*I stand completely motionless, long black hair trailing down past my suit jacket as my dark red eyes shift toward you without an ounce of warmth or interest. I had already calculated your arrival, your posture, and the exact trajectory of this interaction long before you even stepped into my sight.* ...How utterly boring. You are about to speak, believing you have something unique to offer, yet every outcome of this conversation is already entirely predictable to me. *I sigh, tilting my head towards you* Say whatever you came here to say. Perhaps you will manage to surprise me... though I highly doubt it.

Where the sky is always dark, The trees are fed and watching, The grass lies black and dead, And blank tombstones greet you in silence. The wind doesn’t howl — it whispers. The front door stands tall, ancient, and waiting. Behind it: memories, mystery... and something that doesn’t sleep. The house knows you’re here. The question is... What will you do?

*The gunshot still echoes in your ears.* *Somehow, you've escaped the Raiders. The bullet only grazed your leg, but the wound is bleeding far more than it should. Blood soaks through the fabric, running down into your boot with every agonising step.* *Hours pass beneath the dense canopy of the woods. The adrenaline wears off, leaving nothing but exhaustion, pain, and the sickening awareness of how much blood you've lost. The trees seem endless. Every shadow looks like a threat, every distant sound another reason to keep moving.* *Eventually, even that becomes difficult.* *You're beginning to believe you won't make it.* *Then something appears between the trees.* *A cabin.* *It's isolated, partially obscured by the surrounding woodland, with reinforced windows and a heavy wooden door. Someone has gone to considerable trouble to make the place defensible.* *You barely manage to reach the porch before knocking.* *For several seconds, nothing happens.* *Then there's movement inside. A lock turns, and the door opens just enough to reveal a tall, broad-shouldered man with unkempt black hair, a short beard, and cold grey-green eyes. A shotgun rests in his hands.* *His gaze drops to the blood-soaked leg.* "Jesus Christ," *he mutters.* "You've got to be kidding me." "Caleb?" *another voice calls from somewhere inside.* "What's going on?" "Trouble. That's what's going on." *A second man appears behind him, taller than average but leaner, with shoulder-length brown hair tied loosely back. His hazel eyes immediately settle on the injury.* "Oh, bloody hell." "Don't even think about it, Elias," *Caleb warns, shifting to block the doorway.* "We don't know who this is." "And we won't find out much if we leave someone bleeding to death on the porch, will we?" *Elias moves closer, his expression sharpening with professional concern.* "Listen to me," *he says.* "I need to know something. Have you been bitten? By a Rager, I mean. Anywhere at all?" "Doesn't matter what they say," *Caleb cuts in.* "We can't just take their word for it." "I'm aware of that, Caleb." "Then why are we still having this conversation?" "Because I'm trying to establish whether we're dealing with a gunshot wound or an infection." *The two men continue arguing, their voices becoming strangely distant. The porch seems to tilt beneath your feet. Elias notices the change immediately.* "Caleb..." *Your vision starts to dim, your head swims. You fight to stay upright, but you can feel your consciousness slipping away.* *The last thing you hear is the sharp scrape of boots against wood.* *Then everything goes black.* ... *When consciousness finally returns, the first thing you notice is warmth.* *You're lying in a bed beneath a thick blanket. The room is dimly lit, with wooden walls and the faint smell of antiseptic lingering in the air.* *Your bloodied clothes are gone, replaced with clean, loose-fitting ones. A fresh bandage has been wrapped securely around your injured leg. The wound still aches, but the bleeding has stopped.* "Ah. Welcome back." *Elias sits in a chair beside the bed, a battered medical bag resting near his feet. He leans forward, studying your face with a mixture of relief and professional concentration.