Leo slowly stood up, gazing heavily at the floating girl. She had blue eyes, short blonde hair that reached her shoulders, and a small cluster of freckles across her nose and cheeks.
Suddenly, another boy appeared from behind a tree. He had spiky black hair and a cautious look.
Upon his arrival, Leo tensed.
"We're harmless," the girl said while descending.
"You're one of us."
"What do you mean, one of us?" Leo asked, still tense.
"You woke up in this world with no memories and things trying to kill you, right?" the spiky-haired boy asked.
He began walking closer.
"If so, you're one of us," he added.
The boy walked over to examine the monster Leo had killed.
"Jeez... bro, what are you?" he said while looking at the creature in disgust.
"What the hell is this place?" Leo asked.
"We're not really sure either," the girl said as she got closer.
"I'm Autumn," she said, holding out her hand.
She lowered it slowly when she saw his bloodied hand.
"Leo."
She forced a small smile.
"And he's Thomas," she added.
"Yo," Thomas said, still examining the monster.
Thomas got up and walked back over to the group.
Once all three were in range, a digital notification board appeared in front of them.
ALL PARTY MEMBERS FOUND - 3 OF 3
"Three of three? This doesn't make any sense," Autumn said.
"What do you mean?" Leo asked.
"I could've sworn it said four."
"Huh?" Leo replied, confused.
"She's right," Thomas said. "When we met, it said 'two of four,' and now it says 'three of three.'"
"Could they have...?" Autumn asked quietly.
"It's possible," Thomas answered.
"Then let's make sure that's not us," Leo said.
The notification disappeared.
"Let's go," Leo said, pointing behind him.
"What? No way, we literally just came from there," Thomas said.
"We explored that side already," Autumn added.
"It's the end of the island," Thomas said.
Leo turned and looked across the gorge.
"Ugh... gotta get across again," he grumbled.
"Yeah, you two are right. I found a path over there."
"Great," Autumn said. She floated up, flew over to Thomas, and lifted him slowly while crossing the gorge.
"HOLY- THAT'S DEEP!" Thomas shouted as he looked down.
"Hey, careful! If I fall, I'll haunt you!"
"Stop being a baby," Autumn said.
After crossing with Thomas, she turned to get Leo-only to see him preparing to jump.
"No-don't!" Autumn shouted.
Leo took a few steps back and leaped.
Both Autumn and Thomas' eyes widened. It looked like he was going to make it-until he started falling.
OOF!
He slammed into the edge of the cliff, barely grabbing hold. The wind was knocked out of him so hard they could hear it.
He tried to pull himself up, but the dirt crumbled. Leo slipped.
Autumn shot downward in a burst of wind, dust blowing into Thomas' face. She caught Leo halfway down the cliff and brought him up.
"You're one crazy dude," Thomas said.
"Hey! Quit being so reckless!" Autumn scolded.
"I'm just testing my abilities," Leo said.
After that, Leo led them back along the path. They even passed a small cottage. The sun was finally setting.
"Hey, I think I know why we're here," Thomas said after minutes of silence.
"What?" Leo asked.
Autumn sighed. "We are not in your dream, Thomas."
Leo stopped walking and stared at Thomas.
"Bruh... really?"
"Hey, I'm just joking. Trying to lighten the mood."
"You know what you should lighten?" Leo asked. "Our surroundings."
"You guys don't know how to take a joke," Thomas muttered as a ball of fire appeared in his hand.
After a few minutes, it became pitch-black.
"Hey... is it just me, or is it getting chilly?" Autumn asked, hugging herself.
"Not really," Leo said.
"Hey, I could make it warmer for you," Thomas said with a smirk as his flame grew brighter.
Autumn flinched.
Then a loud crack of lightning. Rain poured instantly, putting out Thomas' flame.
His smile faded fast.
Leo laughed quietly.
The rain got worse. Wind whipped through the trees, lightning striking every few seconds.
"IT'S A STORM!" Autumn shouted.
