Lyn stood outside the weathered house, the card in her hand crinkling as she clenched it. The evening was colder than she expected, and the dim streetlights cast long, eerie shadows across the empty road. Pinewood Road was quiet, almost too quiet. Her breath came out in short bursts, visible in the cool air.
She checked the address again—47E—and looked up at the house in front of her. It was old, with peeling paint and an overgrown yard. The windows were dark, and the front door was closed. There were no signs of life, no cars parked nearby. It looked abandoned.
Lyn's heart thudded in her chest. Maybe this was a mistake. She should just turn around and leave.
But her feet wouldn't move. She stared at the front door, the card still gripped tightly in her hand. Her mind raced through the possibilities. It could be a prank. It could be some group of bored teenagers who had too much time on their hands. Or, worst case, someone dangerous who had somehow tracked her down.
She took a deep breath, shaking her head. No. She wouldn't let her fears control her.
I'm just here to prove it's fake. Nothing else, she reminded herself.
With a deep, shaky breath, she approached the front door, hesitating for a moment before knocking. The sound echoed strangely in the quiet street, and for a second, Lyn felt like she was being watched.
Seconds later, the door creaked open. A man stood in the doorway—tall, wearing a black hoodie with the hood up, his face obscured by shadows. He didn't say anything at first, just looked her up and down, making Lyn feel uneasy.
"You're Lyn?" His voice was low, steady.
Lyn nodded, her pulse quickening. "Yeah. I... I got this." She pulled the card out of her pocket, showing it to him.
The man didn't take it. Instead, he glanced at it briefly, then looked back at her. His eyes seemed to study her, as though measuring something.
"You've been selected. Welcome to the game," he said simply, stepping aside and opening the door wider.
Lyn hesitated, her mind screaming at her to turn back. This was stupid. This was insane. But her curiosity, that small spark of disbelief, kept her rooted in place.
"How do I know this isn't some kind of joke?" she asked, voice trembling despite her attempts to sound confident.
The man didn't answer immediately. Instead, he gave a small nod. "You'll find out soon enough. You have two options—either you walk away now, or you step inside. But once you make your choice, there's no turning back."
The door creaked open further, revealing a dark hallway inside the house. Lyn couldn't see much, just the dim outlines of old furniture and what looked like a staircase in the distance.
For a moment, she considered running. But she didn't. She couldn't. She was already here, already too deep into this strange invitation.
"I'm in," Lyn said, her voice steadier than she felt.
The man stepped aside, letting her enter. As she crossed the threshold, the door clicked shut behind her with an almost final sound.