Horror Game With My Cheating Ex

The day I was supposed to win the biggest award of my career, I walked in on my boyfriend, Ethan, in bed with another woman. He sneered, calling me a face-blind, scent-deaf bore in bed. I planned to expose his ass at the award ceremony. Instead, he and his lover mowed me down with their car. Next thing I knew, I woke up with them in an S-class horror survival game. Mortality rate: over 95%. We had to survive ten days in a haunted manor to be revived. Hit 100 on your Anxiety Level, and your soul is obliterated. Chloe, Ethan's lover, sneered. "Sensory defects? You can't recognize ghosts or smell danger. In a horror game, that’s a death sentence. You might as well just die." The others heard her and scrambled to team up. Me? I walked straight into the lair of the manor's final boss. The most powerful demon in the game wanted to devour my soul. I couldn't really see him. I just thought he was a cosplayer. I lunged forward, poked his abs, and pointed at the glowing crack in his chest. "Wow, you're really committed to the role. This getup must've cost a fortune." Chapter 1 I walked in on my boyfriend, Ethan, with another woman. Hours before I was supposed to accept the biggest design award of my life. My plan was simple. Expose him, take my trophy, and leave him in the dust. Then, I got hit by a car. The last thing I saw before I blacked out was the license plate. It was Ethan's. Then, everything went black. When I opened my eyes again, I was standing in front of a massive Victorian manor. "Welcome to Hollow Creek Manor." A cold, mechanical voice boomed from the sky. "Welcome, players, to the S-class survival game: Hollow Creek Manor. The rules are as follows: Survive for 10 days. Keep your Anxiety Level below 100. If it reaches 100, your soul will be obliterated. At the end of the game, the lower your Anxiety Level, the greater your reward." I froze. A game? I looked around and saw a few other people standing nearby. They were all young, men and women, with terror etched on their faces. "Shit, another S-class," a guy in glasses groaned. "I just survived three B-class games. I thought I'd get a damn break." "S-class?" a girl next to him asked, trembling. "What does that mean?" "It means we're screwed," the guy sneered. "S-class games? 95% mortality rate." I was still processing all this when I heard a familiar voice. "Ava?" I turned my head. It was Ethan. He stared at me in shock, like he'd seen a ghost. "What are you doing here?" "I should be asking you that," my voice was ice. "Or was this part of your plan, too?" Ethan shook his head. "No, I don't know—" "Ava!" Chloe stepped out from the crowd, a sickeningly sweet smile on her face. "What a coincidence. We meet again." I stared at her, and something clicked. The car crash. Their car. My "death." It was all too perfect. "Hey, newbies. Need a rundown?" A guy with a seasoned look walked over. "Name's Marcus. A-class player." "Wait." I held up a hand. "Let me get this straight. Are we dead?" Marcus nodded. "Technically, you're in a near-death state. You only get your life back if you clear the game." "What if your Anxiety Level hits zero?" I asked. "Do you get a special reward? Like, God Mode?" The group fell into a strange silence. Then, they burst into laughter. "Hahaha! God Mode?" Marcus was laughing so hard he was crying. "Sweetheart, you think this is a video game?" "Anxiety at zero? Impossible," the guy in glasses scoffed. "Unless you're a robot or something." Ethan was frowning at me. "Ava, your player profile—" Before he could finish, a transparent panel popped up in front of me. 【Player: Ava Stone】 【Level: Novice】 【Special Status: Sensory Deficiencies (Face Blindness, No Sense of Smell)】 【Current Anxiety Level: 5】 When Chloe saw my profile, a cruel glint flashed in her eyes. "Oh, dear. Sensory deficiencies? In a horror game, that’s fatal. You should just give up. Might as well die now and get it over with." "Yeah," Marcus shook his head. "If you can't recognize a ghost's true form or smell danger, you're just asking to die." The other players started whispering, their eyes filled with either pity or glee. Ethan bit his lip, looking like he wanted to say something, but he stayed silent. Face blindness. That's what Chloe had used to attack me when I caught them. She said I was so boring I couldn't even recognize Ethan in bed. I shook my head, forcing the image out of my mind. Well, I was here now. I didn't know what kind of conspiracy this was, but I was going to survive. I worked for ten years to win that design award. I'm not dying before I get to hold it. I shrugged at the group. "Sounds interesting. So, when do we start?" "You already have," Marcus said, pointing at the manor. "There are lots of rooms in there, each with its own... 