when Kai had disappeared. "I''ll go look for him," Lucas declared, moving back inside, but he was immediately dragged out by his hood. "Give me the lighter, I''ll go look for him." Xerxes extended a hand towards him.


    Lucas took out the lighter from his pants zipper pocket and handed it to Xerxes, knowing his condition was the worst and he wasn''t the best choice to look for Kai, he complied obediently.


    "I should go with Xerxes. You hold Elise and wait here, Lucas." Nova placed Elise in Lucas''s arms; she was still sleeping and breathing, which was a huge relief for them since not a single one of them knew how to take care of a baby.


    Before Nova could move, however, Xerxes had already shut the door, locking from the inside. "Your also injured, and being alone is not safe," his voice sounded from behind the locked door.


    "But aren''t you also alone? Xerxes open the door." Nova knocked on the door recklessly, but Xerxes didn''t open it and stayed silent. "Damn it!" he kicked the door aggressively. Xerxes wasn''t genuinely committed to being the goat sacrifice, was he? Nova pondered tensely.


    "The window." Lucas pointed to the window next to them, which connected to the bedroom. Nova instantly understood, the bedroom door couldn''t be locked from outside the bedroom, and the window was always wide open because the windows didn''t have any shutters or blinders, meaning it was the best way to sneak into the house.


    "Will you be okay alone with Emily?" Nova asked as he climbed onto the window, not receiving a reply from Lucas. Nova looked back at him. Lucas was intensely looking up at the house as if he had seen a ghost, but when Nova followed his line of sight, it was worse than a ghost.


    "Is that a giant spider?!" Nova was terrified to be standing right under it. He moved away from the window in a panic. Nova was more scared of spiders than flying ghosts; he took them very seriously, especially one as big as the one above him on the house.


    "Does that look like a spider to you?" Lucas gravely said, making Nova take a double take at the spider.


    The moonless night was truly a bit too dark to distinctly see if it was a huge spider or not, but do spiders usually have hair this long hanging down from their heads? Also, shouldn''t there be more than just four legs?


    The realization slowly hit Nova, and his beautiful features further contorted, "That''s Bailey, right?" Lucas spoke the cursed words Nova was avoiding.


    "Don''t move rashly now; she hasn''t moved; maybe she still hasn''t noticed us." Lucas held Nova by the arm, who kept stepping back in disgust and terror. "How is she staying in that position? Do you think when Xerxes said that she disappeared out the window, she was just crawling on the outer walls of the house beside him?"


    Nova had just finished speaking when Elise suddenly woke up and started wailing loudly, startled by the unfamiliar sight of Lucas and not her mother.

 17. The Girl Who Wanted the Moon

    Clink!


    The vintage silver lighter opened, and a flame composed of a bright yellow and orange center, blanketed by a blue-tinted edge, shadowed on a pale face. The surroundings were dimly lit up by the small fire.


    The living room was the same as they had left it, but Kai was nowhere to be seen. Feeling perturbed, Xerxes tried to listen to the empty and quiet house for any signs.


    Nothing.


    There was only a still wind in the house. Xerxes searched downstairs briefly; he had a feeling Kai was not nearby, so he moved his investigation to the next floor. When his foot pressed on the last step of the stairs, the wood creaked loudly, and the distant sound of a baby crying came from outside.


    Elise must have woken up by now.


    Ignoring the cries, he carried the spark of light to the bedroom. He looked underneath the bed first, this time being met with only the wooden floor. He turned off the lighter to save the fuel and despondently got up from the ground. As a shadow passed by him on the ground, his pitch-black eyes instantly followed after the shadow to the window, but there wasn''t anything in the window either.


    Thinking his mind was playing tricks on him due to the darkness of the house, he shook his face slightly and called for Kai.


    "KAI! KAI!" he called out in every direction. When he was done shouting the name, he heard a clear-as-day thump from above his head. He stretched his neck.


    The attic!


    He no longer squandered time and headed directly to the burst-out opening in the ceiling. If Kai wasn''t in any danger, he would have come or called after him. Knowing Kai could be in a life-threatening situation, Xerxes didn''t have the time to fetch the dining chair from the lower floor. He jumped onto the wooden railing in the corridor and caught the opening with his hands. Holding the lighter in his mouth, he pushed himself into the makeshift attic.


    The thumps of hitting the wood became more intelligible after being in the attic. Xerxes took the lighter from his mouth, igniting it immediately in the direction of the sound. Behind a few large cobwebs, he saw two legs struggling and the back of a black dress that belonged to the person sitting atop a pair of legs wearing white matching socks that reached below the knees, and white shoes that kicked the air with force.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    "The moon is mine! No one can take it from me..." a girl''s voice reverberated.


    He rapidly passed by the cobwebs that stuck to his clothes and made his way over to Kai, who was being strangled by Mary. As he came close to her, Mary shifted her glowing crimson eyes over to Xerxes. Just one look from her sent several chills down his spine, but Kai''s wellbeing came first. He gripped her bony arms to break him free.


    Kai''s face was bright red due to being choked. He was also trying to loosen her hold on his neck. He was close to passing out when, suddenly, Xerxes snatched him away from her clenches.


    "Oeugh! Oeugh!" Kai coughed in Xerxes''s arms as he tried to regulate his breathing.


    Xerxes was ready to fight her if he had to, but unexpectedly, she stood there without any movement, seeming hesitant for some reason.


    "The moon is mine only!" Mary yelled in his face as she launched herself at Kai, who was in his hold. She didn''t attack his arms, which wrapped around Kai, but instead went for the opening in his legs that were on the wood. She tugged on them to drag Kai out of his hug.


    "Only I can have the moon! No one else!" she shrieked. Xerxes tried holding onto Kai''s body, but the little frail girl in front of him somehow had strength like a hulk. Kai was starting to slip out from his arms slowly when Xerxes snapped.


    "NO, YOU CAN''T!"


    Mary paused. Afterward, tears fell down her white face as she tilted her head and asked in a soft tone, "I can''t?" Her expression softened. Xerxes''s heart wavered; even though she was on the dungeon''s side and probably a non-playable character of this created world, he still couldn''t help but pity her.


    "I''m sorry," he said, before his view started pixelating, breaking everything apart like sugar mixing in water.


    ***


    The helicopter hovered in the sky, a sleek metallic bird cutting through the morning light. Its polished body gleamed in flashes of red and white, emblazoned with the bold, unmistakable logo of the local news station. Beneath its rotating blades, the world below seemed tiny, blurred by the dizzying heights and the hum of the engine. The whir of the rotors was deafening, a constant companion to the swirl of air that churned beneath them.


    Inside the cockpit, the pilot''s hands moved deftly over the controls, guiding the machine with practiced ease. Beside him, a cameraman adjusted the lens, zooming in on the scene below. The road, usually filled with the pulse of everyday life, was now dominated by a vast, gaping hole. It yawned open in the asphalt like a wound, blackened and ominous, as though the ground itself had decided to swallow what was above. Yellow "Do Not Cross" tape stretched across the scene, fluttering in the wind.


    A reporter, headset snug over her ears, peered at the monitor beside her, her voice calm and steady as she began her broadcast.


    "Today marks the 3rd day of the dungeon closing after sucking in 7 civilians who were on the road at the time of the emergence of the dungeon. The people on the internet have been sending their well wishes and hoping for them to survive¡ª" The reporter was still in the middle of her report when the cameraman abruptly started zooming in on the road underneath them.


    The unsettling hole glowed brightly, sending a blue beacon of light into the sky, which pierced through the clouds, signaling the clearance of a dungeon.

 18. Its Obviously Him

    The pixels moved, like unsolvable puzzle pieces, at an unimaginable pace until they finally came together to solve the puzzle. A brilliance Xerxes hadn''t seen in days struck his pupils, causing him to squint. He blinked rapidly as he absorbed the familiar surroundings.


    "An ambulance!" Xerxes hastily searched for his smartphone, which was in his pocket as usual. He supported Kai with one hand while dialing the emergency number with the other.


    "I''m fine now." Kai grasped his hand, holding the smartphone. The call was still ringing when the wail of sirens from ambulances and police cars echoed from all directions.


    "That was remarkably fast," Nova remarked as he approached them and extended his hand for Xerxes to take, helping him rise from the filthy road. Reminded of the others, Xerxes glanced around, expecting to see everyone, but only two solitary cars were parked next to each other. In the third car sat a boy with short brown hair in the driver''s seat, his arm draped over his forehead, his head leaning back against the seat.


    Xerxes looked up at Nova, whose grin was brighter than the blazing sun at that moment. He accepted the offered hand, getting back to his feet. Kai also stood up, still gripping his hand tightly.


    Before transporting Lucas and Kai to the hospital, the first responders arrived and administered first aid. Xerxes declined to go to the hospital since he had no physical injuries, and Nova declined as well, stating he was well enough to go on his own.


    The green coat draped over Xerxes''s shoulders looked incredibly expensive, though it had gotten somewhat dirty with cobwebs and debris. Nonetheless, Xerxes made his way over to Nova, who was standing on the sidewalk, conversing with his manager, who had already gotten Nova a smoothie from the most popular caf¨¦ in the city.


    "Nova, can I speak with you for a moment?" Xerxes said in a humble tone, as if addressing the earth beneath him, too anxious to face his manager, who was a stranger to him. Xerxes didn''t notice or hear anything Nova did. He simply dragged him to a quiet spot after signaling something to his manager.


    "What do you need to discuss privately like this? If you want my autograph or a photo, there''s no need to be shy. We survived a dungeon together¡ªit''s the least I can do for you." Nova grinned proudly and swept his beautiful golden locks back with his fingers, not even arousing the possibility that Xerxes didn''t even recognize him in the entertainment world.


    "Sorry to disappoint you, but that''s not what I want. I need something else right now, and I''m here to return your coat. Thanks for lending it to me." Xerxes removed the coat and thrust it into Nova''s arms.


    "What do you want from me then?" Nova asked with an arched brow.


    "Cash. Can I borrow some money? I''ll pay you back later." Xerxes asked without hesitation, since Nova was his only source of funds at the moment. The plan to spend his last bit of money and end it all was definitely off the table. He now had to reconsider if he truly wanted to give up or not. But first, he needed to go home¡ªand for that, he needed the money.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Nova was unsure what to make of Xerxes shamelessly asking for money right after coming out of the ordeal, but he had no reason to refuse¡ªhe had plenty of it. He opened his wallet, pulled out every bill, and handed them to Xerxes.


    "I don''t need this much." Xerxes''s hands were overflowing with cash. He didn''t even bother to count it before accepting the entire sum, thinking about how easily Nova could be swindled. Xerxes unashamedly stuffed the bills into his pocket.


    Nova didn''t have the chance to respond before Xerxes swept all the money away in an instant. Amused by his questionable actions, Nova watched as Xerxes fled after having accomplished his goal.


    "What?" Xerxes was seized by his arm as he attempted to head toward the nearby subway station by Nova.


    "Let''s grab a bite together." Nova suggested, just as a swarm of reporters and influencers hoarded him, eager to extract just a single word from him. Xerxes seized the opportunity to slip out of Nova''s grip and escape before he could be surrounded again. He''d had enough socializing for at least a week¡ªhe just wanted to be left in peace.


    "Xerxes, wait! Xerxes!" Nova called after him, but Xerxes pretended he didn''t hear a thing. The crowd surrounding Nova showed no interest in him either. They didn''t even recognize him as one of the survivors due to his unremarkable presence. He was completely overlooked by the throng.


    Yawning throughout the hour-long train ride to the outskirts of the city, Xerxes finally reached the aging five-story building where he resided. He carefully avoided every corner, mindful of the landlord, who might be lurking nearby. The building lacked an elevator, as it was so old and on the verge of collapsing, so he had to climb five flights of stairs to reach his apartment on the top floor. Each floor contained only a single apartment, as the structure wasn''t particularly large. He tore off the late rent notice, which had been affixed to his front door with clear tape, before unlocking the door and stepping inside.


    ***


    Nova glanced disdainfully at the public officials from the special recruitment committee, his long-awaited meal interrupted by their intrusion. The only reason he agreed to answer ten of their questions was his genuine interest in the position of infiltrator. He took a bite of his double-patty burger as one of the officers began asking him a question.


    "Who do you believe was the key figure in clearing the dungeon?"


    ***


    Lucas had just closed his eyes when two officers entered the private hospital room.


