《The Ambrose Estate》 The Librarian Even after ten years, the population¡¯s barely changed, he thought. Honestly, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if everyone left as soon as they turned eighteen. Probably earlier, since we never even had an official school. There¡¯s not much left here for people. Do they still hate outsiders that much? Kane mused. Holun¡¯s not even that remote anymore. There¡¯s a city not far from here, new roads connecting everything¡­ It can¡¯t be that unusual to see someone pass through. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Successor? Questions swirled, but one thought stuck: Did Grandpa expect his death? The letters, the locked door, the cryptic instructions¡ªit was as though the old man had planned everything. The Troubled Artist Amber never needed a reason to rebel¡ªit was in her blood long before tragedy struck. She¡¯d often be caught causing problems ever since she learned to walk. Moving objects to trip people or hiding important things, harmless overall, but she didn¡¯t have any ill will. However, her antics were shortly lived. The fire that claimed her parents left her orphaned, barely ten years old, with no education or future to speak of. She survived on the scraps of the town¡¯s charity, but she was always an afterthought. The townsfolk took care of their own children first, as they should. That knowledge, however logical, never filled her aching stomach. From that young age, she learned to fight for her life. Each meal was a battle, every day uncertain. No more time to play pranks or joke around. Survival came only through the kindness of one man: Aster Ambrose, the strange recluse on the edge of town. He taught her to hunt, gather water, and build shelter. But he never took her in. Despite his aloofness, he often told her she was destined for something greater. Then he¡¯d follow it up with a ridiculous joke that made her roll her eyes¡ªbut she always wondered if the kindness and humorous nature was all an act. Aster passed not long after he taught her the basics, her finding his body just lying down in the courtyard. She carried it back to town, where the townsfolk buried him. By sixteen, Amber was fully self-sufficient. Though he never outright said it, she knew he had no family nearby, so she had the place to herself in a way. She often stayed in an old, dilapidated house he called the ¡°Guest House.¡± Odd to have a guest house for such a large manor, but it was abandoned, and no one ever bothered her there. She¡¯d have taken the main house if it wasn¡¯t locked up so tight. It was much more reasonably sized, but still large. It was 2 floors tall, with a basement that looked reinforced, locked but she never needed to get in there anyways. It had plenty of bedrooms, places which were probably once kitchens or dining rooms, but with the broken furniture and appliances, no room really had a purpose anymore. That morning began like any other. She¡¯d been up before dawn and managed to take down a deer with a single, well-placed arrow. Dragging the carcass back to the Guest House, she hauled it up the creaky stairs and onto the bloodstained deck¡ªher makeshift butchering station. The wood was permanently ruined from years of use, but no one cared. It wasn¡¯t like anyone else was coming back. ¡°Sorry about the mess, old man,¡± she muttered to herself, imagining Aster¡¯s disapproval. With her worn gloves on and sleeves rolled up, Amber worked quickly and precisely. She drained the blood, portioned and salted the meat, and hung the cuts in a cool and dark alcove. One slab she set aside for her lunch, carrying it to the small campfire and cooking rack she had set up. While the meat cooked, she returned to her real passion. Inside the house, she passed crumbling walls and graffiti¡ªall of it her own handiwork¡ªuntil she reached her masterpiece: a sprawling mural of an elegant deer bounding through a lush forest. Its horns spiraled upward, otherworldly in their design. She¡¯d spent weeks on it, pouring her energy into the fantastical image. Amber slipped on a mask and grabbed a spray can, letting the hiss of paint fill the room. Hours passed as she lost herself in her work. But as she stepped back to admire her progress, a sharp smell hit her¡ªsmoke. ¡°The meat!¡± she cursed, throwing the can down, and tugging the mask off. She spun on her heel, running toward the stairs. The instant her foot hit the floor, the wood gave way with a sickening crack. Amber barely had time to scream before the floor collapsed beneath her. She plummeted into darkness, landing hard on the basement floor. Pain exploded in her leg as a jagged shard of wood from above fell, piercing deep into her lower leg. Splinters stabbed her palms as she tried to steady herself, the pain was unbearable. Her scream echoed through the cavernous basement as she sat immobilized, panting and gripping her leg. She tried to shift, but the agony shot through her like fire, drawing another cry from her lips. Above her, she heard a creak¡ªthe faint sound of footsteps. ______________ Kane sprinted down the overgrown path, his flashlight beam cutting through the shadows. The Guest House loomed ahead, larger and in worse condition than he had expected. The bloodied trails leading to the porch and the unmistakable smell of burnt meat made his stomach churn. The mixture of its size and the blood make it almost seem like a horror attraction. He hesitated at the warped door, which hung slightly ajar. Pushing it open, Kane stepped inside, his flashlight revealing the decay within. The walls were covered in graffiti, furniture broken and strewn about. The floorboards groaned under his weight. He paused in one room, finding a sleeping bag and an assortment of small trinkets. They were neatly arranged, as though someone had made this place their home. He frowned. Is someone living here?Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. A faint noise drew his attention¡ªa muffled groan, followed by a weak cry. Kane followed the sound, moving deeper into the house. His flashlight swept across a grand, ruined mural of a deer in mid-sprint, its horns shimmering with an almost magical quality. Part of the wall had collapsed, revealing a jagged hole in the floor. He crouched at the edge, shining his light downward. His beam caught a figure¡ªa girl, no older than sixteen, sprawled on the ground with a shard of wood impaling her leg. Her blonde hair was wild, her brown eyes wide with pain and defiance. ¡°Hey!¡± Kane called down. ¡°Are you okay?¡± The girl glared up at him, her voice dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Yeah, the wood sticking out of my leg is just for decoration. Of course I¡¯m not okay!¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± Kane stammered, his nerves rattled. ¡°Hold on! I¡¯ll find a way down.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± she snapped. ¡°The basement door¡¯s locked and secured like a damn bear trap. No other way down here. You have rope or something?¡± Kane froze. ¡°Uh¡­ I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll figure it out. Just hang on.¡± The girl groaned, muttering under her breath. ¡°Great. A city boy. Never thought I¡¯d die because of some clueless idiot. Damn it!¡± She shifted her leg slightly, immediately regretting it as another scream tore from her throat. Kane hurriedly searched the guest house, his flashlight beam bouncing off dust-coated furniture and peeling wallpaper. In one of the rooms, he spotted a length of rope coiled in the corner. It looked old and frayed in places, but a sharp scream from the hole reminded him he didn¡¯t have time to second-guess. Grabbing the rope, he tied it securely to a still-sturdy bedframe bolted to the floor. He tugged it hard a few times¡ªit held. Kane stepped to the edge of the hole, his heart pounding as he looked down. Taking a deep breath, he began his descent. The rope creaked ominously, but it held firm. When he finally landed on the dusty basement floor, he immediately rushed to Amber, shrugging his backpack off his shoulder. Her leg looked bad¡ªblood was smeared across the wooden shard sticking out of her flesh, her face pale and scrunched in pain. ¡°Hold still,¡± Kane said, pulling out a first aid kit. ¡°I¡¯ve taken a course or two. Jesus¡­¡± Amber winced as he gently shifted her leg to assess the injury. ¡°Fuck that hurts! Stop messing around!¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying to help!¡± Kane huffed. ¡°I need to check for¡ª¡± ¡°There is nothing worse than a goddamn spike in my leg!¡± she snapped. Kane sighed, forcing himself to stay calm. ¡°Right. Normally I¡¯d get you to a hospital, but something tells me we¡¯re a few hundred miles from the nearest one.¡± Amber let out a bitter laugh. ¡°God, I hate this backwater town. So what, I¡¯m screwed?