A brother's love. Into the dark

Soo Lucky

"Yeah we're friends now"

Max smiled. A friend, huh? His first friend. He had people close to him back in the day, but no one ever called themselves his friend. Not even Princess Elizabeth, the person closest to him who wasn't family, ever declared that she was his friend.

'Yeah... I guess we are now.'

A moment of silence passed before the children emerged from their sleeping quarters.

Max continued his daily routine like he always does. Netami occasionally came and small-talked but nothing much.

When Max was about to go to sleep someone stopped him.

"Didn't you say we were going to the haunted house? Or did you change your mind and didn't tell your friend."

Max seemed surprised. He didn't change his plan, he wanted to go, but he didn't think it meant going at night. They weren't even allowed to leave after dark. After dark.

'We're not allowed to leave at night. You might not know this since you're new.'

"Oh I know...but who is going to know?

Max knew what he was Impling, but it was dangerous. Was he going to risk getting in trouble for a random kid?

...

'Fine but if we get in trouble it's your fault.'

Max's words made the kid happy, and he wasn't embarrassed to show it.

The challenge lies not in the act of sneaking out, but rather in returning within the designated timeframe. The sister conducts checks every three hours to ascertain whether the children are asleep, which significantly limits their available time.

Getting there took half an hour, it was across the city. They needed to explore the house while saving time to return.

The house loomed majestically over the landscape, an imposing structure that reached four stories high and spanned a vast width, as if it were vying for attention among the trees. Its once-bright exterior was now faded, with paint peeling away to reveal the weather-beaten wood beneath. Thick vines of ivy clung to the walls, curling around ornate trim and framing the shattered remnants of windows, which were boarded up like eyes closed to the world. The front yard, once meticulously landscaped, had become a tangle of overgrown weeds and wildflowers, hinting at the neglect that had befallen this once-grand residence. As twilight settled in, the silhouette of the house cast long shadows, making it all the more haunting. How could such a remarkable place, full of potential and history, be left to succumb to the ravages of time and abandonment? What secrets lay hidden within its dusty corridors and empty rooms?

"You know now that we're here I'm kinda intimidated..."

'Im not'

He said while walking towards it.

Max was interested in going in and seeing the reason for it being abandoned.

"Max don't leave me alone, wait for me!"

As they stepped inside, a grand staircase loomed before them, ascending majestically to unknown heights. Two expansive corridors branched off in either direction, each lined with intricate woodwork and softly illuminated by vintage sconces. Behind the staircase was a spacious room that resembled a rustic kitchen, the scent of aged wood and faint spices lingering in the air. Just as Max took a moment to absorb the sights and sounds, the heavy door behind them swung shut with a resonant thud, sealing off their escape.

He sighed.

'Alright, whoever is here, just step out. There's no way I'll believe something this cliché.'

Unlike Max, Netami seems very frightened.

'Is he seriously believing this.'

Max scoffed

'Alright then we'll have to find another way out'

"Y-Yeah, we just have to go look for another exit in a place that's haunted and full of ghosts waiting to eat us."

As Max explored the first floor of the house, he found himself captivated by its magnificence. The spacious rooms revealed a life of luxury, suggesting that the previous owner had been quite rich. Max found himself battling a familiar pang of jealousy. This place felt almost like a smaller replica of the entire Rose residence, filled with intricate decorations that hinted at the purpose of each room. Ornate chandeliers dangled from the ceilings, and the air was thick with a sense of nostalgia.

Yet, a lingering question nagged at him. Why had this beautiful house been left to decay? Surely, if its owner had passed away, his children would have inherited it or it could have easily been sold. The peeling wallpaper and the dust-covered furniture whispered secrets of a once vibrant life, but something felt profoundly wrong. Max couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this story than met the eye.

As they were about to complete a full circle, he noticed something out of the corner of his eye on the stairs. He began breathing heavily and then took cover against the wall.

"Max? What's wrong."

He didn't respond. Instead, he pointed for him to take cover with him.

At long last, the truth dawned on him, the reason this house had been abandoned. A nervous smile crept across Max's face as realization washed over him. Why hadn't he considered this sooner? It all suddenly made perfect sense. The house wasn't haunted by restless spirits, rather, it was overflowing with creatures. Lurking in the shadows and twisting in the corners of his mind. Max felt a shiver run down his spine as he pondered what species these mysterious monsters might belong to, their identities remaining out of reach.

Max turned to Netami, his brow furrowed with concern, and raised a finger to his lips, signaling for silence. Netami's face drained of color, confusion evident in his wide eyes as he struggled to grasp the situation unfolding before them. With a shaky nod, he acknowledged Max's request, his heart racing with anxiety.

Max glanced cautiously around the edge of the crumbling wall, trying to catch a glimpse of the creature that had instilled such dread in him. To his surprise, he came face-to-face with the monster. It seemed that he wasn't the only one who had noticed the other.

'How lucky.'