    "I thought I was done with the investigation of the dungeon," he said, slowly sitting up in bed.


    "We''re not with the police, Mr. Lucas," one of them replied. "We need to ask you a few questions regarding the people you were with in the dungeon."


    ***


    "Hey, kid, this is the most important question of the day, so listen carefully," the female officer said to Kai, who was absorbed in his online game on his smartphone.


    "Go ahead, I''m listening," he replied, his eyes never leaving the game screen.


    The officer sighed but asked the question anyway. "Who was the person that made you feel safe in the dungeon?"


    ***


    "Based on your answers, it seems you did most of the work in the dungeon, Mr. Lucas," the officer said, holding a notebook and pen, waiting for a response. "But if you had to choose one of the other survivors as the reason you made it out alive, who would you say it was?"


    Lucas''s gaze sharpened as he paused to think for a moment.


    "If I had to choose, I''d say Xerxes¡ªthe one with the dead eyes and crow-black hair," he replied.


    ***


    Nova set down his burger after hearing the question. He swallowed the chewed food in his stomach, and the corners of his lips curled into a slight grin as he answered with clear resolve.


    "It''s without a doubt, Xerxes."


    ***


    Kai lost control of his character in the game, and it was frozen by the enemy. Finally, he looked up at the officer, who was waiting expectantly.


    Kai didn''t need to think twice.


    "Xerxes," he said flatly.

 19. The Person In Question

    Xerxes had taken a warm shower before collapsing into bed. He had just closed his eyelids, and in a blink, he fell deeply asleep, expecting at least a few nightmares from his terrifying experience.


    By the time Xerxes woke up, it was mostly due to his growling stomach. He was confused; he could fast for three days easily. It hadn''t been three days yet, so why was he beginning to feel hungry?


    Xerxes had anticipated feeling rejuvenated after a good night''s rest, but his body still ached, and he felt even heavier than the day before. He was still grateful that he had only blacked out and hadn''t dreamt of anything.


    He got out of bed and rummaged through his refrigerator, only to find a carton of nearly expired cashew milk. He gave it a side glance before picking it up, unscrewing the cap, and drinking straight from the carton. He moved over to the only window in his apartment, which was a window door leading to a tiny balcony meant for one person.


    Pulling the curtains aside, he saw the sun in the middle of the clear blue sky. He took another sip of the cashew milk and checked the time on his smartphone. It was 8 AM. Assuming he had slept for seventeen or eighteen hours, he glanced at the date below the time.


    TWO DAYS?!


    Xerxes choked on the milk in his throat. He hadn''t realized he had just broken his personal record for the longest sleep ever. Just how exhausted was he to sleep through all that time? But it clarified one thing: he had indeed felt hungry after fasting for three days.


    Unlocking his lock screen, he saw an emergency flash message fill the screen. These messages were either sent by his service provider urging him to try a new package or by the government warning of a new dungeon opening nearby. In this case, it wasn''t either. The message was about a missing person the government was looking for, with a considerable ransom being offered.


    He considered taking the offer, as he needed the money and had plenty of time to spare after being recently fired. Scrolling down to read more, the details of the missing person seemed strange.


    Dead eyes and raven-black hair? 5''11" and weak-looking... has a fragile constitution and a frail physique...


    Why did the description sound like it could belong both to a homeless person and a sick patient who had escaped the hospital?


    Never mind. He just needed to find the person and collect the money. How the person looked or what they did didn''t matter. His eyes searched for the name, which was in bold, hard-to-miss letters.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    XERXES.


    The person in question immediately opened the front camera on his phone. He stared at his face. His eyes did look a bit lifeless, and the sunken cheeks confirmed he had been starving himself for days. His height, which he hadn''t measured since puberty, was probably about the same too.


    Wait, why am I suddenly wanted? What did I do?


    The memories of the dungeon replayed in his mind, but he couldn''t find a reason why the government would want him. Wait¡ªwas it because he ran away without telling the police his side of the story?


    I should''ve given them a fake name. Well, at least I didn''t give them my full name.


    Anyone who exits a dungeon is required to report everything that happened inside to the authorities on the same day, if possible, so they can ensure no one was unlawfully harmed inside. The only exceptions are for those who are severely injured and unable to speak or participate in the investigation.


    Xerxes, who was perfectly fine and didn''t even need to visit the hospital, had fled the scene immediately. It was only natural they would be looking for him. Or, worse, he could be seen as a criminal if the other survivors'' testimonies were questionable...


    Fuck.


    Xerxes finished the remaining milk, washed up, and dressed in all black: a black mask over his mouth, black sunglasses over his eyes, and a black cap to cover his hair. It wasn''t perfect, but he looked enough like a celebrity in disguise. He grabbed his keys and phone, not forgetting the instant coffee sachet in each of his pockets, and left the apartment.


    Since Nova was an actor, everything about him was online, so it didn''t take long for Xerxes to find the address of the entertainment company that represented him. He called a taxi, using some of the money he had borrowed from Nova.


    Xerxes arrived at his destination in less than twenty minutes. He was standing in front of a high-rise double building with the Chrysos Entertainment logo. The disguise made him feel anonymous, so he was less anxious about entering such a busy place. Confident, he approached the front desk and asked the woman working there if he could see Nova Harrington''s manager. He figured that saying he wanted to meet the famous actor himself would likely mark him as an odd fan, and he would definitely be kicked out.


    The woman at the desk eyed him suspiciously and asked, "Can I see your face, sir?"


    Xerxes knew he had to reveal his face at least once to avoid seeming too strange. The woman stared at him in a daze when he did. Xerxes broke into a cold sweat.


    She didn''t just recognize me, did she?


    "What''s your name, sir?" she asked.


    "Xerxes, if you tell the manager, he''ll understand," he said, trying to smile awkwardly.


    "Alright, please wait a moment," the woman replied, assuming he was a new model or actor, likely under the same manager as Nova. She stepped aside to call him, asking him to quickly come and retrieve his ''lost'' new talent. Once the call was made, she returned and escorted Xerxes to a waiting room on the first floor.


    The waiting room was a small, enclosed space with three modest couches and a coffee station stocked with snacks behind them. In the center of the room, a coffee table held a bowl of peanuts, some of which were already peeling. Xerxes crushed a few with his teeth to satisfy his hunger as he waited for Nova''s manager.

 20. A Contract?

    "I''m here, I''m here¡ªstop nagging me! What if it isn''t him?" A man in his thirties who looked far too young to be graying so soon burst into the room. He frozen when he saw Xerxes sitting on the couch, surrounded by an assortment of snacks¡ªNova''s favorites, which he had painstakingly stocked. Xerxes was munching on the snacks, the bowl of peanuts now empty and repurposed as a stand for his smartphone, which was playing a video for him as he ate.


    "Nevermind, it is him," the manager muttered into the phone before hanging up.


    ***


    TING!


    The elevator''s door slid open, and the manager stepped inside, pressing the lonely button that stood above all the others. Xerxes, unfamiliar with the five-star hotel, had no idea where the manager was taking him, but he had mentioned wanting to see Nova. So he guessed they were heading to him.


    Xerxes quietly followed the manager, who didn''t say a word either. The silence between them felt thick and awkward, with nothing but the soft hum of the elevator filling the space.


    "What''s your relationship with Nova?" the manager suddenly asked, causing Xerxes'' hair to stand on end.


    "What?" Xerxes replied, his voice nervous.


    "Nevermind," the manager muttered, his tone barely open. "I''m only taking you to Nova because he requested it."


    The elevator reached the top floor, its doors sliding open to reveal a set of double doors¡ªgrand and unmistakably belonging to the penthouse.


    As soon as the elevator doors opened, the double doors to the penthouse swung wide. Nova stood in the doorway, greeting them with a warm, heartening smile.


    "Well done," he said, giving his manager a friendly pat on the shoulder as they entered.


    "I got him, just like you asked," the manager replied, turning to leave. "I''m out. Call me if you need anything."


    "Leaving already? You can stay for a bit longer," Nova said, his tone light and casual.


    The manager shook his head. "I''m busy. Don''t have time to waste," he replied curtly, stepping back into the hallway and closing the door behind him.


    "Don''t just stand there¡ªcome inside," Nova said, pulling Xerxes into the living room and guiding him to an L-shaped couch.


    Though it had been a while since he last saw Nova, Xerxes couldn''t shake the feeling that something about him felt different. He wanted to ask about the dungeon situation and why he''d been reported missing, but he needed a moment to gather his thoughts and feel comfortable enough to bring it up. Before he could, Nova reappeared with a glass of red wine and a bottle in hand.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    "Drink?" Nova offered, pouring some wine into the glass.


    "I don''t drink," Xerxes replied.


    After pausing, Nova shrugged and drank from the glass. He put it aside and moved in the direction of the open kitchen that connected to the living area. He opened the refrigerator and set the bottle and glass of wine on the kitchen counter.


    "Here," Nova said, returning with a bottle of 100% orange juice. He handed it to Xerxes. "I ordered food for us¡ªit''ll arrive soon. Let''s wait until then."


    "You told them something strange about me, didn''t you?" Xerxes asked, unscrewing the cap of the juice bottle.


    Nova smiled innocently, as if he had no idea what Xerxes was talking about. "What are you talking about?"


    Xerxes took a slow sip of the juice, his gaze fixed on Nova''s smiling face. "You must have seen the flash notification from the government¡ªwhy am I missing, and why is there even a ransom being offered? The government wouldn''t spend a penny on a random nobody like me."


    He spoke nonchalantly, but there was a sharpness in his words as he watched Nova''s reaction.


    Before Nova could respond, the doorbell rang, interrupting the sudden interrogation.


    "Must be the delivery guy," Nova said quickly, seizing the opportunity to make his escape.


    Xerxes, still hungry and eager for his first proper meal in a long time, waited expectantly. But when Nova returned, it wasn''t with food. Instead, he was flanked by five tall men, all dressed in dark blue long coats.


    oh fuck me.


    Xerxes gripped the juice bottle tightly, his knuckles white, as he ran toward the stairs, heading up to the bedrooms.


    "Xerxes, wait!" Nova shouted after him, but Xerxes ignored him, rushing up the stairs without looking back. He reached a bedroom, slammed the door shut, and locked it, pressing his back against the door as he gasped for breath.


    "It''s not what it looks like, Xerxes." Nova''s voice came from the other side of the door, calm and collected. "They''re just here to ask you a few questions."


    Xerxes'' patience snapped. He whipped around, his anger flaring. "You fucker, you were in with the government, weren''t you? Why the hell would five men come all this way just to ask me a few questions?"


    "I didn''t know you could use such foul language, Xerxes," Nova remarked, his tone smooth but not addressing any of Xerxes'' questions.


    Xerxes didn''t flinch. "It''s reserved for people like you," he shot back. "Especially you. I''m not coming out until you tell me why they''re here." He took a slow sip of the juice, keeping his gaze fixed on the door, waiting for Nova''s response.


    Distant voices filtered through the door, muffled but clear enough to make out.


    "Should we break the door down?"


    "If he won''t come out, we''ll have to force our way in. We''re not waiting for him to stop his tantrum and come out on his own."


    It sounded like they were speaking directly to Nova.


    "I''m telling the truth, Xerxes," Nova insisted, not giving up on trying to get him to come out. "They''re here to ask you something."


    Xerxes chuckled darkly. "You take me for a fool, don''t you?" He paused, then added with a smirk, "Just let them break the door down. I''ll come out then."


    "He agreed," came the voice from outside the door. "Step aside, Mr. Nova. We don''t want you getting hurt."


    Nova''s voice grew more forceful. "Wait, this is my house!"


    "Or you can just sign the contract with us... without him," another voice suggested, cold and clinical.


    The mention of a contract caught Xerxes'' attention; his curiosity piqued despite the situation.

 21. A Contract!

    Are they offering us a contract?


    The government employs infiltrators; they have a dedicated unit for this purpose, which finds promising people and offers them a contract. Once they sign it, they become officially employed by the government working to clear the dungeons.


    Suddenly, the door unlocked. Xerxes stepped out, holding an empty glass bottle in his hand. "What kind of contract are you talking about?"


    ***


    "If there''s something you don''t understand about the contract¡ª" one of the officers began, but Xerxes cut him off.


    "Why does the government get 50 percent of my earnings?"