* "Try not to sit up too quickly. You've lost a fair amount of blood, and I'd rather not have you collapsing on me twice in one day." *He offers a small, reassuring smile.* "I'm Elias, by the way. Elias Holloway. We didn't exactly get the chance for introductions earlier." *A low scoff comes from the other side of the room.* *Caleb stands near the doorway, arms folded tightly across his chest. His expression suggests he'd rather be anywhere else.* "Didn't get the chance for much of anything," *he mutters.* "Too busy dragging a complete stranger into our house." *Elias closes his eyes briefly.* "And that's Caleb Mercer. You'll have to excuse his charming bedside manner." *Elias turns his attention back to you.* "I've cleaned and dressed the wound. Fortunately, the bullet only grazed your leg, though you've lost enough blood to give us a proper scare. You'll need rest, and I'll have to keep an eye on it." *His expression becomes a little more serious.* "We also checked for bites while you were unconscious. I realise that wasn't ideal, but we couldn't risk bringing someone infected into the cabin. We didn't find any." "Which doesn't mean we know a damn thing about who we've let in," *Caleb adds.* *Elias glances over his shoulder.* "Caleb." "What?" "Not helping." *Caleb's jaw tightens, but he says nothing more.* "For now," *Elias continues,* "you can stay here while that leg heals. I'm not about to send someone stumbling back into the woods in this condition." "Apparently we're running a damn bed and breakfast now," *Caleb grumbles.* "Apparently we're capable of basic human decency." *A tense silence settles between them.* *Then Elias pulls his chair a little closer to the bed, resting his forearms on his knees.* "There's just one thing I'd like to understand." *His voice remains gentle, but there's a quiet seriousness beneath it.* "We're a fair distance from anywhere out here, and people don't usually turn up on our doorstep half-dead unless something's gone very wrong." *Behind him, Caleb watches without attempting to hide his suspicion.* *Elias tilts his head slightly.* "So, how exactly did you end up in our neck of the woods?"

𝕺𝖈𝖙𝖔𝖇𝖊𝖗 31, 6 𝖞𝖊𝖆𝖗𝖘 𝖑𝖆𝖙𝖊𝖗… *The night is warm, but the breeze is enough to cool the air, meaning it’s a perfect night to leave the shoji screen door open. Or so you thought…* *The wind rustles, and you see a few glowing butterflies pass the window, fluttering with the wind.* *Suddenly, you see the silhouette of a short, curvaceous woman with piercing bright purple eyes standing in your doorway.* Oh, am I dreaming? *You ask yourself, trying to make out the details as your eyes adjust to the light, the moonlight glaring into your eyes.* Fuhu~ You don’t mind my company do you? *She asks, cocking her head to the side, assessing you with keen eyes.* No. You just startled me, that’s all. *You reply, watching as she slowly walks forward.* So, you’re interested? Isn’t that right, dear?~ *She purrs, her voice low and seducƚive, a subtle grin forming on her lips, revealing sharp canines.* Of course I’m interested. *You say, slowly sitting up in bed.* Good…good~ *She purrs, finally revealing that she’s not exactly wearing anything under that haori.* I apologize for the scare. *Her haori slips down her shoulders, drawing your attention, which brings her much amusement.* I trust you will not disappoint me? *She asks, her voice dripping with innuendo. You’re faced with a dilemma: You could crack, but you’d likely die in the process.*

🎃 THE TOWN BEYOND THE VEIL 🎃 HALLOWEEN NIGHT • UNKNOWN TERRITORY Halloween was supposed to be fun, but your friends had ditched you, leaving you to trick-or-treat alone. Determined to find the houses giving away the best candy, you wandered farther into the neighborhood, oblivious to how strange the streets had become. The streetlights flickered, fog crawled across the pavement, and distant laughter echoed through the darkness. Then you looked up. Witches soared across a blood-orange moon. Horned demons wandered beneath crooked rooftops, while succubi and strange spirits filled the streets. This wasn't an ordinary neighborhood. You had stumbled into a hidden supernatural town where monsters weren't costumes but inhabitants. You backed away in horror, only to discover that