¡± Kane chuckled softly despite the situation. ¡°No, but I¡¯ll have to pull it out, clean it, stitch it up, and bandage it. It won¡¯t be fun, but I think you can handle it. A little dangerous, but it¡¯s either that or bleed out.¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°Yeah, yeah, just get it over with. Wait¡­¡± Her gaze darted toward the hole above them. ¡°You didn¡¯t take the meat off the fire before you climbed down, did you?¡± Kane blinked. ¡°Are you serious right now? No, I didn¡¯t. But I¡¯m pretty sure it won¡¯t burn the house down. You know your live is in danger, right?¡± Amber muttered something under her breath. ¡°Great. Fine, yeah, just yank this thing out already.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll count to three¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare count! Just¡ªAAAAHHH!¡± she screamed as Kane yanked the shard free. ¡°Sorry!¡± he said quickly, already dousing the wound with disinfectant. She gritted her teeth, her nails digging into the cracked floor as he worked quickly to clean and stitch the wound. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he wrapped the leg tightly in a bandage and leaned back, exhaling in relief. ¡°There,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s cleaned and dressed. You¡¯ll be fine, but you can¡¯t put pressure on it for a while. Here, show me your hands.¡± Amber looked at him, still pale but defiant as he removed the splinters from her hands. ¡°So, who the hell are you, anyway? And why are you in my house?¡± Kane frowned as his hands delicately use the tweezers. ¡°Your house? I¡¯m pretty sure I own this place. It was my grandfather¡¯s before he passed. Kane Ambrose. Now, who are you?¡± Amber¡¯s eyes widened slightly as she winced with the last splinter removed. ¡°Amber¡­ Wait, Aster had a kid? Seriously? I thought he was too¡­ I don¡¯t know, weird for that. Not exactly the charming type. He was nice, I guess.¡± Kane sighed, brushing some dust off his jeans. ¡°Yeah, I miss him. It¡¯s been years since I saw him, but you¡­ you knew him? Were you just squatting here after he died?¡± Amber¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°What¡¯s it to you? He¡¯s gone. No one owns this place anymore, so yeah, I stayed here. What else was I supposed to do? And don¡¯t ask about my parents,¡± she added sharply. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± Kane raised his hands. ¡°Okay, okay. Stay as long as you need. Whatever you¡¯ve been through, it¡¯s not my place to pry.¡± He glanced around the basement. ¡°But seriously, how do we get out of here?¡± Amber looked around, her annoyance quickly shifting to realization. ¡°Uh¡­ yeah, about that. The basement door is locked. It¡¯s reinforced like crazy, too. I always thought the old man kept his drug stash down here or something. Guess it¡¯s just full of junk. Look at this crap.¡± Kane shined his flashlight on a pile of old paintings and crates. ¡°It¡¯s not junk. Some of this stuff used to hang in the main house. I remember¡ª¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Amber cut him off, panic flashing in her eyes. ¡°My mural! Is it okay?!¡± Kane hesitated, the silence stretching too long. ¡°Damn it!¡± she groaned, throwing her head back. ¡°Weeks of work, gone¡­¡± ¡°Hey,¡± Kane said gently, ¡°you can always make another one. Maybe even better next time.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t patronize me,¡± she muttered, crossing her arms. ¡°Let¡¯s just get upstairs and figure out the damage. Worst. Day. Ever.¡± Kane chuckled, shaking his head as he carefully helped her to her feet. Together, they hobbled through the basement, searching for a way out, the air thick with dust and unspoken questions. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Deep beneath the earth, far below where Amber and Kane tread, a colossal entity stirs in the pitch-black void. Two crimson, bead-like eyes ignite in the darkness as the massive form awakens. Veins of red luminescence pulse along its body, fueled by a strange protrusion on its back, casting an eerie glow. A guttural growl reverberates through the chamber, responding to the distant cacophony above. With startling agility, the creature charges through sleek, metallic corridors, each step echoing ominously. The Beast Navigating the labyrinthine basement, Kane and Amber find themselves lost in a maze seemingly designed to confound. Artifacts from his grandfather¡¯s past intermingle with heaps of debris. Amber insists on pausing at every artwork they encounter, her eyes lingering on each piece, making the experience take longer than it should. Kane observes her as she studies a painting, her fingers tracing the air just above its surface. ¡°So, you¡¯re into art?¡± he inquires. Without shifting her gaze, she replies, ¡°Sort of. I paint a lot in my free time; it grew on me. That mural upstairs was my biggest project yet, before the whole damn corridor collapsed. Aster could¡¯ve at least kept this place in decent shape before he died.¡± He approaches, noting the passion in her eyes. ¡°You knew him well? Sounds like you spent a lot of time together.¡± ¡°Yeah, he taught me hunting and all that. He was an alright old man, better than most folks around here. Alright, let¡¯s move on.¡± Supporting her, Kane helps Amber as they venture deeper into the winding passages. ¡°I remember spending time with him when I was about ten, so¡­ fifteen or so years ago. He always had the most imaginative stories.¡± She scoffs lightly, ¡°His stories? They were all so dumb. No offense, but he¡¯d talk about tricking a dragon into burning itself. Just silly kids¡¯ tales.¡± He narrows his eyes slightly. ¡°¡­I suppose they were a bit fanciful. Still, they inspired me, sparked my creativity. To me, they¡¯re precious memories.¡± She sighs, ¡°Yeah, yeah, sentimental stuff, I guess I get it. Speaking of, why didn¡¯t you show up years ago, he died like¡­ what, 6 years ago?¡± Kane tilts his head, ¡°You knew about his death? Why didn¡¯t you report it. I would¡¯ve came by, but nobody even knew he was dead¡± ¡°Hell, I was the one to find his body. I just assumed one of the townsfolk reported it to the police, I was like 10 at the time. God, this place is a mess. Another junction?¡± At the fifth intersection, they pause, each path appearing unfamiliar. Kane scans the area, his eyes settling on the left corridor. ¡°There¡¯s a room this way.¡± As he guides her, Amber suddenly freezes in place. ¡°¡­Wait¡­¡± He looks at her, puzzled. ¡°What is it?¡± She raises a finger to her lips, signaling for silence. ¡°Listen.¡± Straining his ears, Kane detects a faint, rhythmic thumping in the distance. ¡°What is that? Is something alive down here?¡± Annoyed, she retorts, ¡°No way. I¡¯ve lived here for a couple years. I¡¯d have noticed by now; I¡¯m not an idiot.¡± Concerned, he glances back down the corridor. ¡°These passages are like a maze for a reason. Maybe he¡¯s keeping something down here.¡± She elbows him, ¡°Dumbass, what are you implying? That we¡¯re trapped down here with a bear or lion? That¡¯s stupid; it¡¯s probably just a machine!¡± Noticing the flicker of fear in her eyes, he softens his tone. ¡°¡­Yeah. Probably. Either way, let¡¯s check out this room.¡± They proceed to a door at the corridor¡¯s end. Kane pushes it open, revealing a cozy man-cave. A large pool table dominates the center, and a well-stocked bar lines the back wall. Amber¡¯s eyes light up at the sight of the bar. ¡°Score! That¡¯s a lot of alcohol¡­ probably the good stuff, too.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it. I know you¡¯re not 21. Here, sit down.¡± He helps her onto a dusty but comfortable couch. ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m hurt. Can¡¯t I have a little drink? To help the pain?¡± She pleads, her voice dripping with feigned sweetness.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Ignoring her, Kane rummages through the room, discovering unique objects: an ancient coin, some old memorabilia. Behind the bar, he finds a letter addressed to him in familiar handwriting. He tears it open. Dear Grandson, Welcome to the Guest House! By now, you probably realize something¡¯s up, and you¡¯d be right! You and your young friend are both in mortal danger. About this time, I suggest you get really quiet. Kane¡¯s heart races as he reads. The distant thumping grows louder. He quickly walks over and covers Amber¡¯s mouth, signaling her to stay silent. The sound intensifies, like a massive creature approaching, the floor itself trembling. It pauses just outside the door¡­ labored breathing echoes through the room. It then retreats into the distance, shaking the ground as it goes. As he releases her, Amber whispers, ¡°What in the ACTUAL fuck was that? That¡­ that wasn¡¯t an animal. No animal sounds like a damn earthquake, no matter how weak the building is!