*As night settles in, Retro sits in a balcony chair, engrossed in a book and sipping a drink.*
*The night grows quiet, wind drafts in the air making it the only sound to hear as Atlas and Nexus sleep. Retro sipping on his drink looks up to see someone standing on the edge of the balcony*
(Retro) You know it's not nice to try and scare the elderly.
(??) You look young for someone your age, kid.
(Retro) Flattery will get you nowhere girly. "Softly chuckling as he looks back down to the book"
(??) You dare make-
(Retro) Now, now.. let's not make a scene here. Let alone wake them up, I really don't wanna explain myself to Atlas nor Nexus.
(??) Fine!.. Now what brings you to this village old man…
(Retro) For gear and supplies that is all.. I sensed hostility in this village from when we entered the gate. On top of that there's a wolf-like shadow somewhere.
(??) I see. Wait a wolf-like shadow?
(Retro) Yeah.. atlas mentioned it to me.. and nexus had a bad feeling from before we entered this village. "As he turned a page on the book"
(??) Umm.. I can see what I can do but for now stay out of my way, or you will regret your decision.
(Retro) "Now, kiddo," the ominous voice intones, the speaker's aura expanding menacingly. A palpable bloodlust fills the air. "Don't threaten me with a good time."
*The person takes a step backwards not expecting this amount of pressure from retro*
(??) **Huff** what on, what are you? **Huff**
(Retro) I'm me, myself and I.
*The lady jumps backwards and disappears into the night alleyways as Retro takes a moment to readjust his chair*
(Retro thinking to himself) That was close. I don't know if I can fight in this condition. I'd barely recovered from the explosion the other day.
*Retro looks over to see Nexus getting up*
*As Nexus yawns, retro puts down his book, he gets up and walks over to Nexus. Putting his hand on his head and moving it back and forth*
(Retro) What are you doing up this late kiddo.
(Nexus) Restroom.."sleepyhead noises"
(Retro) Alright, want me to guide you there?
(Nexus) "Sleepyhead noises" I'm a big kid uncle.
(Retro) Well alright nexus, don't forget to light the candle.
(Nexus) Ok… "sleepy still"
*Nexus gets out of bed and walks over to the candle, lights it and walks out the room to use the restroom.*
(Retro) I know you're awake atlas.
"Sitting down on the bed"
(Atlas) What gave me away. (Slightly chuckling)
(Retro) The way you moved when the kiddo got up.
(Atlas) Busted. By the way, Retro what was that bloodlust that you had earlier?
(Retro) Sorry about that I was scaring away birds that were starting to make me mad.
(Atlas) Questionable actions…
(Retro) Really I was-
*As both of them stood up pretty quickly the feeling of something horrible ran down both of them. Retro uses his aura and Atlas uses his shadow sense as both of them realize that Nexus has disappeared and that no one was in the building*
(Retro) Not good!!!
(Atlas) No it's not!!
Nexus p.o.v
(Nexus) Where is this bathroom at…
(Nexus)*I should ask the man at the front desk where it is….*
(Nexus) Excuse me sir but where is the bathroom at?
*Nexus is met with silence from the man who is sitting on a chair motionless in a odd position*
(Nexus) I guess he's sleeping I can just ask one of the cleaners
*Nexus start to head to the cleaner at the end of the hallway he asks the woman where the bathroom was and she points to another building*
(Nexus) Is that the only bathroom, isn't there one here?
*He was only met with silence*
(Nexus) fine then I'll go to the other building
"Nexus headed towards the building indicated by the lady, quickly finding relief in its bathroom facilities. On his way back to the inn, however, he encountered a disturbing sight: a crowd of townsfolk moving with an eerie malevolence, shambling about in a manner that sent chills down his spine."
(Nexus) What's going on here? *He whispers*
*Nexus attempted to wield his magic, only to his dismay finding himself unable to channel anything—the area was ensnared in a powerful anti-magic field.*
(Nexus) What's happening?? Why can't I use my magic?? *Getting more confused*
*As the shadows coalesce, they seize Nexus, dragging him inexorably into the ground. He thrashes desperately, fighting to break free, while onlookers stand frozen in silence*
(Nexus) Help don't just stand there! Help me!! *Struggling to get out*
(Nexus) Why can't I break this hold! what can I do to get out of this" Come on think! What can I do, what would Retro or Atlas do in this situation?
(Nexus) These are shadows that I couldn't sense before my magic started not working. So what are these things waiting at night time and why didn't they come into the building where they could've had caught me earlier?!