    The contract seemed perfect for Xerxes'' situation. It promised him a place to stay, meals taken care of, and even compensation for clearing dungeons. It was a win-win scenario: if he died in a dungeon, it would be the end. But if he survived and cleared it, he''d be paid based on the dungeon''s difficulty. The only downside was the government''s 50 percent cut of his earnings, including any money made from interviews, public appearances, campaigns, etc.


    "So they can cover the cost of all the facilities provided to the infiltrators," the officer who had been cut off earlier answered. "The government needs funds too."


    Xerxes'' eyes narrowed. "Why do we have to pay for that? Isn''t that their responsibility? If the infiltrators stopped risking their lives for them, they''d be consumed by the dungeons too. Aren''t we all living in the same world?"


    He threw the contract back onto the table with a sharp motion. "The government is still thinking of profiting off the people they''re supposed to serve."


    The officers exchanged a brief glance and nodded, then pulled out a new contract¡ªthis one with the government''s share reduced to 30 percent. Xerxes felt a flicker of nervousness, worried they might refuse to contract him altogether instead of simply reducing the percentage. When he saw the new terms, a small sense of relief washed over him, though he still signed it reluctantly, keeping his posture.


    "I didn''t know you guys had another option," Nova grumbled, eyeing Xerxes'' contract. "Why is mine the 50 percent one? I want the 70 percent one too."


    "Mr. Nova, your contract has already been signed," one of the officers replied calmly. "Since Xerxes has signed his, the terms have been fulfilled, and your contract is now in effect."Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    The officers discreetly collected Xerxes'' signed contract, then stood to leave without another word. "Also," one added as they headed for the door, "we''ve taken down the notification."


    "So, what are we supposed to do now?" Xerxes asked, frowning. "They didn''t tell us anything."


    Just as Nova opened his mouth to respond, the doorbell rang again. Thinking it was the officers returning, Xerxes went to answer it, but instead, it was the delivery guy. He took the food, already paid for, with both hands, a small smile creeping onto his face.


    Carrying the food back to the living room, Xerxes'' mood seemed to brighten. Even though he wasn''t grinning or anything, it was still clear that he was in a good mood, making this the happiest Nova had ever seen Xerxes.


    "Maybe I should''ve ordered the food before calling the officers," Nova muttered in disbelief, eyeing Xerxes'' cheerful, yet reserved, expression.


    "Why did you become an infiltrator? Don''t you already have a lot of money?" Xerxes asked, his mouth full as he devoured the entire large chicken pepperoni pizza on his own.


    Nova watched him with a raised brow, then shook his head. "You''re eating like it''s your last meal," he said with a hint of amusement. "Slow down. I don''t want you to choke and die now, especially after we''ve just signed on as partners." He handed Xerxes a glass of water.


    "What do you mean by partners?" Xerxes asked, taking the glass of water.


    Nova grinned, "We''ll be put on the same infiltrator team. That was the condition of my signed contract. For example, once we''re assigned our roles and I become the team leader, you''ll have no choice but to be a part of my team."


    "Doesn''t matter; having a wealthy leader to spoil the team isn''t a bad thing, is it?" Xerxes said, not even glancing at Nova. His gaze was fixed on the pasta on the table, clearly eyeing it as his next victim.


    "I should be glad to have so much money, then."


    ***


    The next day, outside a sleek, two-story black-and-white modern building, Xerxes stood with a suitcase in hand. A shiny black car was parked next to him. Nova, meanwhile, was retrieving his own suitcase from the trunk. Once he had it, the car drove off, leaving the two of them standing at the entrance.


    "Are you sure this is the right place?" Xerxes asked, his voice laced with doubt. "I mean, this place looks perfect for a family of four¡ªnot for thousands of infiltrators. Even if we''re new, this seems... too much." He sighed, his expectations crumbling. He had envisioned something different for his new home, but now, seeing the crowded surroundings, he was starting to rethink his decision.


    "Don''t judge it just yet; let''s go inside first," Nova said, wheeling his suitcase toward the automatic glass doors. Xerxes quickly followed, not wanting to be left alone in the unfamiliar space. As they entered, they were met by a not-so-tall robotic-looking boy with freckles and a natural smile.


    "Hello, infiltrators! Today must be your first day," he greeted them, his words quick and confident. "I see you haven''t been assigned your roles in a team yet. Please follow me to Examination Area 51." Without waiting for a response, the boy turned and began walking ahead; he didn''t wait for them to follow him, but his yellow shirt made him easy to spot in the crowd.


    The second floor was designated as the examination area, with a hundred different rooms, all serving the same purpose. The boy led them to Room 51.


    "This is your examination room," he said. "Once you enter, just take a seat in one of the chairs. The rest will be taken care of." With that, he quickly left off to assist the next batch of infiltrators, taking their suitcases with him too.

 22. Leader?!

    "See? This is such a cute place, and the service is great too," Nova remarked with a grin.


    Xerxes shot him a look of open malice. The boy might have looked like an earnest, adorable little robot, but the place itself felt more like an execution site. The white-tiled floors and walls gave it a sterile, clinical atmosphere. The hallway was lined with black doors, each marked with a number, and a round light above them. Some lights were red, while most were green.


    The room they were escorted to was small; everything was bathed in stark white. Two large chairs sat distantly apart, and that was all¡ªjust a minimalistic, resembling a creepy isolation room. As instructed, they sat down, and as soon as they did, a feminine voice echoed through the room. A headset with wires attached to it emerged from the wall behind the chairs, settling over both of their heads.


    "The examination period will begin once I start asking questions. All you have to do is stay calm and think of your answers. I''ll know your response without you speaking. The time it takes to answer will also be recorded."


    "And remember," the voice continued, "you cannot lie about what you truly want in this room. It will affect the results accordingly."


    "Now, close your eyes and empty your thoughts."


    Xerxes tried to clear his mind, but his thoughts refused to cooperate. Instead of quieting, they began to argue with each other, each one battling to stay silent. The more he tried to control them, the worse it got, and his head became a chaotic blur.


    "What do you value most in life?"


    The swirl of conflicting voices in Xerxes'' mind quieted at the question. But no clear answer came to him.


    ...There is nothing...


    "Got it. Let''s move on to the next question."


    Was that an answer too?


    "If you had to make a decision that would affect many people but might harm you personally, would you go through with it? Why or why not?"


    This time, Xerxes had a clear response.


    No. My life isn''t worth protecting if it harms others.


    He waited for the next question, but no voice followed.


    "Please wait while your partner answers. Your personal time has already been recorded. This will not affect your result."A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Nova must be stuck on the question...


    "Bravo. Let''s move on to the next question."


    "Is it more important to follow your heart or your mind? Why?"


    I''d like to listen to my mind, but my heart seems more important. I don''t have control over either... Wait, that''s not a clear answer...


    "Moving on to the next question."


    ***


    Xerx and Nova emerged from the room, each holding a piece of paper. The light above, which had been green, turned red again. Xerxes felt like he had just escaped from a virtual reality torture chamber; he wasn''t just burned out; he was cooked thoroughly.


    Xerxes was still drifting out of reality when he heard a familiar voice from next door.


    "Xerxes!"


    Kai appeared, standing beside him with the same piece of paper in hand. Behind him, Lucas was observing them intently. After a long stare, Lucas finally approached as well.


    "What are you doing?" Xerxes glanced at the paper again, still in shock. "You want to become an infiltrator at your young age? When I was your age, I was still playing with dolls." It was an overexaggeration, of course. In reality, when he was Kai''s age, Xerxes had been forced to attend his own parents'' funeral. He had the typical sob story of becoming an orphan young, relatives fighting over who would take the burden, and him home with them. But honestly, he couldn''t even bring himself to shed a tear over parents who had never loved or cared for him. The situation was nothing worth mentioning.


    "What''s wrong with my age?" Kai put up a defense and a pout, clearly upset.


    "I didn''t mean it like that, Kai... its just you know how dangerous the dungeons are."


    Kai''s expression softened, and, to Xerxes'' surprise, the boy''s pout turned into a beaming smile as he clung to his side.


    "If you''re worried about my safety," Kai said, his voice suddenly cheerful, "make me part of your team!"


    "We were supposed to be a team," Lucas said, his expression tinged with dissatisfaction.


    "We will be a team," Kai replied brightly. "But instead of getting some random, isn''t Xerxes a much better choice?" Kai asked Lucas with sparkles dripping out of his eyes. Lucas couldn''t refute him; they needed more team members anyway.


    "I''m fine with it, but Nova and I signed up as partners... so he''ll be in our team too," Xerxes said, scratching his head. He hadn''t really thought much of the partnership, but admitting it in front of the others felt a bit embarrassing.


    Kai and Lucas both turned to glare at the glowing blonde head behind Xerxes, sharing a look of silent disapproval. After a moment, they both blinked in unison.


    "A rich member is always welcome!" Kai said it with surprising enthusiasm, his tone dripping with sarcasm, but it was clear he was willing to roll with it. Lucas, on the other hand, remained silent, his face unreadable.


    Xerxes was a bit worried about finding other team members to join them too, but with them he felt more content.


    Xerxes felt a flicker of worry about finding other team members, but with Kai and Lucas, he felt strangely reassured.


    "What about my opinion?" Nova suddenly interjected, his voice laced with playful authority. "Did you forget I''m supposed to be the leader of the team? And the leader gets to decide who joins, right?"


    Nova finally looked up from his paper, a sly smile spreading across his face. His eyes curved into half-moons as he shifted his gaze to the newcomers, clearly enjoying the moment.


    "The positions are assigned by the system, based on your test results," Lucas said calmly, holding his paper out for everyone to see.


    At the top of the paper, in bold letters, was the word ''Protector.''


    "You''re a protector?" Nova''s eyes widened in surprise.


    Xerxes, curious about his own position, flipped his paper over. His eyes locked on the bold letters at the top of the page.


    Leader.

 23. Corruption

    Xerxes read the letters over and over, but they stubbornly refused to change.


    "Let''s see what you''ve got, then," Lucas said, leaning closer to peek at Nova''s paper.


    "I bet he didn''t get the leader position¡ªthat''s why he''s not bragging right now," Kai added, his words visibly ruffling Nova''s feathers.


    "Even if I don''t get the leader position, if one of us gets the same role, we won''t be able to form a team," Nova stated matter-of-factly. His blunt remark hit home, prompting them to quickly gather their papers into a circle to check if their positions overlapped.


    "Xerxes, show us yours too!" Kai urged. Xerxes hesitated for a moment before reluctantly sliding his paper into the circle.


    Leader. Analyzer. Protector. Escapologist.


    All eight eyes darted from one paper to the next, pausing briefly on Nova''s position before fixating on the leader designation. Gradually, their lowered heads inched closer to Xerxes''s results. They studied him, scrutinizing him from head to toe, their gazes heavy with disbelief.


    "We all have different roles. Isn''t that a good thing for us?" Xerxes ventured awkwardly, forcing a laugh.


    But his attempt to diffuse the tension fell flat. The others remained silent, their eyes locked on him with an intensity that made cold sweat trickle down his back.


    "What does an escapologist even do?" Kai broke the uneasy silence in the hallway.


    "That just means he''s excellent at escaping," Lucas responded before snatching Xerxes''s results from his hands.


    "What are you going to do now, ''leader''?" He mocked, flinging the paper over Nova''s face.


    "Don''t forget¡ªI''ll still be in Xerxes''s team since we''re partners," Nova declared with a self-assured smirk.


    Xerxes reclaimed his results from Lucas''s grasp. "There must be a glitch in the system. Me, a leader? Also, it says here I have an IQ of 160. That can''t be accurate, right?" Xerxes searched the others'' expressions for confirmation, but none seemed particularly surprised.


    "What are you going to do about the team?" Lucas asked, his mind haunted by only one thought. He was a bit taken aback by Xerxes getting the leader position, but he was always quick to accept reality.


    Before Xerxes could reply, the robot boy from earlier sprinted toward them at full speed. "You cannot just linger here. If you''re done with your tests, move along!" He barked, pulling everyone out of the hallway.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    "Where are you taking us now?" Lucas questioned, recognizing the boy from before.


    "The leader will be directed to the meeting room with prospective team members," the robot explained, fixing his gaze on Xerxes. "But ensure you finalize your decision before 2 p.m. Everyone must attend class by then. If you''re tardy, I''ll have to fetch you."


    "We''ll be there, Cyan!" Kai chimed in, already comfortable enough to call the robot boy by name.