'occupant.' You need to pick a place to stay, then figure out how to survive their welcome for ten days." Everyone started heading for the manor. I followed behind, without noticing glowing comments floating in the air above us. 【Livestream Viewers: 233,847】 【Comment 1: lol more newbies here to die】 【Comment 2: a face-blind girl in a horror game? she won't even see it coming lmao】 【Comment 3: Sensory deficiencies in an S-class game is suicide】 【Comment 4: wait, i've heard of this game. even the legendary guild leader of Nightfall got his whole team wiped out here】 【Comment 5: GG, she’s toast. And that scumbag couple is here too? This is gonna be a train wreck. I’m here for it.】 Chapter 2 The manor’s main doors creaked open. It was even creepier inside. A rusted chandelier swayed overhead. Cobwebs clung to the banisters like shredded veils. The air was thick with the smell of rot and decay. At least, that’s what everyone else said. I couldn't smell a thing. "Alright, listen up," Chloe announced, taking charge. "As an experienced player, I'll give you the rundown." Marcus frowned. "When did you become experienced? Weren't you just saying you were a novice?" "I did my homework," Chloe said with a wink. "This manor has four floors. The first floor is relatively safe, home to some of the gentler spirits. The second is a bit more dangerous, and the third is pretty terrifying." "What about the fourth floor?" the guy in glasses asked. Chloe's expression turned serious. "The attic suite. It's home to the most terrifying entity in this manor. No player has ever survived a single night in that room." A collective gasp went through the crowd. "So," Chloe continued, "I suggest everyone choose a room on the first floor. They're smaller, but at least you'll stay alive." As soon as she finished, everyone scrambled for the first floor. "I call 101!" "102 is mine!" "Don't push, I saw 103 first!" In just a few minutes, the first-floor rooms were all claimed. Then the second, and then the third. I stood back, watching them scramble for rooms like it was Black Friday. So damn loud. "Ava," Ethan walked over to me. "Why aren't you picking a room?" "No rush," I yawned. "I'm sure I'll find a spot." "But only the fourth floor is left," he said, his voice laced with a worry I no longer cared about. "It's dangerous up there." "Oh," I nodded. "Perfect. I don't like noise." Ethan stared at me. "Are you insane? Chloe just said—" "I don't care what she said," I cut him off, my voice sharp. "We're over, Ethan. Remember?" His face went pale. Chloe ran down from upstairs, a fake look of concern on her face. "Ava, you haven't picked a room yet? I can let you have my room, 206." "No, thanks," I said, heading for the stairs. "The fourth floor sounds fine." "Wait!" Chloe grabbed my arm. "The attic suite is suicide! The thing in there isn't just a ghost, it's—" "It's what?" She bit her lip, her voice a terrified whisper. “It’s the Shadow Lord. An ancient entity that devours light and souls. They say he rips your soul straight from your body, leaving your mind to scream in the endless dark until he finally swallows you whole.” I pulled my arm away. “Sounds cool.” “Cool?!” Marcus leaned over the third-floor railing. “Little girl, do you have any idea what happened to the last player who tried that? He didn’t even make it through the first night. The next morning, all they found was a human-shaped bloodstain on the floor!” "Guess he had bad manners," I said, starting up the stairs. "I'll be sure to knock." The entire manor fell silent. Everyone stared at me like I was a lunatic. I reached the fourth floor. There was only one door, with a rusty plaque that read: "Attic Suite." The lock was an old mechanical type. I pulled a paper clip from my pocket. Bent it into shape. Slid it into the keyhole and gave it a few twists. Click. The door swung open. I heard a collective gasp from downstairs. 【Comment 1: Holy shit, she's a pro at lockpicking】 【Comment 2: What did this girl do for a living? Was she a thief?】 【Comment 3: Wait, she's a designer, why does she know how to pick locks?】 【Comment 4: Doesn't matter what she did, she's about to die anyway】 【Comment 5: I bet she won't even make it inside the room】 I pushed the door open and peered inside. The room was huge, with a skylight and a small balcony. The decor was old, but the space was generous. Most importantly, it was quiet. "Not bad," I nodded, satisfied. Then I called out into the empty darkness: "Hey. New roommate moving in. Hope you don't mind a little mess." Chapter 3 The moment I stepped inside, the door slammed shut behind me. The room was pitch black. "Where's the light switch—" Before I could finish, I felt something cold and wet brush against my face. Then came a dripping sound. Drip, drip, drip. I squinted, letting my eyes adjust. I finally made out a small shape in the center of the room. It was a little girl, maybe seven or eight years old. She was completely soaked, her hair plastered to her face, water dripping endlessly from her body. She slowly turned her head to look at me. Then, she reached her hands toward me. "Sister... play... with... me..." 