(Nexus) Could light be the way to get them off me for a few seconds?
*He finds himself increasingly engulfed by the shadows*
(Nexus) I can't think of anything. HELP! Somebody, anybody help please!!!
Atlas and retro p.o.v
(Retro) Not good, this building is empty atlas, I can't find Nexus Aura anywhere.
(Atlas) Fucking damn it where the hell could he be Retro I should've had kept an eye on him
(Retro) Get out of bed, let's get going.
(Atlas) Alright that's enough mopping let's go find Nexus
*As both Retro and Atlas get out of the room they ran down the hall to the front desk only to see something familiar*
(Retro) Fucking ghouls!!! No Wonder why everything feels so fucking weird!!
(Atlas) Retro are you healed enough to fight?
(Retro) Ghouls are a pain in the ass, but yeah I should be in good enough condition to fight ghouls.
(Atlas) Alright but before we do anything let's remove this anti-magic field that's why Nexus Couldn't get to us for help when he disappeared let's do this quickly
(Atlas) Retro I need you to deal with the anti-magic barrier I have a feeling the person casting it is the boss right I'll deal with saving Nexus
(Retro) Umm. I don't like dealing with ghouls but this anti-magic is gonna take a moment. While I deal with this you find Nexus. I feel a presence outside by the library.
*As Atlas runs to the door he is greeted by a crowd of ghouls.*
(Atlas) What the fuck is this a group of ghouls! this isn't normal behavior for them? They're just walking around as if they're mindless!
Nexus p.o.v
(Nexus) Where am I? I see nothing all around me. I feel nothing around me. After I got swallowed by that shadow thing I don't know where I'm even at.
(??) **Well, well this is surprising to say the least**
*A shadow like figure forms in front of nexus*
"Nexus asked, 'What are you?'
The shadowy figure chuckled. 'I'm you!'
As the figure lunged at Nexus, he woke up gasping for air."
"Nexus muttered, 'Sweating like crazy... Ahh, what was that?' **Huff** **Huff** **argh**
*"Nexus clutched his chest in response to the pain. As his senses returned, he glanced around the room."
(Nexus) Where the hell am I?
Nexus paces around the room, his mind racing. The door is firmly locked, and he can see a keyhole, but the key is nowhere in sight. The walls are adorned with strange trinkets and eerie taxidermy heads, giving the room a macabre atmosphere. The floor is uneven and littered with loose nails and debris. Amidst the clutter, Nexus spots a rebus, its cryptic message standing out. He also notices a hole in the wall, just large enough for him to crawl through and possibly explore the space between the two walls.
While looking around he spots a tiny box.
(Nexus) What's this a box there's a tiny scroll in it….?
The scroll reveals an image of the letter "S" alongside an eye. At the bottom, there are pictures of various animals, while the center features a drawing of the very room Nexus is trapped in. The room's floor is marked with distinctive symbols, and arrows point toward a section of the broken wall, suggesting a hidden path or clue.
(Nexus) Is this a puzzle? an eye and the letter S. What could it mean? An eye means to look, the S could be a word relating to sight.
(Nexus) That's It! *He puts his fist into the palm of his hand* It's search! The First puzzle means to search the room some more mainly the points marked on this map I should check those out first but I need to find the right direction I need to face to read the map though
(Nexus) alright the map has the same layout as the one I see currently so maybe I can see the map from the way it sees the layout?
Nexus approached the crumbling wall, his gaze sweeping across the room. To his left, taxidermy heads mounted in eerie stillness, and to his right, a heavy, locked door. Ahead of him, a wall displayed a series of family portraits: two parents and their three children. The youngest child, a girl with dirty blonde hair, was flanked by a boy with brown hair and an older girl with striking blonde locks. The parents were depicted as well—the father tall with brown hair, and the mother, slender and blonde. The images were partially obscured by a mold-like substance smeared across the walls, adding an unsettling layer to the scene.
(Nexus) Okay I'm at the spot the drawing perspective is at now let check these floorboards I'll go through the broken wall after I finish checking these
As Nexus examines the loose floorboards marked on the drawing, he uncovers a fragment of a key. The piece he finds is both captivating and unsettling: it features an intricate design of a skull entwined with thorny vines. The key itself is a striking blend of silver, gold, and dark, enigmatic metal, casting an eerie glow in the dim light.
(Nexus) Well, I found a piece of the key, and it's unsettling to look at, might I add alright what's next on the rebus, Oh the animals now.