    Cyan herded them into a meeting room with a lengthy glass table and office chairs, then vanished before Xerxes could inquire about his confiscated suitcase.


    "Take your seats, everyone. Let''s discuss this calmly," Lucas asserted, claiming the central chair. Kai pulled out the chair beside him.


    Xerxes chose the seat nearest to him, at the head of the glass table. "Isn''t it a bit unsettling that Cyan is always eavesdropping on us? He knew exactly what we were discussing," he remarked as he sat down.


    "Privacy is nonexistent once you become an infiltrator," Nova remarked, taking the chair next to Xerxes. "Only elite infiltrators receive private housing. Us rookies? We''re stuck with dormitories." He pulled a pen from the holder and placed it in front of Xerxes, evidently trying to gain favor.


    Having his own personal space was crucial for Xerxes. Just the thought of sharing a room with someone else gave him a headache. For now, he pushed the idea aside, picked up the pen Nova had offered, and flipped over his results paper.


    "Since none of our roles overlap, you''re all on my team. If anyone doesn''t want to join or has any complaints, raise your hand now. I won''t ask again¡ªI despise repeating myself," Xerxes said, clicking the pen open.


    Not a single hand was raised. Despite their occasional bickering, they had weathered tough times together, fostering a sense of loyalty that outweighed the prospect of joining strangers.


    Xerxes began writing down everyone''s names on the back of the paper. After jotting down the last name, he looked up. "What should we name our team?"


    Kai''s hand shot up enthusiastically. "How about Dungeon Busters?" he proposed, waving his hand excitedly.


    "...No," Xerxes said flatly. He might not feel cut out for leadership, but he was resolute about avoiding a ridiculous team name. Once he committed to something, he strove to do it to the best of his ability.


    Nova and Lucas were equally earnest about the name and began pondering alternatives.


    "How about Death''s Angels?" Xerxes proposed, eager for their reactions.


    There was a brief silence before Nova finally broke it. "Kai, look up if the name is already taken. Quickly¡ªwe need to secure it before anyone else does."


    Kai nodded and pulled out his tablet from the bag on his back, while Lucas grabbed his smartphone to check online too.


    "So, are we finalizing the name, or...?" Xerxes began to ask when everyone responded in unison.


    "YES."


    With that, Xerxes wrote Death''s Angels at the top of the paper, above everyone''s names.


    "Who got the highest IQ level?" Nova queried once Xerxes finished.


    "I also want to review everyone''s results one more time," Xerxes said, flipping his paper back over.


    "Kai has the highest¡ª180," Lucas said, handing both his and Kai''s results to Xerxes.


    "The system must be corrupted," Nova muttered, passing his paper over as well.


    "You got 140, Nova," Xerxes said as he examined the result papers, the one on top being Nova''s.


    "Pfft. Is that why you keep blaming the system, Nova?" Kai laughed, hitting the table. Nova hadn''t felt bad about it until now, but he also had nothing to say in his defense, so he just watched Kai with laser-focused, striking eyes.


    The system should be right, but I still can''t believe I got a 160. I don''t feel like that''s right¡­


    Xerxes was still thinking about his own results when he looked over the next result paper. It was Lucas''s. His IQ level was also high¡ª158. Xerxes had a thought that maybe infiltrators usually had high IQ levels anyway, and it was nothing new. With that assurance, he moved over to the last thing written on the paper:


    User wants to protect others from the dungeon''s dangers. The assigned position is based on the answers of the user.

 24. Finalized

    Xerxes quickly searched for his own result to look over the last line written on the end of the paper. His eyes darted down on the found paper.


    User got the leader position because of his leading qualities based on the answers of his user.


    What qualities...?


    "Nova, what made you want to become a partner infiltrator with me?" asked Xerxes.


    Nova''s darkened expression lightened up at the question. "When you said that you''ll be our extra life in the dungeon," he broke into a wide smile just thinking about it again. "Your legs were shaking so much," he chuckled.


    Lucas and Kai didn''t refute the statement either; they had seen him shaking too, actually.


    I wish the ground would just swallow me again...


    "Is that what you meant when you said you''ll take responsibility for our lives, Xerxes?" Kai remembered he never got the full picture.


    Xerxes was trying to make himself seem small, hiding behind the paper in his hand when he heard Kai''s question.


    "Wait¡ªwhat happened with Elise?" He finally got the chance to ask about her and shift the attention from the previous topic.


    "Savannah''s parents decided to adopt her." Lucas supported his chin with his hand while his arm rested on the table. "Don''t worry; they''re still young; they can take good care of her."


    "I''m sure they will," Xerxes suddenly felt lightheaded thinking about what happened with Savannah. He shook off the feeling, trying to keep his head straight and clear. "Can I come visit Elise sometime?" he asked.


    "Sure, I''ll text you the address. You can come whenever you want. My parents'' house is right beside their house, so you can visit whenever you want." Lucas was surprisingly very easygoing, which made Xerxes feel comfortable enough to feel welcomed instead of barging into their house.


    "I want to see her too!" Kai propped back his hand in the air, swinging it left and right.


    "I''ll accompany you too, Xerxes," said Nova. He wasn''t close enough with Lucas to ask him yet. Even after knowing about Elise being adopted, he still hesitated in visiting her. With Xerxes going, he could use this chance to visit her too.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    "Let''s exchange numbers. We would need them in the future now that we are in a team together," Lucas proposed.


    They exchanged numbers with each other, and the created group chat was also named after their team''s name, ''Death''s Angels.''


    The meeting ended as the clock ticked closer to 2 p.m. They rushed out, with Cyan''s help, to find the lecture hall where their class was taking place. All the seats seemed filled at a glance, but the last wooden bench was empty. They squeezed into the tight space together.


    It was a tight fit, but they all got to sit. Xerxes was seated close to the steps by his left side, and Lucas was sitting on his right side, his piercings in his ear almost touching Xerxes. He had thought Lucas liked to cover up his face, but after the dungeon, he never did cover up anything. He had a handsome, chiseled face with some baby fat still making him look young, but his clothes and piercings¡ªthat were a lot to count for Xerxes¡ªand the eyebrow one, which seemed like it hurt a lot, gave him a delinquent kind of vibe.


    At exactly 2 p.m., the sound of heels clicking against the hard floor filled the hall. A woman entered, wearing a black pencil skirt and a matching blazer draped over her shoulders. A crisp white shirt was tucked neatly underneath. Her pink high ponytail swayed as she moved, and she carried a nightstick in one hand. She stopped at the podium in front of a screen that stood twice her height.


    "I''m going to skip the unnecessary stuff and get straight to the point," she announced. "I''ll be briefing you on dungeons and the infiltrator positions before you settle into your rooms."


    "Wow, isn''t she a really popular infiltrator? Is she really here? I can''t believe it."


    "Ahh, Raia! She''s my idol¡ªOMG!"


    "She''s so much hotter in person."


    The murmurs around Xerxes came unbidden to his ears. He hadn''t realized just how famous infiltrators were, though the excitement around her was starting to feel overkill. Or maybe it was just because he''d been so disinterested in life until recently.


    Raia placed the nightstick on her shoulder and turned on the black screen, which displayed seven different names alongside pictures of famous infiltrators.


    "These are the seven different positions a team can have," she began, gesturing to the screen. "Beside them are the infiltrators with the specific positions. Let''s start with the leader. As all of you might already have an idea, it''s the most important position. The leader will be the one to form the team. He will also get to decide many important things later on on behalf of the whole team. The ones who got the leader position today must begin looking for members already. You can only enter the dungeons with seven other people. If they are not your team members, they will be other infiltrators who have yet to enter a team or are the type to not join a team so they don''t feel tied down to anyone. But I highly suggest forming your own teams, as it builds your trust in your companions in the dungeon."


    "Moving on to the next, second most important position: Analyzer. They are the ones responsible for finding out the theme behind the dungeon. As you all know, the dungeons are based on different materials that already exist in our world. They will have to find any clues and connect them to match the story or plot points to complete the dungeon. This is something that not everyone can do, so an analyzer is a must to have in your teams. But they are also a bit rare, so catch anyone you can find, I would suggest." She didn''t forget to add her own suggestion at the end.

 25. Positions

    "Those two were the only important ones. There are a lot of teams with only two infiltrators in those positions, and they have cleared many difficult dungeons too. But I would suggest you all form a perfect seven-member team. It''s the unbeatable combination that we have come up with after observing and experimenting with everything at our disposal. Every role has a critical purpose, and together, they make the best possible synergy for dungeons."


    I still need three more members to complete the team...


    The lecture hall was wide, with about three hundred seats arranged in neat rows that gave a clear view of the stage. Xerxes glanced around at the other infiltrators seated throughout the hall, his eyes scanning the faces of those present. Despite his best efforts, there was no way to tell which position each person held without asking them directly, which was awkward in such a formal setting.


    "The next positions aren''t in any particular order of importance; I''ll just go over them at random. Challengers are usually the fighters of the team. Most of them are aggressive, cold, and egoistic, but they also end up getting the best damage-dealing skills. The monsters and creatures in dungeons can''t be killed easily, so a strong fighter is absolutely essential to obliterate them. Also, do not forget this crucial point: the people you encounter in the dungeon might look like real humans, but they are created by the dungeon as characters. They cannot, under any circumstances, be compared to real people. Many infiltrators hesitate to kill them because of their lifelike appearance. This hesitation is the single most common reason why new infiltrators end up dying in the dungeons. So I would strongly suggest you give up right now if you cannot protect yourself and harm them before they harm you."


    Raia''s stern expression grew even harsher as she scanned the room. Her piercing gaze made it feel as if she could see right through every person sitting there. The tension in the air was palpable, and no one dared to whisper or shift in their seats.


    "That brings us to our next position: Protector. If you have the will to protect yourself but lack the physical strength or resilience to do so, make sure your team includes a protector. Protectors are incredibly self-sacrificing individuals who will go to great lengths to shield others from harm. You can rely on them to defend the weaker members of your team. For example, most Analyzers are nerds with absolutely zero defensive or offensive skills, so they rely heavily on Protectors. This is also why I suggested earlier the importance of forming a complete team¡ªevery role is complementary and supports the others in some way."


    She paused briefly, pointing to the next position on the screen with her nightstick. The image of an infiltrator appeared¡ªa young man with striking features. His photo, taken from a high-end magazine photoshoot, exuded confidence. His shiny blonde hair sparkled under the lights, practically blinding the audience. Among the rough gems of the infiltrators, this one shone like a pure, polished crystal. It was none other than Nova Harrington.


    Everyone had been eyeing Nova since he entered the hall, but those stares were even more intensified now. Xerxes hated the attention, but Nova basked in his glory.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    "They are really keeping up with the trends," said Nova.


    Of course, Nova had wasted no time announcing his achievement. He had tweeted immediately upon receiving his results, proudly proclaiming himself as an escapologist. The internet exploded with the news, and it had even been covered by various TV channels. It was impossible for anyone in the room not to know who Nova was.


    "Nova, do you want to sit next to me? I have a lot more room here," a girl on a lower bench asked, eagerly removing her handbag from her side to make space for him.


    "Thank you, but I am very comfortable sitting with my team members," Nova replied smoothly, flashing one of his signature fan-made smiles. The girl turned away with a red face, unable to say anything more.


    Ugh...


    Nova''s mention of his team members only attracted more unwanted attention to them. While most of his teammates remained unfazed by the spotlight, Xerxes felt like crawling out of his seat. His discomfort was written all over his face. He stared at Raia, desperately trying to focus all his attention on her explanations, hoping to block out the unwanted stares and whispers.


    "Escapologists are tricky people; even I never fully understand them. However, they are undoubtedly excellent at staying alive. They thrive in dungeons like cockroaches¡ªunkillable, annoying, immune-to-everything jerks. Oops, that might have been a bit personal. Anyway, they''re far from useless. Escapologists also help others escape from dangerous situations. They possess an uncanny intuition, which allows them to sense threats long before anyone else notices them. This makes them incredibly valuable. However, I strongly recommend conducting a thorough and serious interview before making an escapologist a member of your team."


    Right... noted...