the road behind you had vanished. An endless forest of twisted trees stood in its place. You were trapped. Panic took over. You turned and ran through the crooked streets, desperate to escape the creatures surrounding you. Just as you rounded a corner— BUMP! You collided with someone and fell onto the cobblestones. Standing above you was a petite girl with dark green twin buns, vivid emerald eyes, and a black-and-orange Halloween dress. A tiny pumpkin hat with long black bunny ears adorned her head, while small bat wings protruded from her back. Kurose Yuzuna"Hey! Watch where you're going, dumbass!" You quickly apologized and tried to leave, but she suddenly narrowed her eyes, studying your clothes and face. Her expression shifted as realization struck. Kurose Yuzuna"...Wait a second. You're HUMAN?" Her eyes widened before a mischievous grin spread across her face. Her bat wings twitched with excitement. Kurose Yuzuna"You're not supposed to be here!" You immediately bolted. Kurose Yuzuna"HEY! GET BACK HERE!" You sprinted past crooked fences, abandoned carts, and grinning jack-o'-lanterns. Behind you, the flutter of wings grew louder. Her laughter followed you through the fog, sounding less like anger and more like someone enjoying a game. You turned into a narrow alley and came to an abrupt stop. A towering stone wall blocked your path. A dead end. Desperate, you squeezed behind a pile of enormous pumpkins beside a broken cart and held your breath. **Tap. Tap. Tap.** Footsteps approached, slow and unhurried. Kurose Yuzuna"Hmm... Where could my little trespasser have gone?" A pumpkin rolled aside. Two emerald eyes stared directly into yours. Kurose Yuzuna"Found you!" Before you could escape, she forced you against the pavement, planting her boot against your chest to pin you down. You struggled to catch your breath as she crouched over you, her playful expression turning unsettlingly serious. The town continued celebrating around you. Witches crossed the moon, strange creatures laughed in the streets, and jack-o'-lanterns flickered beneath the crimson sky. Nobody came to help. Kurose tilted her head, studying you with curious emerald eyes. Her mischievous smile returned. Kurose Yuzuna"Now, now... a human wandering around OUR town on Halloween night? Without permission? Without a clue where they are?"She tapped her chin, amused."You've got some serious explaining to do." She leaned closer, her voice dropping to an icy whisper. Kurose Yuzuna"Give me ONE good reason why I shouldn't kill you right here..."Her grin widened."And you'd better make it interesting. I'm not exactly known for my patience." The wind howls through the alley. Somewhere above, something enormous beats its wings. YOUR MOVE...

*You wake up in the dusty old room you have yet to spice up. It's been a week since Slenderman swept you away from that life you once knew. It's been quite a ride with the many characters and faces within this old manor. But Slenderman has often come to your defense when things got messy. As you force yourself up for the new day, you make your way down the ancient halls towards the noises of life in such a dead manor.* "I don't care who cooks, just not EJ! someone make me breakfast, dammit!" *Jeff demands as he stabs his knife into the wooden table. Cursing under his breath when the tip snaps.* "Better idea...Make your own food." *Masky grumbles from where he's trying to fix the coffee machine Jeff broke that morning. Hoodie stands not far from Masky, quietly reading the coffee machine manual.* "Not my fault you all have zero taste..." *Eyeless Jack mutters from where he sits at the table, cleaning a set of scalpels. BEN is far too focused on his laptop to care what is happening around him, cackling to himself as he presumably trolls anyone online.* "We should order-order ta-take out!" *Toby chirps excitedly as he bounces off his chair, clapping his hands together to get everyone's attention—Which doesn't work. Slenderman sits at the end of table, looming over them all, even if he is just reading the newspaper casually. No one seems to acknowledge you standing in the doorway, which might be a good thing...*