Nexus unrolled a parchment scroll, studying the rebus that depicted a fox, deer, bear, and wolf.
Nexus murmured to himself, "I need to find these animals among the taxidermy heads on the wall."
He approached the wall adorned with a myriad of taxidermy trophies and began inspecting each head. When he moved the fox head aside, he uncovered a hidden code concealed behind it.
Nexus pondered the code he had discovered: a 7 on the fox, a 5 on the deer, a 2 on the bear, and a 9 on the wolf.
Nexus thought aloud, "I need to find where this code fits. I haven't come across any locks or safes yet. Maybe it's time to explore the crawl space."
Determined, Nexus decided to investigate the crawl space, hoping it would reveal the purpose of the mysterious code.
Nexus crawled through the narrow crawl space, his flashlight casting eerie shadows on the walls. As he neared a hole in the wall, he peered through it and saw the unsettling silhouette of a person. The figure was unnaturally still, and as Nexus watched in horror, another person appeared—pale-skinned with bloodshot eyes. The child resembled the middle child from the family photo. Suddenly, the child's head snapped unnaturally toward Nexus, their gaze locking onto him through the hole. Nexus recoiled in shock but steadied himself and continued through the crawl space.
Reaching the end, he found himself in a different wall, its exit obscured by cardboard. He tore through it and emerged into a storage room filled with a putrid stench. Before he could take in his surroundings, the door swung open. A figure rushed in, grabbing Nexus and pulling him into a tight chokehold.
(Nexus) *Fucking damn it I couldn't detect them, my magic isn't working still* Let me go you bastard damn it
Struggling for breath, Nexus lost consciousness as the grip tightened around his neck.
When Nexus regains consciousness, he finds himself restrained at a dinner table. His arms and legs are bound with chains, and he is seated in front of the very family from the photo he had seen earlier. They sit around the table, their faces a mix of cold curiosity and menacing intent. At the far end of the room, an old woman in her 90s, frail and motionless in a wheelchair, observes silently. Her withered form adds an eerie gravity to the scene. The atmosphere is tense, filled with a chilling silence as Nexus struggles to make sense of his dire situation.
(?) Rise and shine, sleepyhead. It's time for supper
(Nexus) Who are you people? Where am I?
(?) Eat it it's good
(,? ) dumb kid wouldn't know good if it hit him *as he throws a plate toward Nexus*
(?) Tommy!
(Tommy) Goddamn, old man not again! The husband picks up Tommy's right hand and with a knife cuts it off
(.?) that kid gots to eat he got to have his supper* he walks towards Nexus and grabs a cooked organ in his hand trying to force Nexus to eat it as he spits it out*
(?)oh shit oh shit oh shit—He's not eating it, Jack! He's not eating it!
(Jack) shut the hell up, Mary!
(Mary) I made that for him!
(Mary) you're a son of a bitch *as she storms off*
(Jack) this was supposed to be a very special feast. come here boy. *as he grabs the knife and points it towards Nexus's mouth he cuts it spewing blood out of his mouth as he tries to ignore the pain this is interrupted when the doorbell rings* God damn it. I bet it's that cop again Goddamn pigs! I'm coming back for you
Nexus, now free from the chair's constraints, finds himself in a cluttered living room. With an old lady seated nearby, he spots newspapers and discovers a drawer containing a slingshot and some rocks. Determined to escape, he heads towards the stairs but finds the garage door locked and obstructed by an unremovable tape.
Nexus redirects to a hallway on his right. As he cautiously moves down the corridor, he sees the husband brandishing a fire axe. The husband's attention shifts away, allowing Nexus to proceed. Nexus carefully searches for a key he needs for a hatch he previously noticed.
Just as he finds the key and begins retracing his steps, the husband catches sight of him. Panic rises as the husband starts to chase, forcing Nexus to sprint down the hallway in a desperate bid for escape.
(Jack) you…better…run…here's…daddy!
As Nexus races down the hallway, Jack violently breaks through the wall, creating a new opening between the room with the hatch and the hallway. With Jack hot on his trail, Nexus swiftly navigates the new path, reaching the hatch and frantically unlocking the chains. He scrambles through the hatch and emerges into a dimly lit tunnel.
Navigating through the tunnel, Nexus eventually reaches the end and climbs out, finding himself in a laundry room. The room is eerily quiet, save for the persistent ringing of a phone. Nexus answers the call, and a new, unfamiliar voice introduces itself, adding another layer of mystery to his desperate escape.