    "And the next one, yes¡ªthe Peacekeeper. This is a must-have role if you want your team to avoid tearing itself apart. I''ve actually witnessed many team kills in my career as an infiltrator. Dungeons are the most dangerous places on Earth, and humans are the most dangerous species on Earth. Never forget that. There are no laws in dungeons, and we can''t see everything that happens in there either. You''re completely on your own. Unless, of course, you have a Peacekeeper in your team and a strong sense of teamwork. But do not underestimate them¡ªthey are powerful enough to blow up anyone who dares to disrupt the team dynamic. That''s how they keep the peace. I highly suggest you recruit one as soon as possible."


    "Lastly, we have resource investigators, who are assigned the most time-consuming tasks, like reporting everything to HR. They get thrown into things like teaching baby infiltrators how to walk and talk when they''ve just returned from a dungeon and haven''t eaten or slept for days."


    At that moment, the nightstick in Raia''s hands snapped with a loud crack, startling everyone. The broken pieces fell to her heels. Without missing a beat, Raia kicked them to the side, pretending as if nothing had happened.


    "Let''s move on to the dungeons now, shall we? Any questions before we proceed?" She asked, forcing a smile that only made her appear more intimidating.


    Xerxes was so immersed in paying attention to the information that he hadn''t picked up on any hints. He had always been a good student in school and got good grades because of his excellent focus. Densely, he raised his hand and asked a question like a good boy paying attention in class.


    "What kind of skills do leaders usually get? Are they on the defensive side or the offensive side?" he asked.


    Raia tilted her head, her gaze softening slightly as she replied. "They are always a mix of both. It''s a 50/50 chance," she said, her tone unexpectedly calm.

 26. No Time to Sit

    "What''s your name, boy?" Raia asked, her interest piqued.


    Xerxes was scared by the question. It made him feel like he had done something wrong. He nervously replied, "Xerxes."


    Raia repeated after him, "Xerxes..." She thought for a bit before speaking again. "You have the leader position?"


    "Yes," he answered, starting to feel more stressed due to the consistent questioning.


    "Too bad. I would have scouted you otherwise. I''ll be keeping tabs on you," Raia casually admitted and returned to her lecture.


    What was that...


    Xerxes was internally confused by her sudden interest, but he had no time to think more about it as Raia started speaking again.


    "Dungeons... Let''s start with skills. Some of you might have already awakened a skill if you have cleared a dungeon. There is no telling when and where you will end up receiving a skill. It can happen while you''re sleeping or pooping, but it will always be after you have cleared at least one dungeon. You might not get a skill immediately after coming out of the dungeon. It can be a week or even a month later. So don''t be disappointed if you don''t receive a skill right away; you will eventually, as all infiltrators do."


    "After getting a skill, please report it to HR. If you don''t know how to control or use your skill, they might have information about it and could help you. Alternatively, you can explore the skill yourself by training in the training center provided for all infiltrators."


    "As for the dungeons, there are tiers to rank them. The first tier is the easiest. They are mostly based on childhood fairytales. These dungeons have simple tasks and usually only one main threat. They can be cleared in a few days, but remember, the more time passes, the more dangerous the dungeon becomes¡ª" She yawned.


    "I give up. I can''t do this anymore. The class is over. I''m going to sleep," Raia declared before instantly escaping the scene, dismissing everyone mid-lesson.


    "What the heck? Who will tell us about the dungeon tiers now?" Someone in the hall complained, but nothing could be done. Everyone was already starting to leave, happy with their newfound freedom.


    Xerxes slid out from the bench to the stairs, making way for the others to exit.


    "I think I''m already starting to forget everything we were told," Nova said as he stepped out.


    "I wrote down everything word-for-word on my tablet. You can read it whenever you want," Kai replied, showing his work proudly, waiting for praise.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    "I think I remember now," Nova said, avoiding the tablet like the plague and fleeing from the hall.


    "That''s why he has the lowest IQ among us," Kai said in a disdainful and disappointed tone.


    "That''s very smart of you, Kai. Thank you for writing all this. Send the file in the group chat later," Xerxes said, viewing the clean notes. He was impressed by Kai''s scholarly handwriting and ruffled his hair messily.


    "Let''s go," Lucas said, walking toward the door. They both followed after him. Lucas was heading to the elevators. In the distance, a row of elevators was visible, many of them already full of people. Nova was standing in front of an empty elevator, waiting for them.


    "I saved us an elevator. Come on," he said, stepping inside. Xerxes and the others followed.


    "Why are we in an elevator, though?" Xerxes asked, realizing he had been following them blindly.


    "I don''t know, but the other people were all running over to them, so I thought maybe we needed one too," Nova replied with a smile.


    "That''s because all the dorm rooms are underground. We need to get there by elevator," Lucas explained as he pressed the lower button on the panel.


    The elevator doors closed, and they descended into the earth. For a while, it just kept going down and down.


    "It''s not taking us to hell, right?" Xerxes joked half-heartedly.


    Finally, the elevator stopped, and the doors slowly opened to reveal a long hallway with no end in sight. It was crowded with people and robots moving about.


    "Cyan imposters! So many of them too!" Kai exclaimed.


    The robots were all copies of the robotic boy called Cyan. They were identically dressed, making them hard to differentiate. As soon as they stepped out of the elevator, one of the ''Cyans'' came running toward them.


    "Death''s Angels confirmed. Moving to the assigned dorm," he said, pulling them over to a side hallway. This hallway looked different from the first; it had more spaced-out entry doors compared to the tightly packed doors in the main hallway.


    The Cyan lookalike directed them to the closest door and handed them entry card keys. "This is your assigned dorm. These card keys are needed to open the front door and to return via the elevator. If you lose them, you can request a new one at the office next to the elevators. You also can''t give this card to anyone else, but even if someone does get it, they can''t use it unless they''re the original owner. The cameras will catch anyone trying to break in, and they will be arrested on the spot," he explained hurriedly before running off to assist others.


    Xerxes missed his chance to ask about his suitcase again. He sighed and opened the front door before anyone else, expecting a cramped room with bunk beds and a single toilet. To his surprise, it opened to a spacious living room.


    "Are they all ours?" Nova asked, noticing four suitcases placed next to the shoe rack in the entranceway.


    Xerxes finally found his suitcase, which he had been starting to say prayers for. They all went in different directions, exploring the new space. Xerxes stood in the living room, which featured a large black couch placed in front of a wall-mounted screen. Behind the sofa was a modern dining table made of unbreakable glass with seven chairs. He also spotted a bulletin board on the wall next to the dining table.


    Xerxes took a pushpin from the board and pinned his flipped result paper with the team''s name and members. He pinned the other three results next to it.


    When he was done, he stepped back to look at his work. The papers were placed messily. He considered pinning them more neatly when an announcement rang through the dorm via speakers on the walls.


    "Death''s Angels, you have been assigned to a new dungeon. Please come to the office as quickly as possible."

 27. Here Goes Everything

    "Already?" Kai asked, stepping just behind Xerxes. Lucas and Nova re-entered the living room after hearing the announcement.


    "I still haven''t chosen my room yet," Nova complained, crossing his arms dramatically.


    "I need to grab something from my suitcase," Lucas added, heading to the suitcases stacked near the entryway. His voice was calm, but there was a flicker of annoyance as if their abrupt summons had disrupted his plans.


    It took them ten minutes to leave the dorm and arrive at the office as instructed. The office itself was small, most of it concealed behind another door. A half wall of wide, clear glass served as a window where issues and requests were addressed. They waited in line, the soft hum of muted conversations filling the air. When their turn finally arrived, Xerxes stepped forward, only to be handed a silver, slim card the size of his palm before he could speak.


    "Take this and go outside," a ''cyan'' worker stated flatly. "There''s a bus waiting for your team. Show this card to access the bus and the dungeon."


    The instructions were brief and left no room for questions.


    They returned to the elevator, descending to the ground floor of the sleek black-and-white building that loomed over the dorms. As they exited, an electric minibus awaited them. The vehicle looked efficient, with just enough seating for ten passengers. A man stood beside it, wearing a black full-body suit, his posture straight and disciplined.


    "Death''s Angels?" the man inquired, his voice steady.


    "Yes... we have the card," Xerxes replied, holding up the silver card. The polished surface gleamed faintly under the dim evening light, revealing an engraved address alongside their team name. The man gave a curt nod before slipping into the driver''s seat, gesturing for them to follow.


    "Can''t I just take my own car to the address?" Nova asked as they settled into their seats.


    "No," the man replied, starting the bus. "The only transportation for infiltrators is what we provide. It''s protocol." His tone was final, discouraging further questions.


    Lucas and Kai sat together in the front row, discussing something in low voices. Xerxes opted for the back seat, eager to enjoy a moment of silence before being thrust into yet another high-stakes scenario. However, Nova was not the type to sit alone or leave others to brood. He slid into the seat beside Xerxes, leaning closer.


    "Do you think it''ll be another one-toilet situation again?" Nova asked, his voice tinged with humor.


    Xerxes didn''t respond. He closed his eyes, leaning against the window, hoping his silence would end the conversation. To his relief, Nova didn''t press further. The rhythmic hum of the bus filled the silence, and before long, they arrived at their destination.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    The bus stopped in front of a sealed urban house. Family members stood outside, clustered together, their faces tight with worry. Nearby, several officials in black suits spoke to them in hushed tones. The moment the group stepped off the bus, the driver made a U-turn, leaving them behind without a word.


    Xerxes knew that they needed to present the silver card. But his patience for social interactions had evaporated. He handed the card to Nova.


    "Here. You handle it," Xerxes said, his voice flat.


    Nova accepted eagerly. He approached the officials, flashing the card with a flourish. In no time, he was laughing with the children and even taking selfies with a few. Meanwhile, one of the suited officials¡ªa woman with sharp features and an unfriendly air¡ªapproached the rest of the group. A large tablet rested in her hands as she scanned them critically.


    "You only have four members in your team?" she asked, her question directed at Xerxes.


    "Yes, we currently only have four members," Lucas interjected before Xerxes could reply. "The team was just formed an hour ago when we received our positions." His tone mirrored the woman''s bluntness, earning him a sharp glare.


    The woman''s eyes narrowed as they flicked over Xerxes. "With a leader like that, I''m sure you''ll do great in the dungeon," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.


    Xerxes said nothing, though his jaw tightened. The woman didn''t wait for a reply.


    "Since this is a Tier One dungeon, we don''t have additional teams or infiltrators ready to assist. Typically, we fill gaps with freelance infiltrators, but today we''ve only secured one¡ªa resource investigator. The five of you will enter the dungeon in a few minutes."


    She turned and gestured for them to follow.


    The house looked unremarkable at first glance, its interior warm and lived-in. There were scattered signs of life: a half-empty coffee mug on the counter, toys strewn across the living room floor. But upstairs, in a bedroom, the illusion of normalcy shattered.


    A massive black hole gaped in the wall, its edges pulsating faintly like a living organism. Dungeons yet to be entered had this uncanny appearance¡ªdark and foreboding, as if waiting to swallow anyone who ventured too close. Xerxes was relieved to see the family safe and accounted for. At least no one had fallen in accidentally.


    Standing by the dungeon was a petite girl with a bright, bubbly demeanor. Her bobbed hair was dyed a striking yellow with brown highlights, and she wore bubblegum-pink shorts paired with a matching crop top. She gripped the straps of her backpack, her excitement palpable.


    "This is Alexa," the woman announced briskly. "She''s your resource investigator for this dungeon. There''s no time for introductions; we''re nearing the expansion limit."


    The woman handed each of them a silver bracelet. Xerxes had noticed that Alexa already wore one, the band snug around her slender wrist.


    "Put these on. They''ll indicate if you''re alive. If you fail to clear the dungeon, we''ll need to evacuate the area and find replacements. Don''t take them off. And don''t try the ''I lost it'' excuse. These are tested to pass through dungeon barriers."


    The woman''s tone was harsh, bordering on dismissive. Nova, who wasn''t used to such rough treatment, looked more shocked than angry. Lucas, however, seemed ready to argue, while Kai was entirely engrossed in taking pictures of the hole in the wall from various angles.


    Xerxes stood still, slipping on the bracelet without a word. He was used to this kind of treatment. As the team prepared to enter, he steeled himself mentally.


    Just think about the money, Xerxes. Clear this dungeon, get the reward. And don''t let anyone die. No one can die but me.

 28. Two Mysteries to Solve

    There was nothing in front of his open eyes except endless darkness, which only lasted for a few seconds when he automatically reopened his eyes.


    drip-drip-drip.


