The sun had risen, but its light did nothing to warm the cold, uneasy feeling in the pit of Kaido, Daniel, and Yumiko's stomachs. After a day of wandering a world where no one seemed to exist but them, they had come to one grim realization: the nightmare had begun inside the mansion, and it was there they must return to find the answers. But stepping back into that place, the one they thought they had left behind, was the last thing they wanted to do.
Reluctantly, they stood before the towering mansion once again, the wind howling through the iron gates. The once-crumbling walls now seemed more alive, as if the building itself was breathing, waiting for them to enter.
"I don't like this," Yumiko whispered, clutching the pipe she had grabbed as a makeshift weapon. "What if… it happens again?"
"We don't have a choice," Kaido muttered, gripping a rusty crowbar tightly in his hand. "We need answers."
Dan remained quiet, his face pale. He'd picked up a heavy stick, though it did little to ease his fear. The three exchanged glances, their hearts pounding, before Kaido finally pushed the door open. It groaned on its hinges, echoing through the dark hall like a warning.
Inside, the mansion was deathly quiet. The air was thick, and each step they took felt heavier than the last. Shadows clung to the corners, stretching out like grasping hands. The grand staircase stood before them, leading to the upper floors where everything had gone wrong the night before. No matter how much they wished to turn around, something deep within told them they had to go on.
They climbed the stairs slowly, the creak of the wood beneath their feet the only sound. The tension grew with each step, every creak making their nerves snap tighter. Kaido reached the top first and glanced down the dark hallway.
"Window room," he whispered, nodding towards the door that had remained locked for years. It was the same door Kaido had opened the night before. Now, it seemed to beckon them.
Kaido stepped forward, his grip on the crowbar tightening. He hesitated only for a moment before turning the handle. The door opened with a soft click, and the three of them walked inside, weapons raised, ready for whatever lay ahead.
The room looked exactly as it had the night before: dark, old, and filled with a strange, oppressive energy. The painting of the boy still hung on the wall, its eyes staring down at them with a life of their own. The air was colder here, as if time itself had frozen within these walls.
Then, they heard it—a slow creaking sound from the far side of the room. A shadow moved in the corner. Kaido raised his crowbar, ready to strike, but what he saw made him stop in his tracks.
A boy, pale and thin, sat in a wheelchair, his hands folded neatly in his lap. His eyes glowed faintly in the dim light as he smiled—a smile that sent a shiver down their spines.
"Welcome," the boy said, his voice soft but full of power. "Welcome to my dark world."
Kaido, Dan, and Yumiko froze. The boy's words hung in the air like a curse, each syllable wrapping around them, binding them to this place. They felt an overwhelming sense of fear, but it was too late to run now.
Kaido was the first to break the silence. "Who are you? And where are we?"
The boy's expression changed. His once menacing smile faded, and suddenly, he looked… sad. His voice softened, as if he had forgotten his power. "I'm Leo Hawk. This is my home."
The shift in his tone caught them off guard. Yumiko, gripping her pipe tightly, looked at the boy with suspicion. "Why… why did you trap us here?" she asked, her voice shaking.
Leo's eyes widened, and for the first time, he looked truly vulnerable. "Trap you? No… I didn't trap you. I've been alone for so long. I just… I just wanted friends." His voice cracked, and the sadness in his eyes was hard to ignore. "Can't you be my friends?"
Kaido, Yumiko, and Dan exchanged confused glances. The boy in front of them wasn't the same Leo from before—the one who had lashed out in anger, sending them into this strange, empty world. This boy seemed harmless. But something didn't feel right.
"Friends?" Kaido asked carefully. "We're not trying to be mean, but we need help. We need to get out of here."
Leo looked puzzled. "Get out? But we're in the same world. This is where we live. Why would you want to leave?"
His words confused them even more. Dan, who had been silent, suddenly heard the sound of cars outside. He rushed to the window and looked out. "Guys… there are people! Cars! It's like everything is normal out there!"
Relief flooded through them. Yumiko stepped forward, her heart lifting. "Maybe we can go home after all."
But as she moved toward the door, it slammed shut with a deafening bang. Leo's kind expression vanished, replaced by something dark and menacing. Shadows curled around him as black energy swirled in the room.
"Where are you going?" Leo's voice was no longer soft. It was deep, filled with a rage that chilled them to the bone. "You're my friends now. You're going to stay here with me. Forever."
The dark energy around him crackled with power, and the air became thick with tension. Yumiko took a step back, her voice shaking. "We can't stay here… we need to go back to our homes."
Leo's eyes burned with anger. "No one leaves," he snarled, standing up from the wheelchair. His legs, once weak, were now strong, and in his hand appeared a gleaming katana. "If you don't want to stay with me… I'll end your lives."
Kaido, Dan, and Yumiko felt fear like never before. The once lonely boy now stood before them, a figure of pure wrath. Just as Leo raised his katana, ready to strike, Yumiko screamed, "Wait!"
Leo paused, his eyes narrowing. Yumiko took a deep breath, forcing herself to speak. "We'll stay! We'll stay with you, Leo. We'll be your friends."
Kaido and Dan exchanged looks of horror, but they nodded quickly. "Yeah, we'll stay," Dan added. "We don't want to leave."
Leo's face softened once again, and the dark energy around him faded. He lowered his katana, a smile creeping back onto his lips. "You mean it? You'll stay with me?"
"Yes," Kaido said, forcing a smile. "We'll stay."
Leo beamed with joy, his anger melting away. "That makes me so happy!" He reached into his coat and pulled out three small, black diamonds, handing one to each of them. "These are for you," he said and give presents to them , his voice full of kindness. "They'll protect you when you're in danger."
The three friends took the diamonds, their hands shaking. Leo continued, "I have one more gift for you." He handed them each a small button. "Use this only in emergencies."
They stared at the buttons, unsure of what to say.
Leo yawned suddenly, stretching his arms. "I'm going to rest for a bit. We'll play more later." He smiled at them, then turned and walked out of the room. The time was 10:30 in the morning, but Leo was heading off to sleep.
As soon as he was gone, the three friends stood in silence, staring at each other. The black diamonds in their hands felt heavy, and a sense of dread filled the room.
"What just happened?" Yumiko whispered, her voice trembling.
Kaido shook his head. "Our lives… they've changed. We're trapped."
Dan looked at the door, hoping to leave, but when he tried, it wouldn't budge. A strange, invisible wall blocked their way. They had no phones, no way to call for help. All they had were the strange gifts Leo had given them.
Just then, a dark shadow appeared in the corner of the room, its shape shifting and twisting in the dim light.
The nightmare was far from over.