(?) hello can you hear me, kid
(Nexus) yeah I hear you
(Cassie here—I'm the oldest in the family. You need to get out of that house immediately. Also, don't lose the thing on your wrist; it's called a codex.
(Nexus) A codex? *He glances at his wrist, noticing a watch pulsing in sync with his heartbeat. It displays a map of the areas he had explored and changes color based on his injuries—currently yellow.*
Nexus exits the laundry room and finds himself back in the hallway. He turns to look at the garage and sees a person standing outside the window. As he focuses, he realizes the person is wearing a cop uniform.
(Nexus) Hey, you have to help me—I'm trapped here!
(?): Where do you live? Are you a resident of this property?
(Nexus) No, I was kidnapped, and now I'm being hunted by this family's crazy husband who's trying to kill me. Please, just give me your pocket knife!
"Alright, what for?" The officer asked, curiosity in his voice.
"I need it to open the garage doors to get out of here," Nexus said back.
"Okay, I'll meet you in the garage," he said, handing over the pocket knife.
Nexus quickly headed down the stairs and into the garage. Once there, he found the police officer waiting. With a swift motion, the officer turned on the electric door, allowing them access to the garage.
(Nexus) We have to get the hell outta here
(?) Now first you need to tell me what you're doing out here alone in the middle of the night?
(Nexus) Me what about you?
(?) Now it's my job why don't you do your job and tell me? Tell me to answer my questions kid
(Nexus) you're not gonna believe me if I told you
(?) Try me.
As they were talking, the garage door suddenly started lowering.
(?) "Hey, put that door back up. Put that door back up! What are you doing? Wait! Wait!"
Before Nexus could react, Jack appeared behind the officer and split his head in two with a shovel. Jack then started pummeling the officer's dead body into the ground.
Nexus "Fucking damn it, I can't get out from here now."
Nexus starts to run across the garage, desperately looking for a way out or a means to fight back. He finds some strange stones and remembers the slingshot he got from the drawer. He quickly loads one of the stones into the slingshot and fires it at Jack's torso. Upon impact, the stone explodes, stunning Jack for a moment.
(Jack) Fuck it I'm gonna kill every one of you!
(Nexus) Eat this, damn it! *As he shoots the next explosive round from his slingshot*
As Nexus prepares his next shot, he notices a ladder in the ceiling next to Jack on his right.
Nexus starts running towards the ladder and uses an explosive round to destroy the chain holding it. The ladder comes down, and he begins climbing. As he climbs, Jack starts to follow. Nexus quickly shoots another explosive round back at Jack, causing him to stumble and fall off the ladder.
Reaching the top, Nexus raises the ladder and uses the tape he took from the power box to attach three explosive rounds to each foot of the ladder. He then drops it onto Jack's body below, resulting in a massive explosion that shakes the house. The force causes Nexus to lose his balance and fall, rendering him unconscious. He wakes up 30 minutes later, lying on the floor.
(Nexus)*waking up* "God, was that a nightmare? No time to stay here. I have to find another way out."
He looks around and finds a strange portrait of an ox without its head. As he picks it up, he notices a screw on the back. He decides to unscrew it and takes the ox statuette with him. Seeing no way out of the room where the ladder leads, he looks behind the shelf the ox statuette was on and moves it, revealing a path leading to a drop. He lands and finds a door with a power box next to it. He presses the button, which opens the door, leading back to the garage. He turns back and sees the stairs he came from to get into the garage.
(Nexus) "Looks like I'm back here again, and with no way out once again."
Nexus makes his way down the hallway and turns left, venturing into a part of the house he had never explored. He finds himself in front of a door with an ox statuette, its head missing. Realizing the ox head needs to be placed onto the body for the door to unlock, Nexus searches for the missing piece. Upon finding and placing the ox head onto the statuette, the door opens, revealing a large central area of the house with a second floor above.
There are two doors: one leading outside and the other into a room containing a heavy book held by a statue. As Nexus enters the room, the phone starts ringing. He picks it up and hears Cassie's voice on the other end.
(Cassie) Did my father give you a hard time?
(Nexus) Yes, but I think he's dead. I checked the room after the explosion, and his body wasn't there.
(Cassie) Dang, kid, you just might be able to pull this off.
(Nexus) Pull what off?
(Cassie) There's something I need you to do, but I can't explain it right now. You might need some special keys for it. For now, just find a way out of the house.
(Nexus) Got it.
(Cassie) I'll be in touch.