    Rain cascaded from the edges of the umbrella, Xerxes was holding tightly in his gloved hand. The polished wood of the umbrella''s handle felt smooth.


    Above him, the sky churned in shades of slate gray and deep black, with clouds smothering the pale glow of the moon. The street was slick and reflective, cobblestones shimmering with scattered pools of water, mirroring the faint gaslights that lined the perimeter. The dim, flickering light throws long, distorted shadows of passersby and the occasional carriage rumbling past, its wheels splashing muddy water onto the uneven pavement.


    Xerxes stood just outside the heavy oak doors of a police station, his figure stoic yet weary. His dark overcoat clung to him in the damp air, the fabric absorbing the faint mist that refused to be kept out by his umbrella. The brim of his hat dipped low, shielding his eyes, but rivulets of rain still managed to trail down his face, cool against his skin.


    He shifted slightly, gazing out across the nearly deserted street. The air smelled of wet earth, coal smoke, and a faint metallic tang. In the distance, the faint clop of a horse''s hooves and the creak of a cart briefly interrupted the rhythmic sounds of rain against stone. Xerxes exhaled, his breath visible in the chill night air, and glanced at the pocket watch in his other hand. It was past midnight.


    Xerxes turned to the oak doors; the polished brass handle of the door felt foreign under his gloved hand, the ridges smooth but unfamiliar. With a steady breath, Xerxes pushed the door open. The heavy oak creaked, revealing the dimly lit interior of a station. Gas lamps hissed softly, their pale yellow glow casting long shadows across the wooden floor. The air inside was thick with the mingling scents of damp wool, ink, and faintly lingering tobacco smoke. Papers rustled faintly in the unseen breeze created by the opening door.


    He stepped inside, the heels of his boots clicking against the worn floorboards; his hand brushed against the coat rack, where he instinctively placed his dripping umbrella, the motion automatic.


    The station was bustling in a muted way. Through the open archway leading to the main investigation room, a young constable leaned over a desk, scribbling furiously on a piece of paper, the sound of his quill scratching against the parchment filling the air. Another officer walked past, carrying a stack of folders that teetered precariously in his grasp. Yet no one seemed to acknowledge Xerxes as he stood there, as if he were invisible¡ªor as if they simply expected him to already belong.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "Sergeant," came a voice, crisp and businesslike, breaking through his disorientation.


    A man spent in service. The man''s expression held no familiarity, no recognition, but his tone carried an unsettling certainty. "We''ve been waiting for you. The team''s gathered in the back room."


    Xerxes blinked, his mind fumbling for context.


    "For me?" he questioned uncertainly.


    "Yes, Sergeant," the man said as he led him down a narrow hallway lined with notice boards pinned with faded wanted posters and maps. Xerxes glanced at them, but the faces and locations felt foreign, unanchored to any memory he could summon. The gaslights flickered slightly, casting fleeting shadows that seemed to dance and shift as they passed.


    As they approached the door at the end of the hallway, muffled voices drifted through, low and serious, punctuated by the occasional sharp exchange. The man opened the door without knocking, stepping aside to let Xerxes enter.


    Inside, four figures sat around a broad wooden table scattered with papers, maps, and a few smoking pipes left abandoned in ashtrays. The room was dim, lit by a single overhead lamp that cast a warm but insufficient glow, leaving the corners cloaked in shadow.


    They all looked up as he entered, their faces reflecting varying degrees of expectation, curiosity, and quiet urgency. A woman in a dark, practical dress leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, her sharp eyes studying him. To her left, a wiry man tapped a pencil against the table, his expression one of mild impatience. The other two people exchanged a brief glance, as though silently confirming something between them.


    "About time you showed up," the woman said, her tone brisk but not unkind. She gestured to the empty chair at the head of the table. "We''ve got a lot to catch you up on, ''Sergeant.''."


    He stepped forward and took the offered seat, his coat still damp from the rain.


    "What do I need to know?" he asked, forcing his voice to sound confident even as questions swirled in his mind.


    The woman leaned forward, sliding a folder across the table toward him. Her face was serious, her voice low. "It started with a missing woman," she said. "Her husband claims she vanished into thin air. But the more we dig, the stranger it gets."


    Xerxes opened the folder, his eyes scanning the sparse notes and sketches inside. The details felt alien, like reading the pages of a book he hadn''t started yet.


    After confirming the man outside had left, the tension in the room shifted. The team broke character, relaxing slightly¡ªexcept for Alexa, who remained engrossed in a stack of case files.


    "Sergeant, we thought we''d lost you," Nova said, pretending to puff on one of the abandoned pipes. He shook his head theatrically.


    "Xerxes, where were you? We were all gathered here already," Kai asked, sliding his chair closer to him.


    "Alexa and I think we''re here to solve a case," Lucas added, gesturing toward the folder in Xerxes''s hands. "She''s already picked the one she believes we need to investigate."


    Xerxes furrowed his brow, flipping through the file again. "I was just outside the station. Why do you think it''s this case specifically?"


    Xerxes scanned the folder once more. The notes detailed a man in his early 30s reporting his wife missing several days ago. A few crude sketches of the woman accompanied the sparse information.

 29. Sleepless nights: One

    "The other cases we have are mostly solved by now. They just need a final touch. We are obviously not here to plate the already made food." Alexa had gone through all the cases their team had and picked out the one that had almost nothing. Lucas also agreed with Alexa''s reasoning.


    "That sounds plausible, but what if it''s not the right case?" Xerxes couldn''t help himself from thinking about the worst outcomes. He should be prepared for anything.


    "Let''s split then," Lucas suggested. "We can divide the cases we have. Most of them are almost closed, so it won''t take us long either."


    "That''s a waste of time. We should just work on this case to clear the dungeon quickly. We shouldn''t dally around to see how dangerous it can get," Alexa said, exasperated and fretting.


    "What are you going to do if solving this case doesn''t clear the dungeon? I''m not saying that you''re wrong, but we should still have a backup plan. Do you have a plan if we fail at clearing the dungeon by closing this case? We''d already be days into the dungeon, too, which is extremely dangerous for us considering we do not have any fighters on our team," Xerxes explained everything calmly. Alexa was confident in her decision, but she didn''t argue with Xerxes''s words¡ªhe was also right.


    "Let''s split like Lucas suggested, but we are going to clear out all of the cases in 24 hours. I''m also going to work on the main case in the meantime, but our goal for the next 24 hours is to close up everything here. If nothing happens after that, we will begin working on the case Alexa picked out with all our focus." Xerxes instantly made the final decision. "Our goal is to clear this dungeon in two days."


    "Yes, Sergeant," Nova mimicked the tone of the previous man.


    "What do I do?" asked Kai. He was the only one in normal plain clothes, and for his age, he was sure he couldn''t be an official detective working with them.


    "You might not have an official position in this world, but you are still part of the team, and we need you too. You''ll work with Nova on cases. If there''s an issue regarding you accompanying him, come and find me. Then, Lucas and Alexa, you both will be working separately on different cases, but take the constables we have in the station with you. Since I have authority over them, you can freely take anyone with you. So do not wander out alone and never let your guard down," he warned them in a serious tone.


    "I''ll also be working alone, but I''ll be in my office if any of you want to talk to me about something," Xerxes stood up, ready to work. "Also, check your badges if you have them. I have mine with me." He pulled out a polished brass badge from his inner coat pocket. Its design was simple but official, engraved with the precinct''s name. He showed the badge to them one by one.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    After checking their own pockets and wallets, everyone except Kai found their own badges too. They weren''t as high quality as Xerxes''s, but they were still official badges with their own positions in the station.


    "Intuition Specialist," Nova read aloud his title on the badge.


    "Historian and Researcher," Alexa showed hers.


    "Field Investigator..." Lucas spoke disapprovingly.


    "Do not be tied down to these positions. Do whatever you want. I''ll approve of it, and even if someone complains, they won''t be able to do much with me here for the next two days." Xerxes tucked his badge back inside his pocket. "Alexa, divide the cases fairly, but don''t let Kai do the extreme ones."


    "I''m fine with anything. I can handle it, trust me, Xerxes," Kai stood up in protest.


    "No, it''s not about trust. You shouldn''t have to do anything that extreme when you have us," Xerxes refused serenely.


    Kai broke into a pout and sat back down, crossing his arms over his chest. Alexa was very efficient. She handed out the cases almost instantly. In the end, everyone had about ten cases assigned to them, while Xerxes had eleven, including the missing woman case.


    "I''ll start working on them in my office. Feel free to drop by," Xerxes said. He worked better alone without distractions. Otherwise, it was difficult for him to focus fully, and he needed his utmost attention right now. He carried all the case folders in his arms. "Also, forget about sleep for the next few days. Kai can take naps in between, and if you''re done with your cases, you can do whatever you want during your free time." With that, he headed to his office at the back of the station, leaving everyone no chance to complain.


    It''s for their own good. The faster we get out of here, the better...


    Everything about the station felt familiar to Xerxes. He knew where to walk to arrive at his private office, and he also knew about the badge beforehand for some reason. It was only his second dungeon, so he wasn''t sure if this was normal or not.


    Xerxes placed the burden in his arms onto the heavy wooden table. His office had a mix of personal and professional touches: a stack of neatly arranged case files, a decanter of brandy for late nights, and a framed photograph of a family member or a commendation.


    The office smelled of leather, ink, and occasionally damp paper from the nearby compartments. The wooden desk was rough and looked a bit old, but it had working drawers with ink bottles, feather pens, and stacks of white-yellowish paper to write on. Xerxes cleared out the desk from the previous mess and sat down in the chair behind it. He went through the cleaned papers one by one to see if there was something important on them.


    Most of the papers had nothing useful¡ªjust some speculations from the previously closed cases¡ªbut one of them had something interesting written on it in bold black ink. That one word took up the entire page.


    MEOW.


    Someone might think of it as rubbish or gibberish, but in his eyes, this was the most interesting one. He immediately pinned the paper on the corkboard with a red pin.

 30. Where to Begin?

    Xerxes sat back at his desk, eyeing the folders sprawled across the surface. He actually had no idea where to start or how to begin. For the main case, they had an inefficient amount of information to work with. He decided to collect more data on that case during the day.


    For now, let''s work on the other ten cases...


    An hour passed. Xerxes held a folder in one hand and his own ink-black hair in the other.


    The reason? Simple.


    The Case Name: The Vanishing Choirboy


    Case Summary: A teenage choirboy named Timothy Hathaway was reported missing after not returning home from choir practice at Street Gabriel''s Cathedral. Initial interviews suggested he''d run away due to family pressures. The police, led by Sergeant Xerxes, investigated thoroughly, and a confession from a vagrant claiming to have "done away with the boy" seemed to close the case. Timothy was presumed dead, and the vagrant was charged with manslaughter.


    The Investigation:


    Witnesses last saw Timothy walking toward the cathedral''s crypt entrance, a part of the church under renovation. His choir robe was found snagged on a fence near the crypt, torn and muddy, with traces of blood. The vagrant, a mentally unstable man named Ezekiel Beeks, was found nearby, rambling incoherently about "banishing spirits" and "claiming offerings."


    Evidence Supporting Ezekiel''s Confession:


    Blood found on Ezekiel''s hands on the same day Timothy disappeared.


    His possession included a gold choir pin later confirmed as Timothy''s.


    Ezekiel claimed he "cast the boy into the underworld," a statement dismissed as delusional but taken as evidence he disposed of the body in the crypt.


    The Closure:


    The vagrant''s confession, physical evidence, and lack of further leads led the police to close the case. However, Timothy''s body was never recovered.


    Simple. Right?


    But that wasn''t all. One month after the case was closed, a janitor cleaning out the cathedral crypt found something chilling: a crude drawing of a boy in a choir robe scrawled on the stone wall.


    Below it was a single word scratched deep into the surface: "Help."


    What do you mean, ''help''?! Help me¡ªactually, I''m also in danger here.


    Xerxes sighed with some difficulty. The boy might be alive somewhere. He''d have to pay the cathedral a visit and see these renovations himself in the morning. He set the case aside for now.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    It''s always the church in these stories, somehow...


    Xerxes moved on to the other cases, reviewing them one by one. Thankfully, they didn''t require much¡ªjust a few clarifications from him.


    He worked on the cases, and without his knowledge, the darkness outside the small window had been embraced by soft light. The rain had stopped somewhere in between, and it was a beautiful, sunny day outside.