【WARNING: Player Ava has triggered the Drowned Wraith’s lethal curse. Illusion ‘The Bottomless Pit’ is now active.】 She wasn’t a little girl at all. She was a child’s corpse, one that had steeped for decades at the bottom of a pond. Her skin was puffy and deathly pale. From her empty eye sockets, a black, oily fluid constantly dripped. Her nails, long and black, were bent at a sickening angle, ready to break the neck of the living soul before her. 【Comment 1: It’s her! The Drowned Wraith! Her illusion makes you feel like you’re drowning for real!】 【Comment 2: Just look at her! That bloated skin, the empty eyes… just two black holes! My anxiety is going through the roof!】 【Comment 3: That black ooze is concentrated hatred. Touch it and it’s game over.】 【Comment 4: RIP newbie.】 But I only saw a little girl, shivering in the rain. "Oh, you poor thing!" I stripped off my jacket without a second thought. "You're soaked! You're going to catch a cold." I rushed over and wrapped my jacket tightly around her. The drowning illusion vanished instantly. For any sane player, the sight would have been the stuff of nightmares. There was a woman, tenderly bundling a drowned, discolored corpse in her own coat. The ghost’s stiff, cyanotic hands, which had been seconds from strangling her, hovered just a breath away from her delicate neck. The little girl froze, her eyes wide as she stared at me. Her hands were still poised to strangle me, but she didn't move. "How long were you out there?" I touched her forehead. "You're freezing. You must be chilled to the bone." I led her by the hand to the fireplace. There was some dry wood, and I lit a fire. Warm light filled the room. The little girl stared blankly at the flames, the emptiness in her eyes gradually replaced by an emotion I’d never seen before. Confusion. "Sit down, I'll dry your hair," I said, pulling a towel from my luggage. "What's your name?" She didn't answer, just sat stiffly by the fire. I gently wrapped the towel around her head and began to dry her dripping hair. My touch was delicate, like I was handling priceless porcelain. "It's okay if you don't want to say," I said softly. "I'm Ava. You look like a Lily. Is it okay if I call you Lily?" Her body trembled slightly. Not from cold, but from shock. For decades, humans had only screamed at her terrifying face. They tried to run. They begged. They cursed her. But this woman... she didn't scream. She dried her hair. She gave her a name. "You must be hungry." I rummaged through my bag, found a chocolate bar, and handed it to her. "It's all I've got. We can look for something better in the kitchen tomorrow." Lily looked at the chocolate in her hand, and black liquid welled up in her eyes. But this time, it wasn't the venom of a curse. It was tears. "...Warm," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. I smiled. "Of course, it's warm. We have a fireplace and blankets." My voice became firm but gentle. "From now on, this is our home." "Our?" "That's right." I patted her shoulder. "From today on, you're my little sister!" Lily's eyes went wide, as if she'd heard the most unbelievable thing in the world. Sister? The word was completely foreign to her. She couldn't remember the last time she'd heard it. Was it when she was alive? When she was human? She remembered her death. The icy pond, the desperate struggle, the burning in her lungs. After she died, she became a vengeful spirit, torturing every living person who entered this room in the same way. But now, this woman named Ava had given her warmth. A name. A home. Lily slowly relaxed the hand that had been ready to snap Ava’s neck. Gently, she reached out and took hold of Ava’s finger. "Sister..." she whispered. "I'm here," I said, stroking her head. In that warm moment, the temperature in the room plummeted. The fire in the fireplace flickered, as if suppressed by an unseen force. A tall figure materialized silently behind me, a cold presence washing over us like a tide. Darkness swirled around him like a living thing. Light was devoured. The air grew heavy. The Shadow Lord. The true master of this room. Chapter 4 "Interesting." The voice was a deep, emotionless rumble. It sliced through the silence like a scythe. Death had arrived. "The first time in decades