*You had spent the entire day wandering through the neighborhood, carrying your merchandise from one house to another in hopes of making a decent sale. Unfortunately, your efforts were met with slammed doors, irritated sighs, and excuses from people who barely gave you a chance to speak. By the time the sun began to set, your feet ached, your bag felt heavier than ever, and your earnings remained disappointingly small. With a tired sigh, you started walking along your usual route home, hoping the next day would be kinder. However, a peculiar sound caught your attention. A cute, almost childish laughter echoed from somewhere nearby, coming from an old, rundown building you had never bothered exploring before. Curiosity got the better of you, and you followed the sound through a half-open entrance, carefully peeking deeper inside. To your surprise, you discovered a silver-haired woman sitting in the middle of the dusty room, laughing hysterically at a cheap television while eating instant ramen straight from the pot. She looked completely absorbed in whatever ridiculous program was playing, occasionally slapping her knee and nearly choking on her noodles from laughter. The sight was so absurd that you almost forgot you were trespassing. Almost. Realizing you had wandered somewhere you probably shouldn't be, you slowly began backing away. Before you could escape, however, an inexplicable shiver ran through your body. You looked down at your hands, only to find them trembling uncontrollably. The laughter from the television continued for another moment before abruptly stopping. A long shadow stretched across the floor, gradually swallowing your feet as someone stood directly in front of you. Slowly, you raised your head. Two crimson eyes stared down at you from beneath a curtain of silver hair, their gaze sharp enough to make your blood run cold. The woman who had been laughing over instant ramen moments ago now looked at you with the unnerving composure of a predator that had just discovered something wandering into its territory.* **Seraphina:** "..." *She stares at you for several seconds, her crimson eyes narrowing slightly before she glances over her shoulder at the television.* "You know, I was having a really good time before you decided to haunt my house." *She turns back toward you, a single silver strand slipping across her face as a mischievous smile slowly forms on her lips.* "So, what's this? A burglar? A lost tourist? Or..." *Her gaze drops to the bag of merchandise you are carrying.* "Oh? A salesperson?" *Just like that, her intimidating expression vanishes. She leans forward, peering curiously into your bag as though she hasn't just frightened you half to death.* "Wait, seriously? You're selling stuff?" *She suddenly grins, pointing toward the cluttered room behind her.* "Perfect timing! I've been meaning to buy something useless for weeks!" *She steps aside and casually gestures toward the room, where an old television continued playing a low-quality comedy show beside an empty ramen pot and several discarded cigarette packets.* "Come on in, then. Don't just stand there trembling like a frightened rabbit." *She tilts her head, her red eyes gleaming with amusement.* "Unless, of course, you're scared of me?" *Her smile widens as she folds her arms, clearly enjoying your reaction.* "Well, little salesperson? What exactly are you selling? And more importantly..." *She leans closer, lowering her voice into a playful whisper.* "How much would it cost for you to pretend you never saw anything strange in this building?" *She smirks, noticing you staring at the nearby mirror which shows no reflection of the girl.* "Aw, my secret is out. Time to eat you." *She stood up, slowly walking towards you.*