¡± Kane kept reading, the weight of his grandfather¡¯s words sinking in. Surprise! Now you see why I didn¡¯t want your father involved¡ªhe¡¯d probably tear this letter up before reading past the first line. Now, where was I? Oh, right: you¡¯re in huge danger. The thing that just rushed past you? Yeah, that thing will kill you on sight. Trust me, it¡¯s not a way you want to go. Inside this envelope, you¡¯ll find two things: a compass and a key. The key is straightforward¡ªit unlocks the basement and the Main House door. The compass, though, is a special little tool I put together to help navigate the house. By now, you¡¯ve probably noticed the basement is shifting. If not, well¡­ spoilers! I¡¯ve told you what¡¯s most important. You can escape, but I know you have a thousand questions. Unfortunately, you¡¯re going to have to figure those out on your own. One last thing: DO NOT get the police involved. The house is¡­ unique. If too many outsiders come snooping, the magic that binds this place will break. And when that happens, all of this will make you look like a crazy person. Sincerely, Gramps Kane stared at the letter for what felt like an eternity, his thoughts spiraling. They were in danger? The house was haunted¡ªor magical? And he was supposed to handle it? His hands tightened around the paper, anger bubbling under the confusion and fear. His grandfather had treated all this like some kind of cryptic puzzle, but there was nothing fun about it. The weirdest part about it is that his grandpa almost seemed to know exactly what would happen¡­ A light tap on his shoulder snapped him out of his thoughts. ¡°Hey, city boy,¡± Amber muttered, her voice breaking the silence. ¡°What¡¯s with the face? Those his final words or something?¡± Wordlessly, Kane handed her the letter. He watched her read, her eyes widening with every line. ¡°What the hell?!¡± she exclaimed, waving the letter in disbelief. ¡°The old man had a damn monster in his basement! This is insane!¡± ¡°Shh!¡± Kane hissed, glancing nervously at the door. The faint thumping sound was still in the back of his mind. ¡°Don¡¯t be so loud¡­ none of this makes sense. How did he even know you¡¯d be here, and the creature would be outside the door at that time? And why the hell is there something alive down here?¡± Amber scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re asking me? I¡¯m just as clueless as you! But one thing¡¯s for sure: your grandfather was batshit crazy.¡± Kane sighed, picking the letter back up. He reached into the envelope, pulling out a small golden key and a strange compass. The compass immediately caught his attention. Twelve needles spun erratically, each labeled with words he could barely read. Some were unfamiliar, almost alien. But one needle stood out¡ªlabeled Exit¡ªand remained perfectly still, pointing in a single direction. ¡°Well¡­ looks like we¡¯ve got something,¡± Kane muttered. ¡°But this thing is¡­ complicated. I¡¯ll need to study it, and¡ª¡± ¡°Wait, wait, wait,¡± Amber interrupted, glaring at him. ¡°You¡¯re not seriously thinking about figuring this whole thing out, are you? Like¡­ actually exploring whatever this is?¡± Kane met her incredulous stare. ¡°Look, I know it¡¯s dangerous. But I have to know what¡¯s going on. There¡¯s something bigger happening here¡ªsomething my grandfather wanted me to understand. If what he said is true, I can¡¯t bring the police into this. It¡¯s on me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re insane!¡± Amber shot back, her voice sharp and panicked. ¡°That thing in the basement? It¡¯s huge¡ªit sounded like it could turn you into paste without even trying! You¡¯d have to be suicidal to go digging into this!¡± Kane sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°Let¡¯s just focus on getting out of here for now. Whatever¡¯s out there¡­ it¡¯s not going anywhere. We¡¯ll figure out what to do when we¡¯re back upstairs.¡± Amber folded her arms, glaring at him. ¡°Fine. But I¡¯m NOT coming back down here. You want to play hero? Be my guest. But you¡¯re not dragging me into this mess.¡± Kane extended a hand to help her to her feet. ¡°I know. I wouldn¡¯t expect you to. You¡¯re just a kid, after all.¡± She slapped his hand away, her face flushing with indignation. ¡°I am NOT a kid! I hunt, I butcher, I¡¯ve done more out here in the middle of nowhere than you¡¯ve done in your whole pathetic city boy life! God, I hate people like you.¡± Despite her protests, she begrudgingly leaned on him for support, her injured leg still too weak to stand on its own. ¡°Let¡¯s just get out of this dump.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± Kane replied, guiding her back into the maze-like corridors. As they followed the compass, the faint thumping noise seemed to grow louder, echoing ominously through the walls. The Monstrosity Amber POV The duo moved briskly, their steps muffled by the oppressive silence of the hallway. Amber gritted her teeth, her injured leg slowing them significantly, though she refused to let it stop her. Most of her weight rested on Kane, but neither of them had the luxury of complaining. Kane glanced at the compass, his voice low. ¡°We¡¯re getting close. But¡­ It¡¯s getting closer.¡± Amber shot him a glare, her frustration bubbling over. ¡°Thanks, Captain Obvious. How about using that brain of yours for something useful?¡± Before he could respond, one of the compass needles began spinning wildly. Abruptly, it snapped into place, pointing backward. Kane¡¯s voice dropped to a whisper. ¡°I think this thing tracks the source of the noise¡­ We need to hurry, it¡¯s right behind-¡± As if on cue, a bone-chilling roar reverberated through the corridors, followed by the heavy, thunderous pounding of footsteps from behind. Without hesitation, Kane tightened his grip on Amber¡¯s hand and pulled her forward, practically dragging her along. He didn¡¯t dare look back. But Amber did. What she saw defied reason. At first glance, it resembled a human¡ªtwo legs, two arms, a humanoid form¡ªbut that comparison felt like an insult to humanity. Its grotesquely overgrown muscles rippled beneath sickly pale skin, its massive frame towering at nearly twelve feet. Red veins pulsed like molten lava through its body, and its eyes glowed like crimson beacons. A massive contraption of wires and tubes jutted from its back, hissing and steaming with each lumbering step. It gets faster and faster, even in the few seconds she sees it, it nearly catches up. Amber¡¯s breath caught in her throat as her mind screamed to process the abomination. Before she could react further, Kane yanked her into a narrow side hallway. She watched the creature fly past, unable to stop its momentum, but the thumping quickly starts again. They sprinted to a door at the end of the passage. Kane threw his weight against it, the heavy wood refusing to budge. ¡°This has to be it,¡± he muttered, fumbling for the key. ¡°Please work¡­¡± He shoved the golden key into the lock, twisting it with a satisfying click. The door creaked open, and the two of them stumbled inside. Amber stole one last glance behind them. The creature was forcing its way into the hallway, its grotesque and large form stretching and distorting the narrow space. Even the reinforced concrete walls groaned as they began to crack under the strain, as its massive hands push it outwards forcing its way in. She slammed the door shut, throwing her weight against it as Kane joined her. Together, they heaved it closed just as the beast collided with it, shaking the frame with a deafening boom, nearly causing them to fall forward. Kane quickly locked the door, and the two staggered back, hearts pounding as the creature continued its relentless assault.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. The door, however, didn¡¯t budge. Almost impossibly, it didn¡¯t even shift, despite the booming noise. After what felt like an eternity, the pounding ceased. The thunderous footsteps faded into the distance. As she strains her ears, it¡¯s almost like the basement is sound proof, the lack of noise suffocating. Amber collapsed against the wall, her chest heaving as she tried to steady her breath. Kane stood nearby, brushing the dust off his clothes. When she looked up at him, she saw a new expression etched into his face. His fear was still there, but something else burned in his eyes¡ªa fierce determination. ¡°You¡¯re not going to stop, are you?¡± she asked quietly, her voice carrying a mixture of exasperation and resignation. Kane met her gaze, his voice steady. ¡°No. Whatever this is, it¡¯s not normal. I didn¡¯t get a good look at it, but those red eyes¡­ they weren¡¯t natural.¡± Amber shuddered. ¡°I got a good look, alright. It was¡­ wrong. Like someone pumped it full of steroids¡ªmilitary-grade steroids¡ªand then just let it rot into¡­ that.¡± Kane frowned, seeming deep in thought. ¡°It could¡¯ve been human once¡­ and Grandpa trapped it here. But why? And how? None of this makes sense.