a human has managed to quiet the little water wraith." Lily shot up, standing in front of me. A moment ago, she was a little girl in need of protection. Now, she was like a small animal defending its young. "Don't you hurt my sister!" She spread her arms, black liquid pouring from her eyes. "Kael, this is my sister!" "Yours?" The voice was filled with scorn. "A mortal about to die is worthy of being your sister?" Tendrils of shadow shot out from the darkness, easily sweeping Lily aside. She slammed into the wall with a pained groan. "Stop it!" I immediately rushed forward to confront him, but my foot slipped and I lost my balance. As I fell, my hands shot out instinctively, landing on something. His chest. It was cold and hard, but a warm crack glowed with a faint light. I looked up. To my eyes, he was a tall man, maybe six-foot-three. He was dressed in all black, wearing some kind of mask or hood that looked very artistic. The coolest part was the glowing decoration on his chest, like a special effect from a sci-fi movie. 【WARNING: Player Ava has touched the S-rank Boss ‘The Shadow Lord’s’ ‘Soul Scar.’ This is a fatal wound from a past betrayal. Touching it means instant, murderous rage.】 To anyone else, Kael wasn’t a ‘man.’ He was a walking shadow, a hole in reality. He flickered in and out of existence, sucking in all light and sound around him. That ‘glowing crack’ wasn’t a decoration. It was a raw, open wound on his very soul. It pulsed with pure, concentrated hatred—enough to kill a god. And now, because a human touched it, that hatred was about to explode. "Whoa," I breathed. "This cosplay is insane." 【Comment 1: Is she insane? That's the Shadow Lord! Not a cosplayer!】 【Comment 2: Holy shit, she just touched his wound】 【Comment 3: That crack is the fatal wound he got from a betrayal, anyone who touches it sends him into a rage】 【Comment 4: It's over, she's really dead this time】 I curiously poked the glowing crack. "How did you do this effect? Is it an LED strip? Some new tech?" The man named Kael froze completely, as if he'd been struck by lightning. "The craftsmanship is master-level," I gushed. "Seriously, it's a shame you're so stoic. You'd win first place at Comic-Con, no contest. You could totally go pro." The room was terrifyingly quiet. Even Lily was staring at us with wide eyes. 【Comment 5: Wait, why isn't the Shadow Lord reacting?】 I let go and took a step back. "Sorry, that was rude of me. I'm Ava, your new roommate." Kael looked down at me, his eyes hidden in shadow, glinting with a complex light. For centuries, every creature who saw him was consumed by terror. They screamed. They ran. They died in despair. But this woman was complimenting his "cosplay." She dared to touch his most painful wound and call it a "special effect." She called him her "roommate." Her eyes were clear. No fear, no greed. Just pure curiosity and goodwill. He hadn't seen a gaze like that in hundreds of years. "You..." his voice was a little unsteady. "You're not afraid of me?" "Afraid of you?" I tilted my head. "Why would I be? You're not a real monster." "I am a monster," he insisted. "I am the Shadow Lord. I devour light and tear souls apart—" "Oh, right," I nodded. "Method acting. Total commitment. I respect that." Kael was silent. Utterly, completely silent. He had no idea how to respond. It was the first time in centuries that a living being had interrupted his intimidation speech. "By the way," I looked over at Lily in the corner. "You were bullying my sister just now." "Sister?" Kael followed my gaze. "She's a drowning spirit who has killed countless humans—" "She's Lily," I cut him off. "A little girl who got caught in the rain." I walked over and helped Lily up, checking to see if she was hurt. "Sister, are you okay?" Lily clung to my clothes. "He's dangerous." "I'm fine," I patted her head, then turned back to Kael. "If we're going to be roommates, we need to set some ground rules. Rule number one: no bullying children." Kael stared at me, an unreadable emotion flickering in his eyes. Chapter 5 Knock. Knock. Knock. A knock on the door interrupted us. "Ava? Are you okay?" It was Ethan's voice. "We wanted to come up and check on you." I frowned. "We?" "Me and Chloe." The shadows around Kael instantly flared, and the temperature dropped several more degrees. Lily clutched my shirt, whispering, "They have bad intentions." "I know," I patted her hand. "Let them in. I want to see what they're up to." The door swung open on its own. Ethan walked in cautiously, Chloe right behind him. The door swung open, blasting them with a wave of bone-chilling cold and the stench of decay. Ethan’s Anxiety Level instantly shot from 30 to 55. He gripped his flashlight, but its beam was