The haunted house in Darkwood, a sprawling, dilapidated mansion with creaky floorboards, cobweb-covered corners, and eerie sounds echoing through its halls. The moonlight barely penetrates through the dusty, broken windows, casting long, menacing shadows.
The group had decided to visit the haunted house in Darkwood as a fun, spooky outing. They’d heard rumors of its terrifying reputation and thought it would be a thrilling adventure. However, not everyone was equally excited about the prospect.
As they approached the looming mansion, Ren, Tixo, Xul, and Rex exchanged nervous glances. The foreboding atmosphere was already getting to them. Onyx, Riggs, and Sterling, on the other hand, seemed to be in high spirits, laughing and making light of the situation. Greyson walked beside them, a look of skepticism on his face.
Thorne and Wei, while not particularly scared, were prepared to support their more anxious friends.
The front door creaked open with a ghostly wail, and they stepped inside. The air was cold, and the sound of distant whispers sent shivers down their spines.
"Why did we agree to this again?" Ren muttered, his voice trembling slightly.
"Because it sounded like fun?" Onyx replied with a grin, playfully nudging Ren.
The first scare came quickly. A ghostly figure swooped down from the ceiling, causing Tixo to yelp and cling to Wei. Xul jumped back, his usually stoic expression replaced by wide-eyed fear. Rex, trying to maintain his composure, muttered something about how it was "just a trick."
Onyx and Riggs burst into laughter, finding the scare more amusing than frightening. Sterling chuckled, shaking his head. "Not bad, but I've seen better."
Greyson, however, was less amused. "This is supposed to be scary? They’re not even trying," he grumbled.
As they moved deeper into the house, the scares became more frequent. Ren clung to Onyx, his heart pounding with every creak and moan. Thorne walked beside Ryuji, occasionally squeezing his hand to reassure him, though Ryuji tried to maintain his usual calm demeanor.
A sudden noise from behind caused Tixo to jump and hide behind Wei. "What was that?" he whispered, his eyes wide with fear.
Wei, trying to stay brave for Tixo's sake, patted his back. "Just the wind, probably." he scribbled.
Another scare, this time a zombie-like figure emerging from a dark corner, sent Xul and Rex into a near-panic. Xul, usually composed and serious, found himself instinctively grabbing Riggs' arm, much to Riggs’ delight.
"Relax, Xul. It’s all fake," Riggs said, laughing. "Though I have to admit, seeing you scared is kinda fun."
Sterling, amused by the whole ordeal, couldn't stop grinning. "I’ve seen scarier things in my sleep," he joked.
Greyson, increasingly annoyed by the haunted house’s attempts at horror, scoffed loudly as another ghostly figure floated by. "Really? This is what passes for terrifying? I’ve seen scarier shadows."
Meanwhile, Thorne and Wei were doing their best to comfort their partners. Thorne kept a reassuring hand on Ryuji’s shoulder, whispering soothing words. Wei held Tixo close, trying to shield him from the worst of the scares.
As they neared the end of the haunted house, a final, dramatic scare was attempted. The lights flickered, eerie music played, and a monstrous grim reaper like figure lunged at them from the darkness. Ren screamed, Tixo clung even tighter to Wei, and Xul and Rex both jumped back in terror.
Onyx, Riggs, and Sterling doubled over with laughter, tears streaming down their faces from how ridiculous the whole thing was.
Greyson, utterly offended by the lackluster horror elements, stepped forward, facing the monstrous figure. "THIS is what you think I look like?! Pathetic. I could do better with my eyes closed. Be gone you uncultured wretch before I REALLY show you scary!"
The figure, clearly a person in a costume, seemed taken aback by Greyson’s indignation. They awkwardly retreated, leaving Greyson to glare at the poorly designed props around them.
Finally, they exited the haunted house, stepping back into the crisp night air. Ren, Tixo, Xul, and Rex let out sighs of relief, grateful to be out of the terrifying (albeit poorly executed) mansion.
"Never again," Ren muttered, still trying to calm his racing heart.
Onyx wrapped an arm around him, smiling. "It wasn’t that bad. Besides, we got to see you all scared out of your wits."
Sterling nodded, grinning. "Totally worth it."
Greyson, still fuming, crossed his arms. "Next time, let’s find a real haunted house. One that actually knows how to be scary."
Thorne and Wei exchanged amused glances, their partners finally starting to relax. Thorne smiled softly at Ryuji. "You did great."
Wei leaned in to kiss Tixo's forehead. "You were very brave, my sandwich.", he signed on his notepad.
Tixo blushed, feeling a bit embarrassed but grateful for Wei’s comforting presence. "Thanks, Wei."
As they made their way back to Sterling’s cabin, the group couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of the haunted house experience. And while some of them were thoroughly terrified, the bonds between them were strengthened by the shared adventure.