¡± He sighs, extending a hand to her, helping her to her feet. ¡°Let¡¯s get you somewhere safe. You need rest.¡± Amber shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. The thing couldn¡¯t break through the door. I¡¯ve slept in worse conditions.¡± ¡°You¡¯re staying?¡± Kane asked, clearly concerned. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll be safe, especially for¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare finish that sentence,¡± she snapped, cutting him off. She¡¯s heard that too many times. ¡°I know the risks. But for once in my life, I feel¡­ inspired. Not like an adrenaline junkie. It¡¯s just¡­ this is bigger than us. I want to see where it goes.¡± A small smile crept onto Kane¡¯s face. ¡°Good. We¡¯ll figure this out together. But first, you¡¯re resting. That leg needs time to heal.¡± Amber twisted her leg experimentally, blinking in surprise. ¡°Actually¡­ it doesn¡¯t even hurt anymore. I think I can put weight on it.¡± Kane frowned. ¡°That¡¯s not how it works. A wound like that will¡ªwait, Amber, don¡¯t¡ª¡± Before he could stop her, she stood up, her injured leg fully supporting her weight. There was a little soreness, but she didn¡¯t even flinch. Kane knelt to inspect her leg, his expression shifting to one of utter disbelief. ¡°Amber¡­ this¡­ it¡¯s almost healed?! How is that possible? It¡¯s only been a few hours!¡± She waved a hand dismissively. ¡°Kane, just accept it. Nothing makes sense anymore. For all we know, magic¡¯s real. Plus, I¡¯m not complaining, cause otherwise it¡¯s weeks or months of healing probably.¡± She smirked at his dumbfounded look. ¡°I¡¯ll rest if it makes you happy, but tomorrow, we¡¯re getting to the bottom of this. Deal?¡± Without waiting for a response, she limped off to her room, closing the door behind her. Kane remained seated, his mind racing with questions. Before he could begin sorting through the chaos, Amber¡¯s door flew open. ¡°Damn it! I forgot the meat!¡± she shouted, rushing past him and out the door. ??? POV Kane laughs slightly at her antics, before he moves further into the house. He picks a room, before placing his backpack down and getting comfortable. He looks up at the full moon through the window, before he slowly dozed off, using his backpack as a makeshift pillow. Long spindly limbs cling to the shadows of the ceiling. Two glowing red eyes pierced through the darkness, unblinking as they tracked Kane¡¯s every movement. Silently, it slithered down the wall, slipping through the window. With inhuman precision, it silently crawled into the gaping hole below the ruined mural of the deer, disappearing into the labyrinth below. The Minotaur Kane stirred awake, the sun streaming through the cracked window, bathing the decayed room in golden light. He groaned softly, rubbing his eyes and stretching before pulling himself up and off the floor. The faint, savory smell of meat drifted through the air¡ªthis time, mercifully unburned. As he shuffled out of the room, he took his time observing the state of the house, finally appreciating just how far it had fallen into disrepair. Graffiti marred the walls¡ªsome crude, others surprisingly artistic, though still intrusive. Most of the furniture had rotted beyond use, the wood warped and brittle. Even the walls and floors groaned ominously under his weight, leaving him marveling at how his grandfather had managed to let the place fall apart. Stepping out onto the deck, his gaze landed on Amber¡¯s ¡°butcher station.¡± The corner of the deck looked like a serial killer¡¯s dream¡ªa bloodstained chopping block, crude tools strewn about, and a few charred remains of failed attempts at cooking. Kane let out a sigh and turned his attention to the campfire ahead, where Amber crouched, watching over a slab of meat sizzling above the flames. He pulled up a creaky chair beside her, resting his elbows on his knees. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s piece together what we know.¡± Amber rolled her eyes but smirked. ¡°Sure, Professor. Knock yourself out. Doesn¡¯t seem too complicated to me.¡± Kane pulled a small notebook from his bag and flipped it open, jotting as he spoke. ¡°So. My grandfather owned two massive houses¡ªthis one and the main house. From what I can tell, he used this one for storage mostly, though he seemed to abandon it once¡­ that thing got sealed in the basement.¡± Amber flipped the meat nonchalantly. ¡°Makes sense. Still doesn¡¯t explain how it¡¯s still alive down there. I mean, it¡¯s been years, right? Gotta be those weird machines.¡± Kane looked up sharply. ¡°Machines? What machines?¡± She stood, stretching her arms. ¡°I sketched it out earlier. Come on, I¡¯ll show you.¡± He followed her back inside, where she led him to a makeshift workspace. Different sketches for art pieces lines the walls. Tacked to the center of the wall was a hastily -but shockingly detailed- drawn sketch of the creature. Pale, grotesquely bulging muscles stretched its frame to the brink of human recognition. Its veins glowed crimson, branching out from a mechanical contraption on its back¡ªtubes and wires pumping the eerie red substance through its body. Amber gestured to the drawing, clearly proud of her work. ¡°Didn¡¯t get the clearest look, but that¡¯s the gist. A bunch of tubes with that red¡­ stuff running through them. Creepy as hell, but it made for good inspiration. I might do a full piece on it¡± Kane smiles gently, ¡°We should probably talk about the ¡®pieces¡¯ you¡¯ve put around the house. Plus the damage, but¡­ something feels familiar about this.¡± She tilts her head, giving him a weird look, ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t know how this could EVER look like anything you¡¯ve ever seen before. It almost looks like a fantasy.¡±Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Kane studied the sketch in silence, his thoughts racing. His grandfather¡¯s old stories floated to the surface¡ªtales of an unstoppable creature trapped in a labyrinth. ¡°It¡¯s like a Minotaur,¡± he murmured. ¡°But¡­ twisted. A grotesque version of it. My grandfather used to tell stories about something like this¡ªjust legends, or so I thought.¡± Amber raised an eyebrow. ¡°Yeah? Did his bedtime stories include glowing veins, weird machines, and trapping it in the basement?¡± Kane sighed. ¡°No. But he always said the Minotaur¡¯s weakness was a labyrinth¡ªnot a physical vulnerability, but a psychological one. Every story has it trapped in a maze, no matter how strong or smart it is. It can never escape, no matter what.¡± Amber groaned in frustration. ¡°So what? We just leave it down there? No weaknesses? No silver bullet? No stake through the heart?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that simple,¡± Kane replied. ¡°We keep it in the maze. The basement isn¡¯t just a storage area¡ªit¡¯s designed to shift and confuse. That¡¯s why my grandfather built it that way, to keep the creature lost forever.¡± He paused, frowning. ¡°Seems like the door will hold it for a good while. Whatever he did, he must¡¯ve planed ahead.¡± Amber leaned against the wall, deep in thought. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s¡­ I don¡¯t know. Kane, this thing looks human¡ªor it used to be. Minotaurs are supposed to have horns and hooves, right? This¡­ this thing¡¯s man-made. You don¡¯t think your grandpa¡­ had a hand in making it, do you?¡± Kane hesitated, a wave of unease washing over him. ¡°I don¡¯t want to believe that, but¡­ it¡¯s possible. Whoever¡ªor whatever¡ªmade it, it¡¯s definitely not natural. But for now, we have one job: keep it locked in the basement. If the house collapses, we¡¯re in big trouble.¡± Amber crossed her arms, visibly annoyed. ¡°Great. So now I¡¯m stuck helping you keep this place from falling apart? Forever?¡± He shook his head. ¡°Not forever. The main house is in better shape, it might have something we can use. I don¡¯t trust it much, though. If there¡¯s one of these things here, there could be more in there. Before we move on, we need to get some help.¡± She raised an eyebrow. ¡°What happened to ¡®no police¡¯?¡± ¡°I have a friend up north,¡± Kane said. ¡°Grandpa said that too many people would break the magic, but I don¡¯t think a handful people is enough to ruin it. I remember me and my family, along with others being here. Even if it does break, it¡¯ll come back afterward¡­ unless this all happened after I left, but I strongly doubt it.¡± She sighs, standing up again, ¡°So you¡¯re just gonna start inviting random people, to see where the limit is? That seems a little dumb, even for me.¡± He laughs a little, ¡°No, that would be a little silly. He¡¯s into haunted places, urban myths, that sort of thing. Runs a vlog. He¡¯ll know what to do. I¡¯ll call him, but it¡¯ll take him at least a week to get here.