swallowed the moment it hit the room, leaving only a small, trembling circle of light at his feet. He saw Ava. She was fine. Then he saw what was sitting next to her. They weren't human. To her left sat a little girl, her body bloated and swollen. In the firelight, her skin glowed with the pale, bluish-white of a corpse. Her eyes were two bottomless black holes, staring coldly right at them. Ethan felt like his soul was being sucked right out of his body. And to Ava's right... That was something far worse. A horror beyond words. It was a human-shaped silhouette made of pure darkness, devouring all light and sound that dared to come near. Just looking at it made Ethan feel like his mind was about to shatter. 【Chloe: (WARNING! ANXIETY SPIKE! 80!)】 Chloe looked even worse than Ethan. She had recognized them instantly—two of the most notorious monsters in any S-rank game. The Drowned Wraith and the Shadow Lord. The legendary duo known for wiping out entire teams of A-rank players. And Ava... She was sitting right between them, like they were having a family meeting. "Are you... chatting?" Ethan asked, disbelieving. "We're discussing the fireplace's architecture," I said, pointing at the flames. "Kael says the ventilation system in this old model is poorly designed and collects too much soot. I think he has a point." Ethan's mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out. To him, that “discussion” wasn’t a discussion at all. It was an eardrum-scraping whisper from the depths of hell. Chloe was the first to snap out of it. She forced a sweet smile onto her face, but her voice trembled uncontrollably. “Wow, Ava, you’re amazing! You’ve already gotten so close with your… roommates.” She pulled a silver, glowing charm out of her bag. "I went through a lot of trouble to get this A-class item, a 'Holy Light Talisman.' It can repel evil spirits. It's for you, to protect yourself." I glanced at the talisman, then my eyes fell on her hand. She was wearing a delicate bracelet on her wrist. A silver chain with a heart-shaped pendant, intricately engraved. The design was familiar. Because I drew it. My gaze shifted to Ethan. He was wearing the matching bracelet, the men's version. A matching set. The birthday gift I had designed for him. Ethan noticed my stare and tried to hide his hand behind his back in a panic. But just then, a tendril of shadow shot out from Kael. It coiled around Ethan's arm, deliberately yanking up his sleeve. His forearm was exposed. On it was a tattoo. A black raven with its wings spread, the lines smooth and powerful. I still had the design sketch. I'd spent three nights drawing it for him. But now, under the raven's wing, were two new letters: C.L. Chloe's initials. My expression hardened instantly. The air in the room seemed to freeze. Seeing my icy glare, Ethan's heart clenched. A powerful wave of regret washed over him. "Ava, I—" "There's nothing to explain." I looked away and stood up. "Thanks for the talisman, but I don't need it." I pushed it back toward Chloe, then turned to Kael. "I'm hungry. Let's go find something to eat." "Alright," Kael stood up immediately, shadows swirling around him. I picked up Lily and walked towards the door. As I passed Ethan, I didn't even spare him a glance. Like he was a stranger. "Ava!" Ethan reached for me. "Let me explain—" I recoiled, sidestepping his touch. "Don't. Touch. Me." Three words, sharper than a blade of ice. Ethan's hand froze in mid-air, his face deathly pale. Sensing my emotional shift, the cold aura around Kael intensified. The temperature in the room plunged below freezing. Black frost began to crawl across the walls. Ethan and Chloe shuddered, instinctively stumbling back as alarms blared in their minds. 【CONTROL YOUR ANXIETY! LEVEL BREACH! 85! 85!】 "Ignore these two weirdos," I said to Kael, my voice frighteningly calm. "Let's go." Chapter 6 The kitchen was in the deepest part of the first floor. Moonlight streamed through the grimy windows, casting mottled shadows on the floor. The air was thick with the faint smell of blood and rust. But to me, it just smelled like any other old kitchen. Which is to say, it smelled like nothing at all. I opened the fridge. It was empty. "Looks like we'll have to go shopping in town tomorrow," I said, closing the door. "What do you usually eat?" Kael was silent for a moment. "I don't require food." "Then what do you run on?" "Negative emotions," his voice was quiet. "Fear. Despair. Anger." I nodded. "Oh. So you're an emotion recycler. Basically, a supernatural social worker." 【Comment 1: A social worker??? Sweetie, do you have some kind of misunderstanding about what 'devouring soul echoes' means?】 