Game On

Chapter Twenty-Seven: House Of Horrors

Sean whirled around, gasping out in complete shock. "He did what in this room?!" The maid locked her soft blue eyes on him but closed the door without answering. Turning to look at Mark, he mumbled out to him uneasily. "He recently died from this room, and we are put here to sleep? What the fuck! What kind of quest is this?" Mark removed his mask, revealing his small smirk before heading over to the window and replying calmly. "It's a game, Sean. It's just the way they want to throw us into a side quest." Sean snorted with disgust, crossing his arms as he muttered out. "I can't sleep here. We're going to get haunted. I can feel it." Mark touched the window frame, absently telling him. "I don't think it will be that bad." Rolling his eyes, Sean snapped out. "The guy threw himself out a window! He's probably turned into some grim ghost. And Mark... If he scares me, I'm done. I don't do scary VR games and I sure as fuck am not doing this!" Mark smiled to himself, then coolly stated. "Good thing he didn't throw himself out then."

Sean blinked, moving quickly toward the window as he said a little surprised. "What? But she said..." Pointing to scratches on the sides of the frame, Mark corrected a little playfully. "Someone pushed him out. That makes him a vengeful ghost, Baby." Sean slowly turned his head to glare at Mark with murderous eyes. Chuckling, Mark inched away from him and the window, saying comfortingly. "Relax. It won't be so bad. Let's just count our blessings. This is better than that murder guild. Right?" Crossing his arms, Sean nodded but couldn't bring himself to say anything. When he turned to face the window, Sean let out a sigh and mumbled out to his reflection. "You know I'm not good at games like this. Murder investigations fine... but hauntings..." Sean was so lost in thought that when Mark's hands touched his shoulders, he flinched. Easing him back against his chest, Mark whispered to him lovingly. "I'll keep you safe. Between your detective skills and my ability to... distract ghosts. We'll be fine."

Shrugging, Sean let himself believe that. Giving him a hug, Mark told him sweetly. "Unequip your gear and come to bed." Reluctantly obeying, Sean slipped into bed with Mark and jumped as a distant church bell let out a deep bellow. Mark placed a hand on Sean's cheek, coaxing him to lie down as he whispered to him. "It's midnight. Come on. Lie down." Easing down reluctantly, Sean snuggled under the covers and got as close to Mark's chest as he could. Seeing the blanket shake from how Sean's wings trembled, Mark draped an arm over him and stroked his warm hand up and down Sean's spine. Watching as Sean's wings eventually stilled. Sean was sleeping peacefully, until something smacked the window. Jerking upright, he looked at the window and saw a black raven sitting on the ledge of the window outside. The raven stared in at him with narrowed eyes that gave him goosebumps. The raven's head then turned to look at the fireplace in the room and unable to help himself, Sean's eyes followed it.

The dark fireplace let out a deep hollow exhale that stirred up the cold ashes inside. Unable to move most of his body, Sean drifted his hand over to grab Mark's shoulder. His heart was starting to race in his chest, and he found he was barely breathing. Suddenly the candle by the window flared to life, spooking the raven off the windowsill. Sean's nails dug into Mark as he stared at the flickering little candle. He wanted to scream but his voice was just gone. The curtain beside the window billows with not a trace of wind in the room. Settling into the shape of a person as if they were just standing behind the curtain. Sean shook Mark's shoulder, causing him to groan a little. The curtain fell back into place like the person had vanished. It's deflation causing the candle to snuff out. Sean's nails dug into Mark's shoulder more. Then without warning. A sudden rumble of thunder, followed by a flash of lightning illuminated a faint glowing man at the foot of the bed.

The man had scratches across his cheek and his clothes were disheveled. The man lifted a hand out toward him and Sean found his voice. Screaming loudly, Sean bolted over Mark and toward the door. Mark yelped as Sean toppled over him, calling out his name with utter confusion. Sean ignored it, simply yelling aloud. "I'M OUT! I WANT OUT!" Racing out the door and down the long hallway, Sean skidded to a halt when he came to a dead end that shouldn't have been there. Weren't there supposed to be stairs? Turning around, he slammed his back against the wall behind him. The hallway he had just come from was gone. Replaced by another dead end with a statue of armor that stood at attention. Taking a deep breath, Sean screamed for Mark, only for his voice to crack at the end. The knight's gauntlet fingers moved on the hilt of his long sword. Sean's chest rose and fell heavily as the knight's body began to softly clink and adjust its fingers on the hilt.