Chapter 1: Welcome

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His eyes fluttered open, his breath catching in his throat. His mind was a fog of confusion, the only thing he could grasp was his name: Aaron. The cold, metallic walls of an elevator surrounded him, and the flickering lights above cast eerie shadows on the lifeless bodies slumped around him. Aaron could hear his heartbeat pounding in his ears as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.

"What the hell... W-Where am I?"

Before he could process anything further, the lights flickered off, plunging the elevator into total darkness. A low hum reverberated through the metal, and then, without warning, the elevator dropped. Aaron's stomach lurched as he and the other bodies were hurled downward, a scream echoing in his throat as fear gripped him. Then, the elevator came to an abrupt stop, throwing Aaron into silence. His breaths came in ragged gasps as he tried to steady himself. The darkness was thick, oppressive, suffocating. Then, a soft, serene tune began to play as the lights flickered back on, its peaceful melody a stark contrast to the terror they had just experienced.

"Help! Can anyone hear me!?"

Aaron yelled, his voice cracking. There was no response at first, only the haunting melody filling the void. But then, one by one, the others began to stir. Groans and gasps filled the elevator as the unknown people around him woke up, their movements sharp and disoriented.

"Where the hell are we?"

A tall, athletic guy demanded, backing against the elevator wall.

"Who are you? Who are all of you?!"

A girl's voice shrieked from the other side.

"I... I don't remember shit, y'all!"

Another person cried out. Aaron counted seventeen others, each one looking just as confused and terrified as he was. The tune stopped abruptly, and with a soft ding, the elevator doors slid open, revealing a dimly lit hotel lobby. The group of individuals fell silent once again. The walls were lined with ornate wallpaper, and a thick layer of dust covered everything, as if the place had been untouched for years. Aaron stepped forward, glancing back at the others who were hesitating, clearly torn between staying in the elevator or stepping out into the unknown. Aaron finally spoke to them.

"Okay, everyone, let's just stay calm... Something's not right, but we'll figure this out. Just... Stay together."

A man about eighteen years old turned to him, black hair plastered to his sweaty face.

"Where do you think we are?"

His voice was calm... Or calmer than the others. Aaron looked at him, not sure what to say.

"I have no idea..."

The group slowly exited the elevator, stepping into the dusty, eerie lobby. They found a few chairs and collapsed into them, their minds racing with confusion and fear. Aaron decided to take charge.

"Let's start with the basics. Can anyone remember anything? Anything at all?"

Silence hung in the air as everyone looked at each other, desperate for some glimmer of recognition. Aaron continued, trying to set an example.

"I'm Aaron... I... I don't remember anything besides my name."

The group was silent again but finally someone spoke.

"I'm Matt. I don't remember much either. But we can try..."

Matt's demeanor was calm at first, but his eyes were fearful, betraying his outer facade. Next was a nervous-looking guy, his hands shaking slightly.

"I'm Billy. This place... I don't like it."

Ryan, a laid-back guy with a relaxed expression, nodded to Billy.

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