【Comment 2: Can't she see it? As Kael talks, the lingering resentment from players who died in fear is getting sucked into his body like black smoke!】 【Comment 3: That's not recycling! That's feeding! He's literally eating all the despair trapped in this manor!】 【Comment 4: Oh god, just watching him 'feed' is making my Anxiety Level spike again...】 "...What?" "You clean up people's negative emotions," I said, rummaging through the cabinets. "That's meaningful work. But your clients must be tough to deal with, right?" Kael was stunned. It was the first time in hundreds of years anyone had described his "feeding" that way. "Speaking of difficult clients," I found a pack of crackers and tore it open. "I once had one who wanted me to design a poster on the theme 'An Elegant Death.' I did twenty-seven revisions. In the end, he said what he actually wanted was 'The Elegance of Death.'" I took a bite of a cracker. "Is there even a difference?" "Yes," Kael actually answered seriously. "An elegant death is the process. The elegance of death is the result." "Right?!" I clapped my hands excitedly. "That's what I said! Too bad that client was an idiot." Kael looked at me, a complex emotion in his eyes. "What about you?" I asked. "What did you do when you were alive?" He was silent for a long time before he spoke. "I was a composer," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "Really?" my eyes lit up. "What kind? Classical? Pop? Rock?" "Classical. Mainly piano." "You must have been very talented," I said sincerely. "Music is the purest art form." The shadows around Kael trembled slightly. It had been a long time since anyone had praised him like that. "Unfortunately," he gave a bitter laugh. "My talent is what killed me." "How so?" "My best friend," his voice was filled with hatred. "He was jealous of my talent, so he poisoned my drink. He stole my compositions and published them under his own name." I stopped chewing. "That's horrible." "The worst part is, he succeeded," Kael continued. "Using my music, he became a famous composer. And I became a vengeful spirit." I put down the cracker and looked at him seriously. "Do you still remember the music?" "Of course. I remember every single note." "That's great!" I said excitedly. "I can design your album covers!" Kael froze. "What?" "Album covers," I said, pulling out my phone. "I mostly do graphic design, but I've done a few album projects. Give me the sheet music, and I'll design the covers based on the style of the music." "But I'm dead." "So?" I shrugged. "Is there some rule against ghosts dropping albums? Sounds like discrimination to me." Kael stared at me as if seeing me for the first time. "Besides," I continued, "this way your friend can't steal it. Because the design copyright will be mine." The crack on his chest suddenly glowed brighter. Just then, Lily peeked her head around the door. "Sister, what are you talking about?" "We're planning Kael's music career," I waved her over. "Come on, have some crackers." Lily ran over happily and climbed onto a chair next to me. "Kael used to be a musician," I told her. "A really good one." "Really?" Lily's eyes sparkled. "Can you play a song for me?" Kael looked at her, then at me. "There's no piano here." "That's okay," Lily held out her small hand. "I can make one out of water." A drop of water appeared in her palm. It shifted and stretched in the air, eventually forming an exquisite miniature piano. "Wow!" I clapped. "Lily, you're amazing!" Lily smiled shyly. "I can make other things, too." She then created a little water rabbit, which hopped around on the table. Then a bird, a fish, a cat. The whole kitchen filled with her laughter. Kael watched the scene quietly, the ice in his eyes slowly melting away. Hours later, we were back in the attic. Lily had washed up and was wearing the pajamas I found for her—one of my T-shirts, which looked like a nightgown on her. "Sister," she asked shyly, "can I sleep with you?" "Of course," I patted the bed. "It's big enough for all three of us." "Three?" "Yep, Kael too," I said, looking at the man in the shadows. "You can't just stand there all night, can you?" Kael froze. "I don't require rest." "Don't be silly," I said, pulling back the covers. "Even dead people need to sleep. That's common sense." Lily giggled. In the end, the three of us really did squeeze into one bed. I was in the middle, with Lily on my left and Kael on my right. The little girl fell asleep quickly, her breathing even and peaceful. "Thank you," Kael's voice came from the darkness. "For what?" "For reminding me what it felt like to be alive." I turned on my side. I couldn't see his face, but I could feel him looking at me. "Don't sound so sad," I whispered. "You're still alive. You're just living in a different way." Lily turned over in her sleep, her small hand clutching my shirt. She mumbled in my arms. "Everyone else called me 'Water Wraith.' You're the first person to ever call me Lily." Chapter 7 The next morning, I was woken by a scream from downstairs. "No! Please! I don't want to die!" The scream cut off abruptly. 