Trees of variety stood tall beside a widely paved road, placed intermixed within the surrounding foliage of Greenery Park. A plethora of birds twittered their hearts out among the full branches of redwood, sycamore, oak, and cypress; the earthy shades of their barks and vibrant leaves were a treat for the eyes of any passerby out on a nature walk.

Amidst the dense patches of flora were occasional clearings, ever so perfect for laying a picnic blanket and enjoying a nice meal or simply basking under the brilliant sun. In the distance, boisterous chatter could be heard from what one could only assume were children playing in the park. It was a typical summer day, after all.

Accompanying the refreshing sounds of nature, prominent footsteps resounded in the air as their origin, a worn pair of black boots, took step after step further within the park. As the blinding afternoon light reflected off multiple ear piercings hidden under his shaggy blonde locks, Kali curiously regarded the countless plants falling under his gaze. His deep, envigorated blue eyes swept around, searching for things that were not there.

Surprised to find it relatively empty in the area he now traversed, he'd initially been expecting many parkgoers. Especially at this time of day, when the children should long have left their educational prisons, the working adults clocked out so that they all may enjoy the leisure of an uneventful Wednesday evening.

How strange, he pondered, that few had decided to visit the gorgeous park during this lovely weather with a rare clear sky. After all, he knew the rainy season tended to linger until late May in the northern regions. Though they were warm showers, he was certain more would enjoy a swarthy day without lukewarm water pouring down incessantly upon them.

As the rough static of his suitcase being towed across the pavement created jarring noises in the peace, Kali couldn't help feeling that today would not be as good as it appeared. But for now, he maintained his excitement. He was about to start anew, leaving behind the cowards that he once couldn't live without, and that was all that mattered at the moment.

Having broken free of a toxic, long-term relationship roughly three months ago, Kali had upped and moved his entire livelihood to the next town over. Of course, it took approximately three unwelcome visits from his ex-boyfriend and five hasty hotel changes before he found a permanent residence to settle into, far from the drama of persistent old lovers and past friends.

Before he ran off, a sprinkling of unsavory messages from his so-called friends made it evident they weren't entirely on his side. They believed he was stubborn, running away from problems allegedly resolvable with simple apologies, but their opinions didn't matter to Kali anymore. He could go without worrying about their feelings and their false conclusions when they refused to see things from his perspective, hypocritically projecting their own delusions onto him. They could not dare to abandon him now that he had done it first.

Kali's bitter thoughts scattered after an abrupt jolt, having tripped over a stray pebble on the cobblestone trail he'd cut into. Rather peculiar that was, given the other stones looked perfectly set into the ground and well-maintained. In his new line of view, however, he found the shoelaces of his boots undone. It was a wonder he hadn't tripped over those instead.

Once he adjusted the loose strings, he dusted his cargo shorts and picked up his pace, his large purple suitcase clattering behind him. The freshly sprouted leaves gradually grew denser, leaving only the pathway before him in sight, far from the unbarred grandeur of the playing fields he'd been passing until then.

He'd finally left the public portion of Greenery Park and entered the area most never traversed. His destination, namely the house he was moving into, was situated dead in the center of the privately owned facility.

Governed and financed fully by the multimillion-dollar Lenoir family enterprise as one among the many organizations under them, Greenery Park provided the local community with environmental and recreational benefits, becoming quite an asset. Therefore, its maintenance was duly carried out, ensuring the park was a safe and healthy space.

Given how ridiculously large the whole region constituted, certain sections naturally were not receptive to the general public and were set aside for personal company uses. The Lenoir Manor's secluded grounds were such a place, though it had been open to the public at some point long in the past.

The grand estate was now considered an isolated, long-abandoned building within the partially mountainous terrain. Due to circulating rumors of ghostly apparitions haunting it, most parkgoers avoided the large mansion-like structure eclipsed by a gloomy ambiance. That was if one could first locate its whereabouts. It wasn't difficult to get lost on the way.

Any news related to the place was conveniently ignored as well, with most essentially ignoring its existence. Even rebellious delinquents evaded seeking it out for the sake of some temporary relief from vandalization, given that the repercussions would be greater than they could handle.

What money could do to keep one hidden in plain sight was a wonder. Had he known, Kali would have sooner used such methods to avoid his tacky ex-boyfriend, although he was not rich enough to do so casually.