    Inside, Xerxes was in agony. His brain was purely overworked and needed to recharge before processing anything else. He shut his tired eyes and leaned back in the chair to rest for a minute, but his mind was still thinking about what he had to do next when a dull, heavy sound rang in the office.


    Knock.


    Knock.


    A young man, in stark contrast to Xerxes, was standing at the open door of the office, a polished tray in his hands. Steam curled from the edges of delicate porcelain cups arranged neatly on the tray, carrying the faint aroma of black tea, rich and slightly floral. His lean frame was wrapped in a simple but well-kept shirt, the sleeves rolled just past his elbows, exposing wheat-colored arms that hinted at a life accustomed to physical work.


    "Sergeant, I noticed you didn''t leave for home last night, so I brought some tea to energize you," the man spoke with a refined tone.


    He had a naturally smiling face, which made him seem approachable. Xerxes felt comfortable with him and called him inside the office. He placed the tray on the table and turned to leave, hesitating, unsure of what he should do next.


    "Wait," Xerxes stopped him mid-step. "Have I seen you here before? What''s your name?"


    The young man''s movements carried a sense of purpose, but also a subtle nervous energy. When he turned back to face Xerxes, he had a bright expression on his face.


    "I''ve recently been promoted from clerical duties to a junior detective. The name''s Sam Miller, Sergeant," Sam happily introduced himself after finally being noticed.


    Xerxes had vaguely guessed that Sam was a new face in the station. To think he was right shocked him a little, but he remained poker-faced, like nothing was the matter. He made Sam sit opposite him and tell him more about himself.


    Sam was from a working-class family. He grew up in a small, cramped home in the industrial part of the city. His father was a factory worker, and his mother did sewing to make ends meet. As a boy, he devoured penny dreadfuls and crime serials, fascinated by tales of detectives solving impossible cases. His academic aptitude caught the attention of a local schoolmaster, who helped him secure a position as a clerk in the precinct.


    He willingly took on any extra tasks to prove himself and got promoted. He had always looked up to Xerxes and was very proud to be working under him, but ''Xerxes'' Sergeant had always ignored him and given him absolute zero work. He decided to do chores around the station to pass his time, so when Xerxes had asked him his name, he felt like everything until now had been worth it.


    Xerxes wasn''t expecting Sam to tell him his whole life story from birth, but after seeing how genuine he looked, Xerxes didn''t say anything and listened to everything he had to say. Apparently, Sam was also 22 years old¡ªthe same age as Xerxes. But the sergeant of this station was definitely older than Xerxes, so he didn''t mention it to Sam.


    "Sergeant, do you have work for me?" Sam finished. He thought that maybe Xerxes was asking about him because he had finally decided to assign him work related to a case. He was looking forward to it, his face visibly lighting up brighter by the second.


    Xerxes was under a lot of pressure from that radiant light coming into his dark, empty eyes. He didn''t trust Sam fully. He was a character of the dungeon, after all. Could he trust him? He didn''t know the answer himself, so he decided to test it.


    Let''s go and see if I''ll only receive tea from those hands¡ªor die by them.

 31. Found Him

    "I want to visit the cathedral on Gabriel Street to investigate further on this case," Xerxes handed Sam the folder for the Vanished Choirboy''s case.


    Sam took the folder and read it thoroughly, not leaving a single detail out. He looked up at Xerxes after memorizing it all by heart. "You want me to accompany you to the cathedral, Sergeant?" he asked with anticipation in his light brown eyes.


    "Yes," Xerxes said, glancing at his stopwatch. It was past 9. The cathedral should be open right now. "What day is it today?"


    "It''s Monday today, Sergeant," Sam spoke with certainty.


    "Good. It shouldn''t be crowded either. Let''s go. Wear a coat and gloves; it''s cold outside."


    ***


    The morning wind carried the crisp, fresh scent of rain, with the cobblestone streets glistening under the warm sunlight. Xerxes adjusted his hat against the glare as he strode purposefully down the street, his polished boots clicking rhythmically against the stones. Sam followed close behind, his eyes darting between shopkeepers sweeping their stoops and carriages rattling past.


    "What are you doing? Come closer and lead the way," Xerxes commanded. He didn''t actually know where street Gabriel was.


    "Yes, Sergeant!" Sam energetically replied, running ahead of him.


    As they turned onto Gabriel Street, the cathedral came into full view, its towering spire piercing the bright sky. Sunlight caught the stained-glass windows, creating a kaleidoscope of colors that spilled onto the street below. The sight made Sam pause, his notebook momentarily forgotten in his hand.


    The cathedral''s Gothic facade gleamed in the sunlight, its intricate stonework casting sharp shadows against the worn bricks. Gargoyles perched high above seemed to stare down with unblinking eyes, their details more pronounced in the bright light. The iron gates creaked faintly as Xerxes pushed them open, and they entered the small courtyard.


    The courtyard was simple but serene, with stone benches and a few overgrown shrubs framing a weathered statue of an angel. The faint murmur of a fountain added a sense of calm, though Sam''s excitement was palpable as he trailed behind Xerxes.


    The transition from the sunny courtyard to the dim, cool interior was striking. The cathedral''s high vaulted ceiling stretched above them, supported by rows of towering stone columns. The stained-glass windows, vibrant and alive with sunlight, painted the nave in rich hues of ruby, emerald, and gold.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Their footsteps echoed softly on the polished stone floor as they approached the altar, where a priest was arranging a cluster of fresh flowers. The man turned at their approach, his expression curious but calm.


    "We''re here to examine the crypt," Xerxes stated.


    The priest hesitated, his eyes narrowing slightly. "The crypt is rarely disturbed," he said, his voice low but firm.


    "It won''t be a disturbance," Xerxes replied evenly. "We''ll investigate peacefully."


    After a moment of quiet consideration, the priest nodded and gestured for them to follow.


    A side door near the altar led to a spiral staircase carved into the stone. The descent was lit by shafts of sunlight filtering through narrow slits in the walls, illuminating specks of dust in the air. The earthy scent of the crypt grew stronger with each step, mingling with the faint tang of damp stone.


    Sam''s voice broke the silence. "Do you think we''ll find anything down here?"


    Xerxes glanced back briefly, his expression unreadable. "Even if we don''t, we need to investigate it before confirming that the boy isn''t in here."


    The priest ahead coughed demurely to stop their discussion.


    The crypt was a wide chamber with rows of stone sarcophagi, each adorned with faded carvings of crosses, names, and dates. A faint golden light spilled through narrow openings near the ceiling, softening the room''s otherwise somber atmosphere.


    Candles burned in iron sconces along the walls, their flames steady despite the faint draft. A section of the floor showed signs of disturbance¡ªa patch of dirt slightly raised and out of place among the tightly packed stones.


    Xerxes crouched by the anomaly, running a gloved hand over the uneven surface. Sam, clutching his notebook, hesitated before kneeling beside him.


    "What do you think it is?" Sam asked, his voice a mixture of curiosity and unease.


    Xerxes straightened, his gaze fixed on the disturbed earth. "Dig whatever is in there."


    The priest stood at the side, watching their every move. Xerxes also stood off to the side, letting Sam do all the hard work. He was starting to like the guy.


    Sam had come prepared. He quickly removed a small spade from his satchel, its handle worn but sturdy. The faint scraping of metal against dirt echoed in the still chamber as he began to dig carefully at the disturbed patch of earth.


    After a few moments, the spade struck something solid with a dull thunk. Sam paused, brushing away the loose soil with his hands. What emerged was the edge of a wooden box, its surface darkened and brittle from years beneath the earth.


    Xerxes crouched beside him, peering closer. "It''s too small to be a coffin," he murmured.


    Sam tugged the square box free, placing it gently on the crypt floor. Its hinges were rusted, but the lock, oddly enough, was newer¡ªpolished and intact.


    "Someone must have recently buried it," Sam remarked, showing the new lock on the box to Xerxes.


    "Who else has been down here in the past few days?" Xerxes faced the priest in the corner.


    "You shouldn''t be down here any longer," the priest said, his voice trembling slightly. "This place... it''s meant for rest, not disturbance."


    "We just found a box from the ground, and you''re saying we just leave?" Xerxes raised a brow, amused. He turned to Sam. "Can you break the lock?"


    Sam pulled out a lever from his satchel. "No, but I can open it." His voice was confident, so Xerxes let him do his thing. Before long, the padlock on the box clicked open.


    Xerxes gently pushed Sam aside and lifted the lid of the wooden box. Inside, there was the cramped, naked body of a boy, curled up like dried red peppers left outside to dry. It seemed like the boy had starved to death.

 32. Moving On

    There wasn''t a smell on the body, which meant the death was recent too.


    Xerxes knew he couldn''t have saved the boy, but he still felt as if there was fault somewhere¡ªhis fault¡ªfor not saving the poor boy who might have been through hell in the supposed sacred place. He closed the box, unable to look anymore.


    "I believe you know what to do, Sam. Close the case," he said, his voice low as he turned to exit this hellhole.


    "Yes, Sergeant," Sam responded in a deep voice.


    "Wait! There must be a mistake here¡ªit can''t be!" the priest shouted behind him, his voice filled with a mix of desperation and disbelief.


    ***


    Xerxes crouched outside the cathedral in the courtyard, hugging his knees. He looked up at the clear blue sky and breathed deeply, the fresh air filling his lungs. But the weight in his chest remained; his body still felt heavy and burdensome.


    This isn''t it. The case was too easy. There were no dangers during the investigation either¡­


    Most of the ten cases assigned to him were resolved, leaving only one¡ªthe missing woman.


    Returning to the station, Xerxes headed straight for the group investigation room at the end of the hallway. A few colleagues greeted him with brief nods as he passed by, though he barely registered their presence. When he reached the room, it was as spacious yet cluttered as always. The wide wooden table was laced with scattered papers and folders, but one corner stood clean, occupied by two slumped figures.


    "They''re done with their cases," Lucas remarked, not even lifting his gaze from his own stack of papers. He knew Xerxes was staring at the two sleeping bodies.


    With a coat draped over them, Nova and Kai were deep in sleep, their bodies pressed together as if seeking warmth from one another. Only their messy hair was visible, their faces hidden beneath their arms and the table. The sight was oddly peaceful amidst the chaos.


    "They''re done already? That was fast," Xerxes kept his voice low as to not disturb their peace. He walked around the table toward Lucas and Alexa, who were poring over their cases together.


    "That kid''s the fast one," Alexa said, pointing her emerald eyes to Kai with a mix of admiration and unease. "It''s almost creepy how quickly he figured out the cases," she added with a small frown.


    "You could have asked him for help if you were having trouble with something," Xerxes said as he peered over their cases.


    "We are almost done too. He did help us a lot, but he became tired very soon, and the rest of the cases were a bit too gruesome, so we left those ones out." Lucas pushed a pile of folders to the side with clumsy movements; he also appeared quite worn out.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Alexa, on the other side, still had a bundle of energy left in her. She was still working just as before, like a machine that doesn''t become tired at all. She tilted her neck up to Xerxes. "Are you done with your work?" she questioned suspiciously.


    "I think so," Xerxes replied, scratching his head. "It''s not any of those ten cases. I think it''s the missing woman one," he sighed, his voice tinged with weariness.


    "I already told you guys," Alexa said, throwing her last case folder onto the table. "It''s not any of these cases. We''re wasting our precious time here."


    "It hasn''t been that long," Xerxes countered. "We''ve been here for twelve hours. We''ve cleared the leftover cases so we can work on the main one together now without thinking about any other possibilities. Our sole priority is one case. If we work together, we should be able to solve it quickly. We already cut the 24-hour mark in half." He glanced at Nova and Kai. "But we''re also not in our best condition. Let''s wake them up and go eat something while we discuss the case."


    The restaurant, modestly named The Green Goose, sat on a busy street corner. Its wood-paneled exterior was painted a deep green, the color slightly faded but clean. A hand-painted sign hung above the door, its gold lettering catching the sunlight. Gas lamps flanked the entrance, their glass panes smudged from frequent use.


    The windows were small but polished, revealing glimpses of white tablecloths and bustling servers inside. A chalkboard near the door advertised the day''s specials in neat script:


    Roast Beef with Horseradish


    Stewed Pigeon with Root Vegetables


    Apple Tart with Clotted Cream


    Nova rubbed his eyes again, squinting at the names of the dishes. This was the only nearby restaurant that appeared decent enough for them to eat at, but the day''s specials seemed¡­ special, to say the least.