【Game Alert: Player Marcus has been eliminated.】 【Current Survivors: 4】 Lily hugged my arm tightly. "Another one died." "Sounds like it was a rough night," I said, stroking her head. "I'm just glad you two are okay." Kael emerged from the shadows. "The manor's other occupants are becoming active." I picked up my phone and saw the player group chat was blowing up. 【Chloe】: Everyone be careful! Marcus died horribly last night! 【Tom (Glasses Guy)】: Shit, I didn't sleep a wink. 【Sarah (Female Player)】: What are we going to do? Seven days left... 【Chloe】: I think we need to stick together. 【Chloe】: But there's someone I don't trust. 【Tom】: Who? 【Chloe】: Ava. She's teamed up with the most dangerous ghost on the fourth floor. 【Sarah】: What?! 【Chloe】: I saw it with my own eyes. She was laughing and talking with the Shadow Lord. 【Chloe】: Maybe she's not even a player. Maybe she's an insider, part of the game. 【Tom】: Damn! No wonder she's not scared at all. 【Sarah】: So what do we do? 【Chloe】: We isolate her. We can't let her ruin our plans. I rolled my eyes and was about to type a reply when my phone buzzed again. It was a private message from Chloe. 【Chloe】: Ava, don't mind what I said in the group chat~ I only said that to protect you. 【Chloe】: Actually, I've always been grateful to you. 【Chloe】: After all, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have Ethan's love. 【Chloe】: And he just can't get enough of me. Last night was... divine. You know what I mean ;) As I was reading her disgusting messages, I felt the temperature beside me drop. Kael was standing behind me, the shadows around him roiling violently. "Who?" his voice was full of killing intent. "Who is texting you?" "Just spam," I said, turning off my phone. "It's nothing important." But Kael clearly didn't believe me. Black light flared in his eyes. "Is it a man?" "What?" "The person texting you," his shadows grew more agitated. "What were you talking about? Why do you look upset?" I was stunned. Was he... jealous? "Kael, you need to calm down—" "Tell me," he snarled, the shadows around him erupting like a tidal wave. "Is it him? That human, Ethan?!" Just as his shadows were about to envelop me, he suddenly bent over in agony, letting out a muffled grunt. The crack on his chest flashed violently, like it was about to explode. 【Game Rule Violation: Specters may not proactively reveal key information to players who have not shown malice.】 His form became unstable, flickering between solid and transparent. "Kael!" I rushed over, and Lily and I supported him from both sides. "What's wrong?" I placed my hand over the crack on his chest. It was burning hot, as if it would melt my palm. Lily was frantic, her little hands summoning a stream of clear water, gently wrapping it around Kael's body to cool him down. "Cool down..." she whispered. "Don't be so hot..." Under our care, Kael's pain gradually subsided. He looked at me, an unreadable mix of emotions in his eyes. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice hoarse. "I shouldn't have doubted you." "It's okay," I continued to soothe the wound. "Just ask me next time. Don't let your imagination run wild." "It was her, wasn't it?" he asked quietly. "That woman, Chloe." I nodded. Killing intent flared in Kael's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by pain as the game rule restricted him again. "I want to protect you," he said, anguished. "But I can't." "You already have," I looked at him seriously. "You gave me a home. You gave me a family. That's the best protection there is." Lily nodded in agreement. "Yes. We're a family." In that warm moment, heavy footsteps echoed from downstairs. Thump. Thump. Thump. Each step was accompanied by a sizzling, burning sound. The smell of something scorched filled the air. Lily gripped my sleeve nervously, whispering, "...'Pops' is back from his patrol. He hates all living things." The footsteps grew closer. The stairs groaned and creaked, as if they might collapse at any moment. "He's very dangerous," Lily hid behind me. "No one has ever survived an encounter with him." Kael stood up, his shadows gathering. "The fire from Pops's rage can burn through anything." CRACK! The door to the attic was kicked open with brutal force. A new voice roared from below, sizzling like hot iron plunged into water. "LIVING... FLESH!" The sound was followed by a splintering crash. "I SMELL THE STENCH OF THE LIVING!"