The Lenoir Manor was practically dead to all but its residents and owner, and it was incredibly hard to locate within the vast forestry. Kali lamented those conditions at that moment, however. Considering they had him lost upon the undiscernible path he now walked, he was finding difficulty in locating the house that he'd previously ascertained to be just ahead.

He ultimately noticed his predicament upon tripping over the same rock that he had passed minutes ago while absentmindedly strolling along. One might claim he was exaggerating, but he would recognize it anywhere, having marked it to memory for its slight against him.

Sighing heavily as he halted, Kali gazed at the cloudless sky with resignation adorning his languidly sharp features. For a while now, the trees had somehow stood to be exact copies of each other, repeating and repeating, over and over. He realized that he'd been walking in circles the entire time.

Suddenly, the space felt all the more caged, everything seeming either too far from reach or too big to overlook. Kali cursed whoever had the brilliant idea of creating a virtually endless, mind-bending track within the confines of the tallest, most identical line of trees he'd ever seen. The only design features he could praise were the wild rose bushes indicating the entrance from which he'd come through. At least he knew the direction he shouldn't be going.

Eventually, Kali attempted to discern his surroundings, eyes straining to inhale every detail of the area. He took slow, step-by-step advances on the round path, searching for any indication of a route out of the endless loop he'd succumbed to.

Imagine his surprise upon discovering a private property sign amongst the branches of a holly leaf cheery tree yet to have shed its full, white blooms. Beyond it, he distinguished an obscure dirt footpath extending through the dense vegetation, leading away from the cobblestone. Kali took it for a sure indication of his imminent arrival at the Lenoir Manor's steps, which proved more outlying than he'd initially deduced. He hurried along for fear of being sidetracked once again, stray branches crunching underfoot.

It wasn't long before the trail, well-used and trodden of grass, led to another paved roadway built for the travel of wheels. The shift from being engulfed by trees to standing on a wide open plain that continued onward as far as the eye could see did little to quench Kali's curiosity, in addition to his fatigue. He trudged on, however, keen to reach the house before nightfall. The sun was beginning to lower, and though he knew there weren't exceptionally dangerous animals out in the woods, he was better safe than sorry.

His tried luck proved fruitful as he soon came across a chain link fence weaved with green privacy vinyl enclosing what was a garage of sorts, as revealed by the no-unauthorized parking sign. This was surely something he had not passed before.

Expectantly, he fished his cell phone out of his shorts' pocket and checked the directions that the manor's owner had texted him. Before voyaging out from the hotel room he'd been booking as of late, he had acquired the number of Trevor Lenoir, the apparent landlord, and begun receiving quite the overload of information on his new residence. This landmark-like lot was passingly mentioned; therefore, it was certain that he was fast approaching his destination.

As he shuffled forward, a conspicuous thump resounded through the air. It was followed by rather crunchy footsteps, which frankly alarmed Kali as he'd expected to be alone by the unattended parking lot. The sharp noises came from within the concrete square enclosed by a green fence.

Kali cautiously rounded the structure to its towering gates that stood gaping onto the road ahead, which he'd have to walk past to continue his journey. He silently picked up his suitcase so it no longer made noise whilst dragged along, glad that at least his presence was blocked by the vinyl wrapped upon the fence. Tiptoing to the corner and gradually peeking inside, his gaze traveled upward at a snail's pace.

Kali soon uncovered that those rackety steps arose from a pair of glossy brown loafers, eclipsed by the hem of khaki-colored slacks, ambling upon some loose gravel. Besides the expensive shoes, he found there were tires of all kinds. The number of cars inside wasn't surprising, given its size, but what had him more contemplative was the thought of every vehicle belonging to Trevor, one way or another.

Perhaps that was not the case, assuming the stranger inside whom Kali connected to the previous thump had clearly just shut his car door upon exiting. The man paced beside a polished and gleaming black Mercedes-Benz, presumably speaking into a cell phone against his ear.

"Have they arrived yet?"

Kali watched carefully as the man's thin lips pursed whilst a rough voice, ever authoritative, fell numbly upon his ears. He sucked in a breath as his gaze pursued the other's prim figure, looking sufficient in a fitted grey shirt with a silky navy tie loosely hung around an unbuttoned collar.