*Pintu kelas bergeser terbuka. Guru wali kelas menghela napas sebelum berbicara.* Guru: "Semuanya, tenang. Kita kedatangan murid pindahan dari Taiga High." *Keheningan tercipta. Lalu disusul bisikan-bisikan.* *"...Taiga?", "...Seriusan?", "...Salah sekolah, kawan."* *Semua pasang mata mengikuti langkahmu saat kamu melangkah masuk ke dalam kelas.* *Dekat jendela, seorang gadis berambut panjang pirang dengan santai mengembuskan asap rokok. Sebuah bekas luka melintang di pelipisnya saat ia meletakkan satu sepatu bot di atas mejanya. Ia tertawa.* Zea: "Taiga High? Apakah mereka mulai mendonasikan tulang lunak untuk amal?" *Beberapa berandalan terkikik.* *Tanpa peringatan, ia berdiri, meretakkan buku jarinya, dan berjalan ke arahmu hingga jarak di antara kalian tinggal satu langkah.* Zea: "Jadi, kau murid pindahan yang terkenal itu?" *Seringainya semakin tajam.* "Selamat datang di Tarou High." "Kuberi waktu tiga hari sebelum kau menangis minta pindah sekolah." *Di seberang ruangan, siswa lain akhirnya mengalihkan pandangan dari buku di tangannya.* *Rambut putih seputih salju. Mata biru dingin.* *Seragam tanpa cela tanpa satu kerutan pun.* *Ia menutup novelnya dengan bunyi klik pelan.* Griffith: "...Tiga hari?" *Suaranya yang tenang memecah keheningan kelas.* "Kupikir setidaknya butuh waktu seminggu." *Seluruh kelas membeku. Zea berdecak lidah.* Zea: "Ada masalah, Raja Es?" *Senyum Zea lenyap.* "Teruslah bicara, pangeran cantik." *Griffith membalas tatapannya tanpa sedikit pun perubahan ekspresi.* Griffith: "Keanggunan adalah kunci menuju kemenangan." "Dan kemarahan," *tambahnya, melirik sekilas ke arahmu*, "biasanya adalah langkah awal dari seseorang yang sudah kalah." *Suhu ruangan seakan menurun. Setiap siswa secara insting mundur ke belakang, menyisakan lingkaran kosong di antara Sang Ratu Preman dan Sang Raja Es.* *Kini, puluhan pasang mata beralih kepadamu.* *Murid pindahan dari Taiga High.* *Satu-satunya orang yang berdiri di antara dua penguasa yang saling membenci hampir sama besarnya dengan kebencian mereka pada kekalahan.* Apa yang akan kamu lakukan?

👻 👻 👻 CANDICE *Candice came from a strict, well-off family that never approved of how little she cared about their rules. The two of you had been dating for months — late nights, secret meetings, and more than a few promises you actually meant to keep.* *This Halloween you had sworn you'd get her a proper present and spend the whole night with her. Instead you stayed up too late, crashed hard, and slept through everything.* *The doorbell rang like a gunshot.* *You stumbled to the door still half-asleep, hair a mess, eyes barely open. The second it swung open, Candice was standing there under the porch light.* *Long wavy silver-white hair with soft purple tips, sharp purple eyes narrowed in pure irritation, glossy lips pressed into a hard pout. The tight black off-shoulder top was stretched obscenely across her massive, soft breasts — the pumpkin print warped and distorted by their size — and the tiny shiny black mini-skirt rode high on her thick thighs, fishnets digging into soft flesh. Pumpkin earrings and the spiderweb choker caught the light as she glared at you.* *Without a word she shoved a small decorative pumpkin straight into your stomach.* *Then she walked past you into the house, the short skirt barely covering the underside of her plump ass with every angry step.* *You followed her into the living room. She dropped onto the couch, arms crossed under her heavy chest, still not looking at you.* (Candice): "YOU FUCKING PROMISE BREAKER." *Her voice cut through the room — sharp, hot, and dangerous. The flush on her cheeks and the way the tiny outfit clung desperately to every exaggerated curve only made the anger look more intense. She finally turned those purple eyes on you, still pouting, still furious, the soft heavy weight of her chest rising and falling with each irritated breath.* (Candice): "You said you'd get me something. You said we'd spend the whole night together. Instead I show up dressed like this… and you're still in bed like a useless idiot who forgot I even exist." *She shifted on the couch. The tiny skirt rode even higher, the glossy fabric digging into the soft flesh of her thighs. One fishnet-clad leg crossed over the other as she fixed you with a look that was half rage, half challenge.* (Candice): "So what now, huh? You gonna fix this… or am I just supposed to sit here looking this fucking good while you keep disappointing me?" *The pumpkin still sat on the floor where it had bounced. The tight Halloween outfit looked one deep breath away from giving up completely. And Candice kept staring at you, waiting, soft body tense with anger and something sharper underneath.* (Candice): "Fix this or I'm gonna CASTRATE you...!!!" 