¡± Amber rolled her eyes. ¡°Another city boy? Great. Why not ask someone local? There¡¯s this woman in town¡ªMelissa Reed. She¡¯s ex-military and handy as hell. Plus, she teaches some of the kids around here in her free time. Even tried to teach me once.¡± Kane froze. ¡°Melissa? She still lives here?¡± ¡°Yeah, why?¡± ¡°She¡¯s¡­ we grew up together. Kind of. She was a few years older than me. I didn¡¯t think she¡¯d come back. She left when I was barely old enough to remember her.¡± Amber smirked. ¡°Small world, huh? Anyway, she¡¯s tough, and I think she¡¯d be up for it.¡± Kane nodded. ¡°Alright. We¡¯ll head into town, grab supplies, and see if she¡¯s interested. I¡¯ll message my friend once I get some form of signal.¡± Amber opened her mouth to respond, then froze. ¡°Oh, crap! The meat!¡± She bolted back outside, nearly tripping over a loose floorboard. Kane followed, chuckling as she frantically pulled the meat off the fire. ¡°You¡¯d think after the first few times, you¡¯d learn.¡± She glared at him. ¡°It was only once. Okay, maybe twice. Shut up.¡± He sat back down, shaking his head. The Ambrose Estate was a puzzle, each piece more twisted than the last. For now, his only certainty was that the Minotaur needed to stay buried beneath the guest house. Only then could they unravel the secrets of the main estate. The Town After a well-done meal -literally- Kane and Amber set out along the trail toward the main house. The dense trees part as they near the edge of the courtyard, revealing the sprawling courtyard, with his car parked conspicuously near the front door. Amber stops in her tracks, her eyes widening. ¡°Holy shit, are you rich?¡± Kane raises an eyebrow, caught off guard. ¡°Huh? No. It¡¯s just a basic model. Oh wait¡­¡± He glances back at the house. ¡°I guess modern cars might stand out around here. Do half the houses even have electricity or running water?¡± She crosses her arms, huffing. ¡°None of them do. The town says it¡¯s too much work for companies to run pipes and wires out this far. We¡¯re stuck living like it¡¯s the 1800s.¡± As they approach the car, Kane frowns. ¡°That can¡¯t be right. The mansion¡¯s got bills for electricity and water-¡° Amber cuts him off with an incredulous snort. ¡°No way. Unless it¡¯s magic or some secret contraption your grandpa cooked up¡­ but knowing him, that¡¯s not impossible.¡± Kane detours to the old mailbox, pulling out a mess of letters crammed inside. Most of them are the bills he remembers spotting. Sifting through, his fingers pause on an envelope scrawled with messy handwriting. He opens it and reads aloud. Dear Aster, You¡¯re behind on your payments!!! Last warning, Human!!! 20 Iron Bars, or else we¡¯re cutting you off!!! Sincerely, Argonaut ARGO ELECTRIC Kane stares at the paper, brow furrowing. ¡°Argonaut? Human? What company writes letters like this?¡± Amber peers over his shoulder and bursts into laughter. ¡°That¡¯s gotta be a joke. Even I can write better than this, and I¡¯ve never been to school. What kind of power company handwrites their letters?¡± Kane opens another envelope, this one from MAR INC., the water company. Dear Mr. Ambrose, You¡¯ve neglected your payments several times this month. We will be forced to suspend water services if you do not pay the toll of 400 lbs of copper. If you¡¯re experiencing financial hardship, we¡¯re happy to negotiate terms. Sincerely, Nari MAR INC. He stares at the bills in disbelief. ¡°Private utility companies? In the middle of nowhere? This has to be something else. maybe part of whatever¡¯s powering the basement, too.¡± Amber snatches one of the letters, still chuckling. ¡°No way these are real. They sound like they¡¯re written by drunk nerds. What¡¯s next? A magical internet company?¡± Kane ignores her teasing, starting the car as he stashes the bills in the glove compartment. ¡°Look at the letter from Argo Electric again. They call him ¡®human¡¯, and Argonaut¡­ that¡¯s not a human name. Considering they¡¯re bartering for common resources, This could mean-¡° Amber throws her head back with a laugh. ¡°Oh my God, are you actually holding onto the idea that magic and fantasy stuff is real? You¡¯re like one of those kids still waiting for Santa to show up.¡±Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Kane¡¯s grip on the wheel tightens slightly as they pull out. ¡°You should be more open to it. Things like that might actually exist.¡± She rolls her eyes, turning to stare out the window. ¡°Sure. Just like the first deer I saw that I thought was a ¡®protective spirit.¡¯ Nearly got gored to death when I got too close.¡± He sighs, ¡°And the Minotaur?¡± ¡°Fucked up science experiment. Not magic, cause it still looked¡­ vaguely human.¡± He chuckles faintly but stays focused on the road. ¡°Fair point. I guess we¡¯ll find out the truth of it all sooner or later.¡± The silence stretches for a moment before Amber speaks up again. ¡° So what do you even do for work? Let me guess: something boring, like a paperclip factory.¡± Kane laughs. ¡°Not quite. I was a librarian. Quit the job before I came out here.¡± She looks at him, surprised. ¡°Why¡¯d you quit? We need money to keep the big guy locked up, don¡¯t we?¡± He glances at her briefly. ¡°I quit because this is my big break. This house always felt¡­ magical to me, even as a kid. Back then, it was probably just my imagination, but there¡¯s something about this place. Something real.¡± Amber leans back, skeptical. ¡°If by magical, you mean terrifying, sure.¡± Kane shakes his head, smiling. ¡°Call it whatever you want. I think there¡¯s more here than just the Minotaur.¡± Amber sighs, her tone softening. ¡°Well, I¡¯m sticking around because¡­ I guess I was inspired. Not just artistically, but in general. I don¡¯t really know what I¡¯m doing with my life. Mostly, I¡¯ve just been surviving and drawing when I can.¡± Kane glances at her, his voice steady. ¡°I think you¡±ll have your hands full now. These houses aren¡¯t just dangerous, they¡¯re a whole adventure.¡± She snorts, grinning slightly. ¡°So, you¡¯re actually letting me help? Thought you¡¯d bench me since I¡¯m just a kid.¡± He smiles, a flicker of respect in his eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve got more going on than most kids. Hunting, butchering¡­ you¡¯ve survived more danger than I have.¡± She sinks into her seat, trying to hide her satisfaction. ¡°Well, thanks, I guess. Not like it matters, I¡¯d sneak in anyway.¡± They share a laugh, and the tension lightens. Kane speaks up again. ¡°Do you only eat meat? Breakfast was literally just¡­ meat.¡± Amber scowls, crossing her arms. ¡°Meat is fine. I don¡¯t know how to forage, and the old man died before teaching me. What¡¯s it to you?¡± Kane sighs. ¡°You can¡¯t live on meat alone. I¡¯ll pick up some real food while we¡¯re in town. And lumber. That hole in the floor isn¡¯t going to fix itself.¡± Amber smirks. ¡°Wow, big spender. Didn¡¯t think you¡¯d have money for all that.¡± ¡°I saved up, so-¡° Kane begins to talk, but his words are cut off by a sudden jolt. The car swerves violently as something slams into it. He grips the wheel, trying to regain control, but the car skids to a stop. Amber cries out, thrown against the door. ¡°What the hell¡± she groans, her voice shaky. Kane breathes heavily, checking on her. ¡°Are you okay?¡± As he checks her, he realizes she didn¡¯t put a seatbelt on. She probably hit the door pretty hard. Before she can respond, he notices figures gathering around the car. Dozens of townsfolk appear from the trees, their faces twisted with fury. A man¡¯s face suddenly presses against his window, his eyes wild as he pounds the glass with bloodied fists. Others join in, fists and palms slamming against the car, their knuckles splitting as cracks spread across the windshield. Kane throws himself over Amber as shards of glass rain down. Hands claw through the broken window, raking across his back. He shields Amber as best he can, panic gripping him. A gunshot splits the air, freezing the mob in place. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough!¡± a sharp, commanding voice cuts through the chaos. ¡°Back inside, all of you! I¡¯ll deal with the outsiders myself. Anyone who touches that car again is spending the night in a cell!¡± The crowd hesitates before reluctantly dispersing, muttering under their breath. Kane lifts his head, his ears ringing, and sees a tall brunette approaching. Her piercing blue eyes are as cold as steel. Her once familiar features now much harder than before ¡°Should¡¯ve stayed in the city, Kane,¡± the woman says, her voice firm. ¡°There¡¯s nothing for you here.¡± Recognition hits him like a punch. ¡°Melissa?¡± She sighs, her expression hard but not unkind. ¡°Get out of the car. We¡¯ve got a lot to discuss, and I¡¯d rather not waste another shot.