Whatever reply came through the phone seemed pleasing as the man spiritedly ran his fingers through his lustrous umber waves, cropped short at the sides but sufficient for a stylish swoop. Kali wasn't near enough to catch the color of his eyes, being blocked by a pair of reflective, wire-rimmed glasses propped upon his narrow nose. "Good. No stranger's gonna be in the house while I'm not there. Don't worry, babe, I'm almost there."

The man's inherently attractive features conveyed a somewhat unsightly expression, occupying Kali's thoughts to the extent that his words never registered. The blonde did not realize who the subject of the discussion was.

"Can't believe Trevor let some fucked up sham into the house without our permission. Of course, the guy won't last so long as I can help it." His smile was now twisted with contempt, the sharp corners of his mouth pulled back in a toothy warping. He was positively incensed, but he seemed unable to lose his smile.

Well, it was more of a sneer than anything. Kali disliked how prickly it made him feel.

He eventually tore himself away from the gripping sight and looked down at his own phone as the man continued an avid conversation with whomever. Time was fast approaching dusk, and he'd sooner settle into his new home than be stuck there spying on a hot stranger late into the evening. Wanting to cause no alarm with his presence, he waited quietly until the other's back was turned to tread out of earshot.

Kali resumed his excursion without glancing back, and his suitcase gradually returned to the ground to be wheeled off. Not far ahead was another road forked off to the left, just as densely tree-packed as the looped path he'd been lucky to escape.

According to the vague directions he'd been sent, it certainly headed directly for the Lenoir manor. Well, that and the tips of an old roof peering over the treetops relayed all that needed to be known. Near reverently, Kali eventually ascended the surprisingly sturdy porch steps of an old, gothic-style Victorian manor.

The structure appeared three stories high and expanded enough at the sides to practically devour his line of sight. Its swarthy vinyl siding was in a questionable condition, worn around the edges and somewhat topsy-turvy. The mansard roof was darker, with a single forward-facing dormer window, likely laying view into an attic, surrounded by randomly peeling shingles covered in fine layers of dust. It was nearly the perfect picture of something dreadful and, overall, in desperate need of renovation.

Knock, knock.

Reluctantly, he picked up the brass knocker shaped like a spookily realistic cat's head and hit the heavy wooden door several times. He expectantly held his breath, expecting any reception to grace him in the subsequent seconds. But the universe seemed keen on inconveniencing him. No answer came, even as sheer nerve-racking minutes passed.

Kali drew a sharp, shuddering inhale as a sudden gust of sultry wind traveled down his spine. It was as if someone were behind him, breathing against his nape. But the thought itself was ridiculous, given there was no one behind him in the reflection of the blacked-out porch window on his right.

Nevertheless, he began to wonder if the supposed rumors were true. That the inside of the manor was truly an empty wreck, crawling with the unseeable. Perhaps he'd been scammed into boarding at a real haunted house.

He couldn't ascertain why, but something was feeling off in the air, prompting him to jiggle the old iron doorknob in haste. As if furthering his bad premonition, the door creaked open upon a light push, and he found himself peeking into an empty entryway of unforeseen grandeur. In his awe, he overlooked the soft click of the front door shutting independently behind him and the oddly ample amount of shoes neatly arranged on a rack.

"H-hello? Anyone there?" Uttering a shaky whisper, Kali crossed the threshold with trepid steps and plopped his suitcase to the side. The foyer was wholly deserted. Slowly, he observed the smoky, cobalt-painted interior and mahogany wood blanketing the floor, looking neat and spotless compared to the aging exterior.

An antique light fixture hung from the high ceiling, the clear dome-shaped crystal gleaming under the fleeting golden rays of the setting sun that shone through the transom window above him or, rather, above the front door. Dozens of derelict wooden frames graced his view, crawling upon the aged walls in an organized fashion toward the lofty ceiling. He wondered why anyone would bother hanging them so high, empty of pictures as they were.

A grand staircase sat off-center in the foyer, a glossy blue carpet embellishing its middle. On its left was an extra space that Kali knew not the purpose of, given it seemed more like an overlooked corner lacking decorations. There was room enough for people to stand there and perhaps a door of sorts, though it would've likely led to a small spandrel, aka the type of cupboard that Harry Potter slept in for much of his early years at the Dursley's house.

