Rowan slowed his steps as he approached the group.
Not because he wanted to.
Because his survival instincts had grabbed him by the collar and gone, "Yeah… maybe don't sprint toward the nightmare."
In front of the remaining students stood a man in a security uniform.
Calling him "injured" would be generous.
His neck tilted at an angle that screamed this should not be physically possible, one side of his face half-intact while the other looked like it had lost a fight with reality itself.
Beside him sat a large black dog.
It wasn't barking.
It was watching.
Rowan's system flickered immediately.
[Analyzing…]
[Entity: Greed Warden]
[Name: Victor Hale]
[Tier: Specter-Class]
[Affinity: 40 (favorable)]
Rowan raised an eyebrow.
"…Oh, we're on good terms already?" he thought. "Love that for me. No idea why, but I'll take it."
More data followed.
A tragic backstory. Poverty. Kindness repaid. Betrayal. Death.
Now?
Customer service manager in a cursed apartment.
Rowan sighed internally.
Even in death, corporate jobs don't let you go. Respectfully tragic.
A final line appeared.
[Tip: Responds positively to offerings. Strong aversion to betrayal.]
Rowan's fingers brushed his pocket.
Candles. Ghost currency.
He swallowed.
Alright. Time to gamble with imaginary money I don't understand. Fantastic.
He stepped forward.
Victor's gaze snapped to him.
"You're late."
Rowan didn't miss a beat.
He smiled and casually slipped two spirit candles into Victor's hand.
"Minor delay," Rowan said smoothly. "I got… spiritually sidetracked."
Inside?
I HAVE NO CLUE IF THIS IS TOO MUCH OR TOO LITTLE. PLEASE DON'T EAT ME.
Victor paused.
The air tightened.
Then—
[Affinity +40]
Rowan's smile didn't change.
Inside, he screamed.
OH NO. I OVERPAID. I DEFINITELY OVERPAID.
Victor's expression eased slightly.
"Don't let it happen again."
Rowan nodded. "Absolutely. I'll schedule my panic better next time."
Behind him, the other students stared like he had just bribed death.
Which… accurate.
—
Victor turned to the group, voice cold again.
"Listen carefully."
Rowan mentally opened a notes app.
"Three rules. Don't be late. Don't interrupt. Don't betray me."
A pause.
The black dog crunched something behind him.
Rowan stared straight ahead.
We are not looking. We value mental stability.
"Got it," Rowan thought. "Basic workplace etiquette. Just… higher consequences."
Assignments began.
Three students—security.
Three—cleaning.
That left Rowan and two others.
A nervous guy who looked like he apologized to chairs.
And a girl who looked like she'd survive a zombie apocalypse out of sheer stubbornness.
"You three," Victor pointed. "Customer service."
Rowan sighed softly.
"Of course," he muttered. "I escape school just to end up in a worse job."
Victor turned, then paused, pointing toward the ground.
"Cleaning team," he said. "Take care of that."
Rowan didn't look.
He didn't need to.
The girls hesitated.
Victor's aura darkened instantly.
"You refuse?"
Rowan's brain lit up.
Translation: say no = instant death. Noted.
One of the girls snapped into action, dragging the others along.
Crisis barely avoided.
Rowan exhaled slowly.
Yeah… this place runs on technicalities. I need to be careful.
—
The walk to the office was… educational.
Rowan kept his expression neutral.
Inside?
WHY IS THAT HALF GONE. WHY IS THAT STILL WALKING. WHY IS THAT WAVING AT ME—
He nodded politely at a charred figure.
"Networking," he thought. "We are networking. Do not scream."
By the time they reached the office, Rowan had mentally accepted that reality was optional now.
Inside were two… coworkers.
One looked like decomposition had made a lifestyle choice.
The other?
Didn't have a head.
Rowan's system activated again.
[Analyzing…]
[Entity: Decay Spirit]
[Name: Leonard Pike]
[Tier: Mid-Specter]
[Affinity: 10]
[Note: Socially withdrawn. Desires companionship.]
Rowan nodded slightly.
Introvert. Manageable. Respect the space, offer friendship. Got it.
Next.
[Entity: Headless Rider]
[Name: Marcus Vane]
[Tier: Mid-Specter]
[Affinity: -20]
[Note: Competitive. Dislikes being overshadowed. Weakness: restraints.]
Rowan blinked.
…He hates me already? I haven't even done anything yet. Impressive.
Victor clapped Rowan's shoulder.
"This one is good," he said to the others. "Learn from him."
Rowan smiled.
Inside: I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I DID.
As Victor turned to leave, Rowan slipped a small amount of ghost currency into his hand.
Testing.
Experimenting.
Victor paused.
"…Hm."
[Affinity +5]
Rowan's eyes sharpened slightly.
Okay. So candles = big boost. Money = small boost. Noted. This is basically relationship management.
Victor left.
Silence filled the room.
Immediately, Rowan's two human teammates rushed him.
"Rowan—bro—you have to help me," the guy whispered.
"Yeah," the girl added, suddenly very cooperative. "We'll stick with you."
Rowan glanced at them.
Then at the ghosts.
Then back.
"Sure," he said casually. "Rule one: don't panic. Rule two: don't drag me down with you."
He turned away before they could cling harder.
Priorities.
He walked straight to Leonard.
Every instinct screamed don't get closer.
Rowan sat anyway.
"Hey," he said, ignoring the smell that nearly knocked his soul out. "I'm Rowan. New hire."
Leonard didn't look at him.
"…Hi."
Rowan leaned slightly forward.
"I have no idea what I'm doing," he admitted. "But you seem like someone who does."
A pause.
"I could use help."
Another pause.
"…Okay."
Rowan grinned.
"Nice. Also—random question—do you want to be friends?"
Silence.
Then—
Leonard slowly turned.
"…Friends?"
"Yeah," Rowan said easily. "No pressure. Just… not dealing with this place alone."
A long pause.
Then—
[Affinity +90]
Rowan nearly choked.
WHY DID THAT WORK SO WELL—
Leonard's expression softened.
"…I've never had one."
Rowan leaned back.
"Well," he said, "you do now."
Behind him, a wet gurgling sound echoed.
Marcus.
Rowan didn't turn.
Yeah… we'll deal with Mr. Headless Ego later.
Right now?
He had information.
He had a system.
And now—
An ally.
Rowan exhaled slowly, glancing at the desk.
A phone sat there.
Silent.
Waiting.
"…This is going to ring at the worst possible time, isn't it?"
Right on cue—
It rang.
Sharp.
Loud.
Unnatural.
Rowan stared at it.
Then sighed.
"Alright," he muttered, reaching for it.
"Customer service mode."
A beat.
"…Let's see what kind of nightmare is calling."