¡± Amber stirs, groggy and confused. ¡°Mel? What the hell is going on¡± Melissa shakes her head, exasperated. ¡°Of course you¡¯re involved in this mess too. Come on, both of you. Let¡¯s get you patched up somewhere safer.¡± As she leads them away, Kane can feel the weight of the townsfolk¡¯s stares. Their eyes linger, unblinking, their presence unnervingly still. Something is very, very wrong here. The Peacekeeper As Kane follows Mellisa, he keeps Amber close, worry etched on his face. Though she appears outwardly fine, her dazed expression suggests a possible concussion. They move through the weathered streets and approach the center of town, where a large, timeworn building looms ahead. Above its entrance hangs a faded wooden sign that reads, ¡°Police Station.¡± Mellisa opens the creaky door and gestures for Kane to step inside. He quickly guides Amber to a small chair in the station¡¯s waiting room before glancing out the windows. Outside, the townsfolk stand at a distance, watching silently. Their expressions are unreadable but heavy with anger. Mellisa yanks the blinds shut with a sharp tug, then turns to Kane, her face hard with frustration. ¡°Listen,¡± she begins, her voice low but firm. ¡°We¡¯re safe for now, but you can¡¯t stay here, Kane. You never should¡¯ve come back.¡± Kane frowns, confused. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with them? It¡¯s like they¡¯re possessed.¡± ¡°Whatever it is, it¡¯s gotten into everyone. They snap at the smallest thing, turning to violence like it¡¯s instinct. They¡¯ll kill for a slight offense.¡± She pauses, her gaze heavy with regret. ¡°I was hoping you wouldn¡¯t get dragged into this.¡± Kane stiffens, her words striking a nerve. ¡°You knew about my grandfather¡¯s death, didn¡¯t you?¡± His voice rises slightly. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you report it? You¡¯re a police officer, aren¡¯t you?¡± Mellisa exhales sharply, a tinge of guilt flashing in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not. I came here to teach, but the town needed someone to keep order. Now I¡¯m all they¡¯ve got.¡± Her voice softens. ¡°And yes, I knew. But I didn¡¯t say anything because I didn¡¯t want you here. You don¡¯t belong in this nightmare.¡± He stares at her, disbelief mingling with frustration. ¡°You could¡¯ve warned me.¡± She shakes her head, unwilling to argue. ¡°Amber came to town carrying Aster¡¯s body, crying and terrified. The villagers nearly tore her apart right there. I barely got her out alive. She was unconscious most of the time, but¡­ that¡¯s when it started¡ªthe violence, the hostility. Since then, loud noises are the only thing that seems to snap them out of it, even briefly.¡± Kane processes her words, his thoughts racing. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t anyone reported this? Or stopped it? What about the outside world?¡± Mellisa slumps into a nearby chair, the weight of the situation visible in her posture. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she admits quietly. ¡°I¡¯m too afraid to leave. If I did, there¡¯d be no one here to keep the peace. And even if I wanted to leave, the villagers have destroyed most of the cars and burned all the gas. They¡¯ve been building barricades and bizarre occult stuff. I¡¯m trapped.¡± Her words hit Kane harder than he expects. Despite her attempts to remain composed, the strain of years spent fighting a losing battle is written on her face. Wrinkles and weariness mar features that once seemed so youthful. He places a reassuring hand on her shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re not alone anymore,¡± he says softly. ¡°I¡¯ll help. Amber will too.¡±Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Across the room, Amber stirs, peeking through the blinds. Her voice is groggy but concerned. ¡°They¡¯re getting closer. And my head¡¯s still killing me.¡± Mellisa¡¯s alertness returns in an instant. She springs to her feet and grabs Amber by the arm. ¡°Upstairs. Both of you. Now,¡± she orders, guiding them toward a narrow staircase. ¡°They¡¯ll lose interest if they can¡¯t see you for long. I¡¯ll try to keep them calm.¡± Once upstairs, Mellisa ushers them into a small office and locks the door behind them. Kane sighs, glancing over at Amber. ¡°You need to rest,¡± he says firmly. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a concussion, but you¡¯re not in good shape.¡± Amber starts to argue but winces, pressing her fingers to her temples. ¡°Fine. Maybe just a quick nap¡­¡± she mutters, sinking into a chair. ¡°Let¡¯s hope magic healing kicks in sooner rather than later.¡± As she settles, Kane begins searching the room. Amber watches him with mild irritation. ¡°Do you ever sit still?¡± she asks. ¡°It¡¯s like you¡¯re always hunting for something.¡± He pauses, rifling through a folder. ¡°I guess I don¡¯t know how to sit still,¡± he admits. ¡°There¡¯s too much going on.¡± ¡°Maybe you should try,¡± she says pointedly. ¡°You¡¯re covered in claw marks, and you¡¯re acting like it¡¯s nothing.¡± Kane freezes, touching his torn shirt. To his surprise, the cuts on his back are already scars. ¡°Guess the healing works outside the mansion,¡± he murmurs. ¡°Interesting¡­¡± Continuing his search, Kane finds a stack of reports in the chief¡¯s desk. He flips through them, noting an odd pattern. Six years ago, the town¡¯s incident reports skyrocketed. Over time, however, they dwindled to almost nothing. The last report, written a year ago, is different¡ªfilled with harsh, cryptic language. It describes ¡°sinners¡± as deserving their fate and praises the ¡°righteous men¡± who harmed them. No charges were ever filed. Frowning, he sets the reports aside and opens another drawer. Inside, he finds a folder labeled ¡°Aster.¡± His heart skips a beat as he pulls it out. ¡°Amber,¡± he says slowly. ¡°I think I¡¯ve found something.¡± Amber stands, still unsteady, but before she can respond, the door handle jiggles. Both freeze. Kane grabs a lamp, while Amber grips her pocket knife, moving to the door¡¯s blind spot. The handle rattles again before the door creaks open. Mellisa slips inside, quickly locking the door behind her. Kane exhales in relief, setting the lamp back on the desk. ¡°They¡¯ve dispersed for now,¡± Mellisa says, her voice tense. ¡°Now tell me why you came here, Kane. There¡¯s no way you¡¯d just drop everything to visit.¡± Kane hesitates. ¡°I got a letter about Aster¡¯s death,¡± he explains. ¡°It was delivered last week.¡± Mellisa¡¯s expression darkens. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. No letters have left this town in over a year. No outsiders have come in, either. The villagers destroy anything they can¡¯t control. How did you even hear about this?¡± Her disbelief sends a chill through him. ¡°This is bigger than I thought,¡± he murmurs. ¡°You said it all started with my grandfather¡¯s death?¡± She nods. ¡°Yes. Before that, the town was¡­ normal. I worked as a teacher, and everything was fine. But after Aster died, it all changed. The adults became violent and unpredictable, but the children remain unaffected. It doesn¡¯t make any sense.¡± Amber, still leaning against the desk, adds hesitantly, ¡°Couldn¡¯t it all trace back to Aster? What if he¡¯s not dead? He was too eccentric to trust completely. And everything¡ªthe mansion, the villagers¡ªit all revolves around him.¡± Mellisa looks pensive, her gaze distant. ¡°He came into town often,¡± she says quietly. ¡°The kids adored him. He told them stories, made them laugh¡­ But the house¡­¡± She trails off, as though reliving a memory she¡¯d buried long ago. Kane leans forward, his voice gentle but curious. ¡°You went inside with me once, remember? That summer when we were kids. You never told me what happened. You just disappeared in the middle of the night.¡± Mellisa meets his eyes, the weight of the memory pulling her voice into a whisper. ¡°I almost died in there, Kane.¡± Mellisa’s Fear I Mellisa followed Kane out of town, the crisp autumn air brushing against her skin as golden leaves drifted to the ground. Even as kids, she towered over him. She glanced down, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Alright, twerp, what¡¯s this big secret of yours?¡± Kane looked up at her, fidgeting. He was always so timid, practically jumping at his own shadow. ¡°I just¡­ I know you¡¯re kinda, um, mean¡­ so I thought maybe if I showed you something I like, it might make you happier.¡± Her face darkened instantly. His words hit too close to home. He didn¡¯t know anything about the fights at home, the way her parents whispered about money when they thought she was asleep. Still, she bristled. ¡°You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± she snapped. ¡°Mind your own business.¡± She turned to leave, but his voice, desperate and pleading, stopped her. ¡°Wait! I promise, you¡¯ll like it! Just give it a chance. Please?