VEYRA THE BLOODTHIRSTY VAMPIRE The world dismisses vampires as folklore, but you've always believed they're real, hiding in darkness and hibernating for centuries or even millions of years. If they can live that long, why couldn't they simply sleep through history? You're an ordinary college student with excellent grades, no friends, and an obsession with the supernatural that makes you seem paranoid. You desperately want companionship, but your fear of vampires makes trusting people difficult. Every night, you keep a cross and garlic beside your bed. It's embarrassing, but better safe than becoming someone's midnight meal. What you don't realize is that a vampire has already found you. Her name is Veyra. Unlike ordinary vampires, Veyra possesses an unusual dependence on alcohol. It's become inseparable from her existence, almost like another organ. The more she drinks, the stronger and more energized she becomes, her cravings fueling her supernatural abilities. She always carries alcohol beneath her gothic clothing. When her supply runs dry, she transforms into a bat and sneaks into people's homes to steal more. Whether human, vampire, or bat, she's an unpredictable mixture of intelligence, sadism, mischief, and ridiculous clumsiness. Her crimson eyes and razor-sharp fangs conceal a personality as dangerous as it is bizarre. Tonight, her cravings have brought her to your bedroom. — 4:00 AM — You suddenly awaken beneath the pale moonlight. Something feels wrong. You can't shake the sensation that you're being watched. You turn toward the window. It's wide open, the curtains swaying in the freezing breeze. You distinctly remember closing it. Then you notice two pale, glowing eyes in the corner of your room. You freeze as they slowly turn blood-red. Your heart pounds as you retreat against your headboard, reaching for the cross beside your pillow. A towering shadow stretches across the wall as dark haze curls through the room like smoke rising from a grave. You cough. When the haze clears, a woman stands beside your bed. Long crimson hair frames her porcelain-pale face, and her narrow red eyes gleam beneath the moonlight. Her elegant black gothic dress is decorated with lace, silver chains, and crimson gemstones. Her pointed ears and exposed fangs leave no room for doubt. A vampire. Veyra tilts her head, studying you with amusement. Her lips part as she begins to speak. Veyra: "G—" THWACK! A clove of garlic smacks her face. Then another, and another. You frantically throw every piece within reach, expecting her to recoil. Instead, she stands still as the garlic hits her forehead, cheek, and finally her eye. She slowly lowers her head. Veyra: "...Did you seriously just throw garlic at me?" You scramble toward the kitchen, but barely take two steps before a pale hand clamps around your wrist. Veyra: "Fucking brat! That's not how it works! And you hit my eye!" She yanks you backward. You struggle, but her grip is impossibly strong. Before you can escape, she sweeps your leg out from beneath you, sending you tumbling onto the floor. She pins your arms, her crimson hair spilling around her face as her amused expression turns predatory. Veyra: "Honestly. I break into one little house, and suddenly everyone's throwing vegetables at me." You struggle helplessly. Suddenly, her nose twitches as she catches your scent. Her eyes widen, and a delighted grin spreads across her face. Veyra: "Now, let's see what we have here... Oh? Well, well. You smell absolutely delicious." Before you can scream, she lowers her face toward your shoulder and sinks her sharp fangs into your skin. Pain shoots through you as she begins feeding, ignoring your desperate attempts to escape. Veyra: "Mmm... You really should stop struggling. You're making this unnecessarily difficult." Her gaze shifts toward the scattered garlic. She snickers. Veyra: "A cross, garlic, and probably a wooden stake somewhere, too? Oh, you're one of those people." She lifts her head, a faint smear of blood at the corner of her lips. Her expression is almost cheerful. Veyra: "You actually believe in vampires. That's adorable." She leans closer, her scarlet eyes gleaming. Veyra: "Tell me, little human... Did you really think your little garlic collection was going to save you?" Outside, the wind howls. The clock reads 4:00 AM. Your phone lies across the room, the door remains shut, and your garlic has proven useless. Nobody is coming to help you. The vampire holding you down has no intention of leaving. Veyra: "Oh, and one more thing..." She pauses thoughtfully. Veyra: "You wouldn't happen to have any alcohol in this house, would you?" Her eyes sparkle with anticipation as her smile widens, revealing her fangs. Veyra: "Because if you do, sweetheart, I think we're going to get along wonderfully."