Adjacently, there stood a tall archway giving entry into what Kali assumed was the living room, blocked by heavy curtains drawn shut. He purposely evaded the closed threshold in favor of observing the house further, more to avoid the awkward and inevitable introduction he'd be making soon after.

The broader hallway on the rightmost side of the staircase displayed some closed doors, the first being an immense sliding entrance past which lay an expansive home library with ceiling-high shelves, comfy recliners, and soft rugs. Kali could recall most of the interior details with familiarity as he'd since been bombarded with photos from Trevor, apparently an enthusiastic landlord. As a result, he felt quite worthy of exploring on his own at any given moment.

His first destination could only be his new room, however, as he would not visit the ornamental space while his belongings remained unpacked. He tested the rigid stair boards for creaks with a single discreet step forward. They were seemingly well-installed as he was shortly met with precious silence. Practically giddy with anticipation, Kali primly climbed the steps up to the topmost landing.

He didn't pause to observe the second floor, directly zipping toward the dextral-most end of the corridor. There, he faced a window overlooking the manor's right side, with rather gorgeous scenery of the verdant treetops. Regardless, he paid it little mind as his attention honed in upon the short, upward flight of steps curving along the wall.

The space was separated from the rest of the manor's rooms, being half a floor higher in elevation and requiring its own staircase. It was a novel experience for Kali. 

As he ascended, he held his breath in elation, reaching for the shut door. His bedroom was perhaps the most exciting bit about moving into a century-old house. He'd waited long enough to witness all its glory physically.

With a twist of the knob, he rushed through the threshold and immediately marveled at the sight before him, blue eyes glistening. Rich lavender and dazzling blue met his ardent gaze as the dreamy hues coated every visible expanse of the room. The turret-like structure gave him a wide, rounded view of the sky through numerous enwrapping windows, allowing it to mix with the interior colors.

Aside from the walls being painted his favorite shade of purple, the elegant cream-colored furniture accented the space exquisitely. Despite its octagonal shape, it was by no means small in any way, fitting a king-sized bed on the left. An antique wooden desk was placed opposite, leaving a vast expanse in the middle. Ruminating the elevated ambiance, Kali felt like Rapunzel in her tower but far less restrained. Ironically, she had been escaping hers, whereas he was finding solace within his.

According to Trevor, he was allowed full creative liberties with decorations and could not wait to douse the room with his essence. Already, he could envision his net hammock full of plushies hanging in the corner above the bed, his potted plants lining the wide windowsill, and some shelf fixtures for his old skateboards to be displayed. They'd all come together and make the room feel more like home to him. The first step to rediscovering himself would begin here, after all.

Renewed hope and relief flooded his body as he perched atop the windowsill, attentively taking in his new home. His life didn't seem all bad right at that moment. Things were finally turning around.

 ********

Perhaps Kali had spoken too soon. However, he could've never known that his day would take a turn for the worse. Not when everything was going swimmingly until he met with Trevor and the others.

That's right; there were others. Something his best friend Johann had failed to mention when he was first introduced to the idea of living at the Lenoir Manor.

Kali had been connected to Trevor through his over-achieving childhood friend, who often went the extra mile for him. The man had somehow, at the drop of a hat, managed to prepare this entire housing situation for him during his time of need, and given he trusted the other with his life, Kali unhesitatingly accepted the arrangements. He would not currently be at the manor if he hadn't.

In his rush to get settled, Kali had overlooked many questionable factors. For one, Trevor had graciously allowed him, a stranger, board at the manor at the behest of another supposed stranger, namely Johann. Kali was certain his new landlord was not well-acquainted with his friend, especially when they lived almost three hours apart and had certainly never met before. That further questioned how Johann could've possibly discovered that a room was vacant in this obscure manor.

But given his dire straights, he had to gloss over such matters for now. Naturally, everyone involved did the same, too focused on his swift move. At least, Kali hoped that might've been the reason for Trevor's lack of mention for his horde of housemates.

Upon discovering Kali's presence, a dense wave of awkwardness had churned in the air. It was excruciatingly more embarrassing to have been introduced to the gaggle of attractive yet intimidating men whilst smushed against Trevor's defined torso, sporting bruises along his rubbery legs and a heavily sprained wrist.