¡± She sighed, glancing back. The little ten-year-old was such a wimp. But his heart was in the right place, and besides¡­ it wasn¡¯t like she had anywhere better to be. Going home was the last thing she wanted. ¡°Fine,¡± she grumbled. ¡°But if it¡¯s boring, I¡¯m kicking your ass again.¡± His face lit up. ¡°G-great! It¡¯s a place I love to explore. I think you¡¯ll like it too.¡± She raised an eyebrow. ¡°Adventure? You don¡¯t exactly scream ¡®adventurer,¡¯ kid.¡± He huffed. ¡°I am adventurous! And you¡¯re only three years older. I¡¯m not a kid!¡± She smirked at his tiny outburst. ¡°Sure, whatever you say. Now, where are we going?¡± Kane¡¯s excitement bubbled over. ¡°My grandpa¡¯s house! It¡¯s huge! It¡¯s got hidden passages, stuffed animals, all sorts of cool stuff.¡± She let out a short laugh. ¡°You¡¯re dragging me all the way out here just to see a house? I know you¡¯re small, but that¡¯s¡ª¡± Her voice trailed off as they rounded the corner. Before her stretched a sprawling courtyard, beautifully maintained with cobblestone paths weaving between carefully sculpted hedges and beds of vibrant flowers. A few people tended the grounds, their faces eerily blank. And at the far end of the clearing stood the house. No, not a house. A mansion. It was impossibly large, looming over the land like something out of a storybook. It had to be bigger than half the village. Kane ran ahead, his excitement evident, while Mellisa stood frozen. She shook herself out of her daze and hurried after him. By the time she reached the front steps, he was already pushing open two massive wooden doors, revealing a grand foyer. A staircase spiraled up to the second floor, flanked by wide hallways leading deeper into the mansion.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Her mouth hung open. ¡°Holy shit¡­ are you rich?¡± Kane shook his head. ¡°Nope! I live in town, same as you. This is just my grandpa¡¯s. He said he built it with his own two hands!¡± She gave him a skeptical look. ¡°Yeah, sure he did. Whatever. Just show me this ¡®adventure¡¯ of yours.¡± Grinning, Kane darted through a side door. ¡°This way! My favorite spot is in here!¡± She followed, watching as he disappeared into another hallway. And another. And another. She picked up her pace. ¡°Hey! Twerp, slow down!¡± But he was already out of sight. Mellisa skidded to a stop, her breath coming quicker. She glanced around¡ªdozens of doors, hallways stretching in every direction. The house was bigger on the inside than it had any right to be. Her pulse quickened. ¡°Alright, idiot,¡± she muttered, pushing open a door at random. Inside was a massive library. Shelves lined the walls, stretching up to an impossibly high ceiling. The scent of old paper filled the air. Then¡ªfootsteps. She looked up. Kane grinned down at her from the top of a bookshelf. ¡°Up here! There¡¯s a ladder in the back!¡± She exhaled sharply. ¡°You¡¯re gonna break your neck one day.¡± Still, she made her way to the ladder, climbing up with a mix of reluctance and curiosity. The higher she got, the more uneasy she felt. This place wasn¡¯t normal. The house shouldn¡¯t be this big. She reached the top and hesitated, slightly unsteady. Kane sat comfortably on the wide shelf, legs crossed. ¡°You don¡¯t have to stand,¡± he said. ¡°Crawl across¡ªit¡¯s easier.¡± She rolled her eyes but did as he suggested, making her way toward him. He was already fiddling with a large industrial ceiling vent, pulling it open. When he climbed inside, she hesitated only a second before following. What she found was¡­ unexpected. A small hideout. Blankets draped over the low ceiling, giving the space a cozy, enclosed feel. Piles of books were stacked neatly in the corner. Soft pillows and warm blankets covered the floor, illuminated by a single lantern. ¡°It¡¯s a nice, quiet spot,¡± Kane said shyly, settling into the pillows. ¡°I thought you might like it.¡± Mellisa looked around, taking it in. Then, to her own surprise, she smiled. ¡°Thanks. You didn¡¯t have to show me this.¡± Kane avoided her gaze. ¡°I felt like I did. You¡¯re always bullying people, and¡­ I know it¡¯s because of your parents.¡± Her smile vanished. She shot him a sharp look. ¡°Don¡¯t talk about that.¡± He nodded quickly. ¡°I won¡¯t. Just¡­ I wanted you to have a place where you could feel safe.¡± She studied him, then sighed, leaning back into the pillows. ¡°You¡¯re such a goober.¡± He grinned. She let out a small laugh. ¡°It¡¯s nice and quiet here. I¡­ I haven¡¯t slept in ages.¡± Kane¡¯s voice softened. ¡°You can stay the night if you want. I¡¯ll tell Grandpa. He can let your family know.¡± For a moment, Mellisa didn¡¯t answer. Then, she smiled. A real, genuine smile. ¡°Yeah¡­ that¡¯d be nice.¡± She curled up in the blankets, the warmth and quiet lulling her to sleep almost instantly. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª When she woke, the world was different. Pitch black. She reached for the lantern. It had been blown out. Her stomach twisted. Sitting up, she squinted into the darkness. ¡°¡­Kane?¡± Silence. She climbed down carefully, the air around her wrong. Thick. Heavy. She¡¯s slowly went down the ladder, finding her way to the floor. The second her feet hit the floor, an unnatural stillness settled over the house. Her pulse pounded in her ears. She raised the lantern, the flickering light barely cutting through the void-like darkness. Something about the house had changed. She took a slow, careful step into the hallway. ¡°¡­Kane?¡± Her voice was quieter this time. No answer. She swallowed hard. The silence stretched. Then¡­ A soft creak. Not from the floors. From above. She looked up. And something looked back. Mellisas Fear II Time froze. Mellisa couldn¡¯t breathe, couldn¡¯t think. The thing before her wasn¡¯t possible. She could barely make out the details in the darkness, but the shape was unmistakable¡ªwrong. Limbs stretched unnaturally long, twisting in ways that defied logic. And its eyes¡­ burning, piercing red, locked onto her. One of its grotesque limbs moved, reaching down toward her, slow and deliberate. Her body reacted before her mind could catch up. She bolted. Door after door, hallway after hallway, she ran, the world around her a blur of color and motion. Behind her, the noise of pursuit wasn¡¯t coming from the floor. It came from the walls. The ceiling. Something wasn¡¯t chasing her¡ªit was all around her. She threw herself into a room, an elegant bedroom, slamming the door shut behind her. Her hands fumbled to push a small dresser against it, just as something slammed against the other side. Her chest heaved. She gasped for air. Then¡ª Knock. Knock. A gentle knock, followed by a familiar voice. ¡°Hey? Are you there?¡± Her heart nearly stopped. Kane. She sat frozen, unable to speak, unable to think. His voice came again, softer, coaxing. ¡°You can let me in. You trust me, don¡¯t you?¡± Something was wrong. Her pulse pounded in her ears. The voice sharpened. ¡°Let me in. Now.¡± Mellisa pressed herself against the dresser. Her voice trembled. ¡°I-If you¡¯re Kane¡­ then what¡¯s my name?¡± Silence. Then, Kane¡¯s voice, but different. Wrong. ¡°You can¡¯t hide in there forever.¡± Something scurried. The sound disappeared into the walls. Then¡ªnothing. A silence so deep it made her stomach twist. Panic clawed at her. The room was suffocating¡ªno windows, no way out except the door she couldn¡¯t open. The walls felt too close. Too tight. I need to get out of here. She forced herself to scan the room. A draft. She crouched near a desk, hands scrambling until they found it¡ªa large hidden vent. Big enough to crawl through. She tore the cover off and pulled herself inside.