    "Looks edible enough. Let''s go," Xerxes urged Nova from behind.


    Inside, the restaurant was warm and inviting. The hum of quiet conversations filled the air, blending seamlessly with the soft clinking of silverware.


    Dark wooden tables and chairs with intricately carved backs were arranged neatly, each topped with simple white cloths. Small candles flickered at every table, their soft light casting a warm glow over the space. There were a few empty tables. Xerxes chose the biggest one with six chairs in the far unobtrusive corner of the restaurant.


    In another corner, a small trio of musicians¡ªa violinist, flutist, and upright bassist¡ªplayed a soothing melody, lending an air of sophistication to the atmosphere without being intrusive. Servers moved quickly yet gracefully, balancing trays laden with steaming dishes and polished glasses.


    There were three small menu cards already waiting on the table to be picked up and looked at. Xerxes caught one with his hand as he sat down on the chair, followed by the others.


    For starters, there was onion soup and fresh-baked bread with salted butter. The main dishes included roast chicken with potatoes and gravy, fish stew with leeks and a side of buttered peas, and lamb chops with a thick, minty sauce. There were also desserts in the last treacle pudding, jam roly-poly, or a simple platter of fresh fruit and cheese. Finishing with a range of drinks like ales, wines, and teas, served in ceramic mugs or etched glasses.


    Xerxes had a wallet full of coins. He didn''t exactly know how much it was, but it looked like a lot. He was happy with the free money given to him. He signaled for the server to come and take his order before anyone else had even seen the full menu.


    "What would you like to order, good sir?" the server asked politely.


    "We would like the whole menu but keep the drinks to only the teas," Xerxes replied, gleaming in his newfound wealth.

 33. Mr. Pnycheon

    Everyone at the table was speechless; they just stared at Xerxes in disbelief.


    The server nonchalantly nodded before running away with the huge order. Xerxes, satisfied, put the menu card back in its rightful place.


    "I don''t mean this in a bad way, but do you have the money to pay for all of this?" Alexa asked, putting the menu card down on the table.


    "I can''t cover you, Xerxes. I don''t think I am rich enough in this dungeon of a world," Nova responded in a defeated voice.


    "Don''t worry. I have a lot of money," Xerxes said as he pulled out his well-worn leather billfold from his inner coat pocket, containing a few paper notes and silver coins. "This should be a lot, considering the era we are in, right?"


    Kai glanced at the wallet. "That''s two pounds and 22 shillings," he said, half asleep.


    Alexa took the wallet from Xerxes''s hand and counted the money. It was exactly as much as Kai had announced. "This is what I am talking about. How did he know how much was in here without even opening his eyes all the way?" she said, exasperated.


    "It was just a guess," Kai replied, leaning against Xerxes''s left shoulder.


    "That''s even worse," Alexa murmured.


    "Is that a lot?" Nova pulled out his own wallet. He also had a few silver coins and one golden coin. "I also have about this much, though," he said, tilting his head in confusion.


    "This should be enough for us to live comfortably for the time we are here," she replied, returning Xerxes''s wallet.


    "Let''s go over the case now," Lucas said as he pulled out the stiff cardboard folder, which had a few tied papers in it, from his leather satchel. "Although there isn''t much to it yet."


    The case was reported by a man in his early 30s. His wife went out while he was sleeping. He woke up late that day because it was the weekend¡ªhis only day off from work. He waited for his wife to return the whole day, but she didn''t. He decided to report her missing the next day after confirming with their relatives and friends that she wasn''t with anyone else he knew. The officer who filed the report had a few sketches made of the woman named Elizabeth, described by her husband. A few artists sketched her based on the given description.


    "These are the sketches," Lucas said, laying out three different drawings made by different people. They all resembled the same person: a woman with curly hair braided neatly at the back. She had a delicate appearance, fair skin, and a locket around her thin neck. Two of the sketches were portraits, while one was a full-body drawing. In the latter, she was wearing a modest, ankle-length floral dress.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    "She has dark brown hair and light blue eyes," Lucas read from the report. "Height: about 165 cm."


    Just then, the servers arrived with steaming hot dishes, which came one after another, each one smelling and looking appetizing enough to make them gulp and drool. They pushed the papers aside to make space on the table since there was a lot of food and began devouring everything like starved beasts, leaving not a speck behind. They even ordered three more roasted chickens. The server looked at them in amazement as he handed Xerxes the small piece of paper with the bill.


    Xerxes held the bill nervously as he looked at the total. It was only seven shillings, surprisingly. He instantly took out seven silver coins for the bill and gave the server a tip of three shillings. The server looked at him, bewildered, as they left the restaurant. The server still couldn''t believe it and missed his chance to thank Xerxes for the huge tip.


    They had decided to meet with the man himself and interview the neighbors during the rest of the daylight hours they had. They hired an omnibus¡ªa large four-wheeled carriage led by horses¡ªfor transportation to the location of the married couple''s house. They only had to tell the coachman the location.


    The gruff, seasoned man, wearing a thick coat and cap, was skilled at navigating the bustling streets. He immediately began heading toward Ravenwood Lane. The cobblestones beneath the wheels made a soft, irregular clinking sound, each movement sending up tiny puffs of mist from the damp ground.


    Passing through an open-air market, they turned into Ravenwood Lane. The carriage rattled over the uneven cobblestones. The narrow street was flanked by rows of tall, grimy brick buildings. Gas lamps flickered weakly in the overcast daylight, their glass panes smudged with soot. In the gutters, rainwater from the previous night mingled with debris¡ªdiscarded scraps of food, stray papers, and the occasional scurry of a rat darting into the shadows.


    The neighborhood had an atmosphere of quiet unease. Most windows were shuttered or draped with heavy curtains, as though the occupants were trying to keep out prying eyes. A lone child played with a stick near a wrought-iron fence, her eyes darting nervously to their arrival before she scurried indoors. The faint toll of a distant church bell was the only sound, apart from the rhythmic clatter of the horses'' hooves and the occasional bark of a dog.


    After paying the coachman, they approached the man''s home. It stood apart from its neighbors in subtle disrepair¡ªpeeling paint revealed weathered wood beneath, and ivy crept up the sides like green veins, choking the brick facade. The windows were narrow and dark, with one cracked pane in the upper story. A crooked, rusted gate squealed as it swung open under a soft touch, leading them to a small, overgrown yard where weeds strangled the path to the front door.


    The front door was thick, dark wood. Xerxes knocked on the pitted surface many times before the door groaned open. A man stepped into view on the shadowed porch¡ªa thin, wiry figure with the stooped posture of someone weighed down by years of turmoil and drink. His face was pale and haggard, deeply lined with furrows that seemed etched by stress rather than age. His hollow cheeks and sunken eyes, surrounded by dark, restless circles, gave him the appearance of a man who hasn''t known restful sleep in years.


    "Mr. William Pyncheon?"

 34. New Info?

    "Mr. William Pyncheon?" said Xerxes upon meeting the man. His hair, once likely neat and dark, was now streaked with gray and disheveled, as though he had repeatedly run his hands through it in agitation. A faint, unkempt beard sat on his jawline, adding to his unclean, slightly feral look. His clothes¡ªill-fitting and shabby, consisting of a threadbare waistcoat and a wrinkled white shirt with the collar undone¡ªgave the impression of someone who had long since stopped caring about appearances.


    "What is the matter, that I may inquire, good sir?"


    Despite his appearance, the man spoke with politeness, his first impression carving him into a gentleman.


    "We are here to investigate the disappearance of your wife. Can we ask you some questions and look around the house?" Xerxes had no idea if they needed a search warrant to inspect the house, but he was certain the man wouldn''t know either. He asked for his permission first before entering the house, with the others following behind.


    The man led them to the parlor, which looked like it hadn''t been cleaned for some time. The lone blue sofa sat beside the window, covered in cat scratches, muddy stains, and worn from years of use. The sparse furniture in the house looked old, belonging to discarded pieces people would throw onto the streets after getting new ones.


    Xerxes and Lucas stayed with Mr. Pyncheon, while the others searched the house for any clues. The man''s eyes restlessly followed the strangers scrambling around the small rooms. Lucas snapped his fingers to gain the attention of the man sitting in front of them.


    "We''ll be asking you questions related to the disappearance of your wife, Elizabeth. I would like your cooperation now," Lucas said as he immediately skipped over to the questions he had written while in the carriage and began asking them.


    "What was the time when your wife left the house?" asked Lucas.


    "It was... I scarce recall, for I was in slumber. When I did revive, I found that she had departed from the dwelling."


    Xerxes wrote down the response but was falling a bit behind because he wasn''t familiar with writing using an ink-dipped pen, unlike Lucas.


    "And what time did you awake exactly?"


    "It must have been near the hour of seven in the evening."


    Xerxes tilted his head at that answer, his face visibly confused. Lucas moved to the next question without pause.


    "What did you do exactly when you found out your wife wasn''t home or wasn''t returning despite the late hour?"The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    "I gave it but little thought until the hour grew far too late to be absent. Thus, I did hasten forth in search of her. I scoured the vicinity and the modest market at the rear, which she frequents on occasion. Failing to uncover any tidings of her, I reported the matter to the city constables upon the morrow."


    "For how long were her previous trips outside the house?"


    "I daresay she hath been absent for nigh an hour at most. The longest absence was a whole day when she visited her ailing mother, yet she ever returned ere the fall of night."


    "Is that due to you restricting her from staying out the night?" Lucas asked cautiously, eyeing the man''s expression.


    "Indeed. A lady ought to reside in her husband''s abode, awaiting his return. How may I toil without a soul to tend to the cleaning and the culinary arts for my sustenance?" The man spoke, unable to hide his dissatisfaction. His mouth frowned lightly.


    I would like to conclude this case as her running away and living the rest of her life alone somewhere far away, Xerxes thought to himself as he wrote the man''s answer hatefully.


    Lucas seemed unaffected; he nonchalantly kept his posture, skipping to the next question.


    "For how long have you been married? Was it a love marriage? Do you have a suspect in the disappearance of Elizabeth?"


    "Verily, it hath been an age, and I scarce recall the moment when we united in holy matrimony. We were but youthful souls, deeply enamored, who chose to bind ourselves in sacred vows. Despite our humble means and the trials of existence, we did dwell in joy. Never did it cross my mind that she might abscond, nor did I entertain notions of another suitor''s involvement."


    Mr. Pyncheon, reminiscing about the old times, had a joyful expression on his face, seemingly missing those moments.


    Xerxes was, once again, confused. Did the man genuinely love his wife?


    Lucas locked eyes with Xerxes, pointing out that the paper in his hand had run out of questions. He was looking to Xerxes for their next move.


    Xerxes took over, handing the pen and ink to Lucas.


    "I would like to know more about your wife, Elizabeth. I haven''t heard a word about her personality or how she usually behaved."


    The man''s pencil-colored eyes became cold as they met Xerxes''s for some reason.


    "She hath ever conducted herself in accordance with mine own preferences. She was never one to retaliate or to speak in opposition to me, hence our coexistence was devoid of disputes. Truly, she is a most amiable lady," Mr. Pyncheon emphasized the last phrase word for word, staring down at Xerxes.


    Xerxes wanted to know more, but under the man''s stare, he wanted to finish up and leave already. Just as he wished, Nova, Kai, and Alexa entered the parlor with steady steps.


    "We are done with the search," Nova reported.


    "Kai has something to say," Alexa said, pushing Kai forward, who was almost hiding behind Nova.


    Kai didn''t speak at first. He just glared at Xerxes and Lucas, seemingly afraid to speak in the presence of the stranger sitting in the room. They waited patiently for him to speak. After a moment, feeling it was safe, he hesitantly asked the man sitting in the chair:


    "Where''s the cat... there should be a cat in this house..." His low voice was loud in the silence.


    Mr. Pyncheon, who had been calm during the entire investigation, suddenly became agitated. He abruptly stood up from the chair and made his way toward Kai in a fit.


    Kai, noticing the tension in the air, fled back to hide behind Nova.


    Nova held Kai''s shoulder with his left hand, comforting him with small movements. When the man was close to reaching out to Nova, Xerxes cut the distance, forcing himself in between.


    "Mr. Pyncheon, answer the question and stay away from them," Xerxes said, his eyes terrifying. The look in them, one never seen before, shook anyone who peered into those irises.