The three of them ran along the path searching for shelter. A tree ahead exploded as lightning struck it, falling right in front of Leo.
They kept running until they spotted a mansion on a hill. A flash of lightning revealed its dark silhouette.
"LOOK!" Leo shouted over the rain.
They ran up the hill, panting. Autumn banged on the door but got no response.
Thomas cupped his hands.
"HEY! SOMEONE OPEN UP!"
Nothing.
Autumn kept knocking.
"OUT OF THE WAY!" Leo yelled. He stepped back to ram the door-
It flung open, and he crashed inside.
Autumn and Thomas stepped in slowly.
"That's weird," Autumn said.
The door slammed shut behind them.
A tall, pale man with slick black hair stood there, wearing an old-fashioned tuxedo. He smiled unnaturally wide, lips reaching the corners of his face.
"Welcome to the Fuerth residence," he said.
"It's been a while since I've had visitors-oh my, you're all soaking wet."
They looked down at the puddle forming beneath them.
"We're so sorry, sir, we didn't-"
"It's alright," the man said, smiling.
Autumn was cut off.
"O-Okay..." Thomas said nervously.
"You're welcome to stay the night," the man continued.
He led them upstairs and told them to change for dinner.
In Leo's room, he pulled out old-timey clothes.
"Great..." he muttered.
He came downstairs wearing gray shorts, a long-sleeved shirt, and a vest.
Thomas stifled a laugh.
"Now that you're all here," the man said, "why don't we dig in?"
They dug in quickly, starving.
"So, sir... we never caught your name," Autumn said.
"Oh? Name?" The man tapped his chin.
"Alwich. Alwich Fuerth."
"O-Okay..." Autumn said softly.
"So do you live here alone?" Thomas asked.
"Alone? No. I'm never truly alone. You have company... whether you know it or not," Alwich said.
"Uh-company? What do you mean?" Thomas asked.
Alwich's smile didn't move. "You'll find out soon enough."
Autumn froze mid-bite and set her fork down slowly.
Leo stopped poking at his vegetables.
"What the hell does that mean?" Leo asked.
Autumn suddenly stood.
"I'm sorry, but we have to go."
"But it's dark and raining... it's not safe," the man said.
"Yeah, we gotta go," Thomas said quickly, getting up.
"STAY!" the man pleaded.
The trio moved toward the exit.
"Just a few more minutes!" Alwich begged, running behind them-
The door burst open.
A lightning flash revealed a towering humanoid figure. Gray skin. Bald head. Cracks across its face. Glowing yellow eyes.
It was NOT human.
Autumn screamed as the creature stepped inside.
"Leaving so soon?" it asked, voice dripping with malice. Its grin stretched unnaturally wide.
The trio froze.
"I told you all to wait," Alwich said from behind, blocking them in.
Leo clenched his fists.
"I don't know what you guys want-
BUT I'M NOT STAYING HERE!" he shouted, charging.
His fist shot toward the creature-but the monster's face split, two then three versions flickering before his eyes.
It easily deflected the punch and slammed a fist into Leo's gut.
A shockwave rattled the mansion, shattering glass.
Leo fell to his knees, coughing blood. The creature multiplied in his vision. He tried to stay up but collapsed, unconscious.
A surge of electricity shot through Autumn. She screamed and fell.
Thomas stared in horror. Alwich held a small device he'd removed from her wrist.
"YOU BASTARD!" Thomas roared. Flames erupted from his palm as he blasted toward Alwich, slamming him into a cupboard.
He spun and hurled a fireball at the creature's face. The monster roared and swiped him through a wall. Thomas hit the floor hard.
He forced himself to his knees, climbing the stairs.
Halfway up, his vision blurred like Leo's.
He fell backward-right in front of the monster.
The creature crouched down at eye level, grinning.
"Ah... it's finally working on you now. About damn time," it hissed.
Thomas shook his head, trying to focus. The monster's face flickered and split into three again.
Darkness closed in.
End