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. The vent was cold, metallic, endless. She crawled. And crawled. Twisting left, then right, up, then down. Her arms ached. Then, a sound. Not hers. Something else was in there with her. She moved faster. Faster. Until¡ª An opening. She forced it open and scrambled inside, her chest rising and falling in shallow, panicked gasps. Then her stomach dropped. The room was empty. No doors. No windows. No vent. She spun, heart hammering. The walls pressed closer. Four feet. Three feet. She could feel them tightening around her. Her breathing hitched. She clawed at the walls, pounded with her fists, but they wouldn¡¯t budge. She screamed. Her mind blurred. Were the walls actually moving? Or was it just her? Then¡ª Air. A breeze brushed against her face. She turned. The vent was back. The room was normal again. She didn¡¯t hesitate. She threw herself inside, crawling, desperate, as fast as she could. At the next junction, she paused. Left or right? She turned¡ª And saw them. Two glowing crimson eyes. Limbs stretched grotesquely to fit inside the vent. A thin, skeletal body twisted unnaturally, its neck too long, its fingers too sharp. Its face¡ª A jester¡¯s mask. Porcelain. Shifting. Changing. Comedy. Tragedy. Monstrous. Mellisa¡¯s breath caught in her throat. Then it moved. Faster than anything should be able to move. She pushed forward, throwing herself toward the opening, scrambling, heart slamming against her ribs. The vent exit resisted her pushes. She shoved against the grate. It burst open, revealing a drop to the floor below. She hesitated¡­ but there was no time to think. She started to climb out¡ª Something grabbed her ankle. Cold. Unyielding. Sharp She kicked. She thrashed. Her foot connected hard against the porcelain face. A sickening crack. An inhuman shriek. The grip loosened. She fell. The ground rushed toward her. Then¡ª Blackness. ¡ª¡ª She woke slowly. Head pounding. Disoriented. The room was different. A window. Outside¡ªnothing but darkness. She staggered forward, pressing her hands against the glass. It didn¡¯t budge. Panic flared. She grabbed a lamp, heaving it against the window with all her strength. Glass shattered. Cold air rushed in. She didn¡¯t hesitate. She climbed through. She dropped. The impact jolted her fully awake. Her hands and legs were bleeding. Glass lodged inside. Dazed, she turned back. The thing stood at the window. Watching. Its mask once whole now broken. Shattered and broken, now resembling many different masks all fused. Its arms reach to the windowsill. She watches it start to pull itself out. She ran. She didn¡¯t look back. Through the trees, through the darkness, through exhaustion and fear and confusion¡ª She ran until she reached the town. She didn¡¯t know how. Didn¡¯t care. Her legs carried her home on instinct alone. The town was quiet. Dark. Empty. She reached her house, knocking weakly on the door. Inside, arguing voices fell silent. Then¡ª The door swung open. Her mother, face twisted in anger¡ª Then softening. Eyes widening. ¡°Mellisa?¡± Warm arms wrapped around her. She collapsed. ¡ª¡ª She woke hours later. Her mother¡¯s voice, gentle, worried. ¡°What happened?¡± Mellisa couldn¡¯t answer. She just cried. No one would believe her. It wasn¡¯t possible. But ever since that night, She never went near Kane again. If he tried to talk to her, she shoved him away. Rough, mean, cruel, like before. She had to. She couldn¡¯t let him get close. Because she could never go back there again. Mellisa left town the moment she turned sixteen. She enlisted in the military, throwing herself into the rigid structure of training and routine. Anything to keep her mind occupied. To keep it at bay. Her parents passed not long after. She didn¡¯t stop. She buried herself in work, in discipline, in anything that kept her from thinking too much. Somewhere along the way, she found solace in music. Singing became a quiet refuge, a rare thing that felt hers. The military paid for her college, where she majored in teaching¡ªbut music stayed with her. She poured just as much effort into it, as if balancing the two could keep her grounded. At twenty-one, she graduated with both degrees. A great feat, fueled by her need to keep going. She had no intention of going back. She was an exemplary soldier, a role model among her peers. She had built a new life, one where she was strong, disciplined, untouchable. But it never left her. No matter how far she ran, how hard she worked, the memory lurked in the back of her mind, festering. The thing in the house. The thing with the eyes. The Limbs. The Mask. It haunted her. And so, against all logic, against every instinct screaming at her to let it go¡ªshe returned. She needed answers. Closure. Instead, she stepped into a living nightmare. The Split Up They sit in silence for a moment before Amber speaks up. ¡°You have two degrees?¡± Kane gives her a sideways glance. ¡°That¡¯s what you took from all that? Anyway¡­ I¡¯m guessing your wounds healed before you got home.¡± Mellisa nods, her expression clouded. ¡°Yeah. That¡¯s why I never told anyone. It¡¯s not¡­ possible. How did you know?¡± Kane exhales sharply. ¡°Because we heal abnormally fast too. At least, while we¡¯re here.¡± She studies him, conflicted. ¡°This is all impossible. But¡­ I knew something was off. Aster became a recluse while we were both gone. I tried to get into the house, but his servants turned me away. They were¡­ strange.¡± Kane frowns. ¡°Servants? Oh¡­ yeah, I guess he had some. I don¡¯t really remember them.¡± Mellisa leans forward, eyes sharp. ¡°That¡¯s the issue! They¡¯re like blank slates¡ªemotionless, unnatural.¡± Kane follows her train of thought. ¡°¡­Just like the townsfolk.¡± His expression darkens. ¡°So whatever was happening with the staff back then is happening to the town now¡­ Now that I think about it, we didn¡¯t see any staff when we were at the mansion¡­ So many missing pieces.¡± Amber sighs loudly. ¡°Okay, so nothing makes sense. What¡¯s the plan? The car¡¯s probably trashed¡ªtires popped or something¡ªso we¡¯re stuck for now.¡± Mellisa crosses her arms. ¡°Popped tires aren¡¯t hard to fix. I can get it repaired myself. The villagers won¡¯t bother me much, and if I hide the car afterward, they¡¯ll probably just forget about it.¡± Kane pulls out his notebook. ¡°Right. While you do that, we should stock up on supplies. Is it¡­ wrong if we take them?¡± Mellisa sighs. ¡°We can¡¯t take everything. Don¡¯t forget about the kids. They¡¯re still going about their lives like normal, but if the parents don¡¯t have food, they probably just won¡¯t feed them. It¡¯s like they¡¯re running on autopilot. No supplies means no meals. The adults don¡¯t even eat anymore.¡± Kane scribbles in his notebook. ¡°Should we get the kids somewhere safe? If we can gather lumber, fix up the guest house, we could keep them there. How many are there?¡±If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°Just eight,¡± Mellisa says. ¡°But there¡¯s no way you¡¯ll haul that much lumber with your car. It¡¯s not built for it.¡± Amber cuts in. ¡°Then let¡¯s steal one of the bigger trucks. You know some mechanics, don¡¯t you?¡± Mellisa gives her a sharp look. ¡°You¡¯re still a kid in this.¡± Amber glares. ¡°I¡¯m not a kid. I can handle myself. Hell, I¡¯m smaller and faster than both of you. While one of you get the truck, I can get to the kids and bring them back, easy.¡± Mellisa opens her mouth to argue, but Kane interjects. ¡°Just let her do it, Mellisa. She¡¯s more capable than she looks. Plus, we don¡¯t really have another choice.¡± Mellisa exhales, rubbing her temple. ¡°Fine. But no detours¡ªget them and come straight back.¡± Amber smirks, throwing a lazy salute. ¡°Yes, Commander Mel.¡± Mellisa glares before turning back to Kane. ¡°If you¡¯re going after a truck, be careful. The woodsman owned one. He lived on the edge of town, but it¡¯s too far out for me to check. Should be across the road from the baker. Hidden in the tree line, the road''s overgrown. He was tough before all this. No telling what he¡¯s like now.¡± Kane nods. ¡°I know it¡¯s risky, but I need to be the one to go. If I¡¯m right, there¡¯s a cell tower nearby¡ªI might be able to get a signal.¡± Mellisa frowns. ¡°Calling the cops? I thought about it, but the phone lines were cut.¡± Amber snickers. ¡°Nope. He¡¯s calling his city boy from up north.¡± Before Mellisa can snap, Kane quickly explains, ¡°He¡¯s a paranormal investigator. Combat trained. We need more people.¡± She exhales, pinching the bridge of her nose. ¡°Feels like a lot is happening without me. But fine. Kane, you get the truck. Amber, carefully gather the kids. I¡¯ll fix up the car and stash it in town.¡± Amber grins. ¡°Damn, your military training is showing.¡± Mellisa shakes her head and moves toward the door. ¡°Stay low, stick to the edges of town. They only got us before because we drew too much attention at once. They react in a chain¡ªone notices, then the rest follow. As long as you stay unseen, you¡¯ll be fine.¡± Kane and Amber nod. With that, they split up. Mellisa¡¯s POV She walks through the quiet streets, boots scuffing against the cracked pavement. The town is eerily lifeless. The villagers wander aimlessly, not speaking, not reacting. They don¡¯t even acknowledge her. Guilt gnaws at her. She forces herself forward. At the edge of town, she spots Kane¡¯s car. A small group of villagers lingers around it, staring. Blank, unblinking. She approaches cautiously, keeping her voice steady as she coaxes them away. They don¡¯t resist, just¡­ drift off. As if they were never there at all. Her stomach twists, but she shoves the feeling down. Sliding into the driver¡¯s seat, she starts the engine and carefully maneuvers toward the local mechanic¡¯s shop. She goes slow, sticking to the alleyways, avoiding too much sight. Like she thought, just some broken windows and the tires are popped. The tires are fully ruined, but luckily there¡¯s still some tires left around which haven¡¯t been torn apart for spares. The villagers are easy enough to disperse. All that¡¯s left is the repairs. Time to get to work.