GRAVES' TALES PRESENTS: Book 1 Teaser

"GRAVES' TALES PRESENTS"

"BOOK I - T.B.D." In This Game, You Only Get One Life... And It's Yours!

"When Your Dream Game Becomes Your Worst Nightmare"

written by: J. Guy Jr.

This is an early draft of "GRAVES' TALES: BOOK 1 - T.B.D.", a story that is still in development and subject to change. I'm sharing the first five chapters of this work-in-progress to gather feedback from the community.

Your thoughts, opinions, and suggestions will help shape the

direction of the story moving forward.

Let me know what you think in the comments below! Does the concept interest you? Are the characters engaging? What do you want to see next?

Your feedback will go a long way in refining this story and making it

something truly special for the QA community.

We plan on self publishing this story once completed to physical print form

which will be available to everyone Early 2026'...!

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

---

CHAPTER I

// HEADING HOME FROM SCHOOL

The smell of cheap nachos and cherry slushies filled the air as Madison Carter (17) and her younger brother Connor (15) stood in line at Rick’s Quick Mart, the neighborhoods go-to convenience store and fuel stop.

Madison sighed, shifting her car keys between her fingers while Connor absentmindedly scanned the counter. The place hadn’t changed in years, the same buzzing fluorescent lights, the same old arcade machine in the corner that never worked, and Mr. Rick himself, a grumpy guy in his forties, barely paying attention most of the time as he rang up his customers.

That’s when Connor saw it.

A small black and red flyer sitting by the register, propped up between a stack of gum packs and a plastic donation jar.

Obsidian Games

"Play Beyond The Game" -- Now Open!

Ultra-Rare Titles! Exclusive Imports! Cutting-Edge Tech!

Located Just Past The Old Rail Yard | Open 10am - 10pm Mon thru Sat!

Without thinking, Connor grabbed one.

Madison paid for their drinks and turned to see her brother flipping the flyer between his fingers. "What’s that?"

Connor grinned. "A new video game store. Obsidian Games."

Madison gave him a look. "You grabbed a random flyer off the counter? You don’t even know if that place is legit."

Connor shrugged. "Doesn’t matter. It’s a new game shop. That’s rare these days."

She rolled her eyes as they stepped outside into the warm June air. "It’s probably just another Funku Pop resale store."

"Or," Connor countered, wiggling the flyer in her face, "it’s the hidden gem of the century."

"Uh-huh." Madison opened the driver’s side door of her old but reliable sedan, setting her Slushie in the cupholder. "And what makes you think that?"

Connor slid into the passenger seat. "Says right here, ultra-rare titles, exclusives, imports." He leaned back smugly. "That means they’ve got the good stuff."

Madison started the car. "Or they’ve got bootlegs and malware-ridden cartridges."

Connor grinned. "Only one way to find out."

She sighed. "You really wanna check it out?"

"It’s Friday night, school’s officially out for the summer, and they’re open for a few more hours. Why not?"

Madison drummed her fingers on the steering wheel. She wasn’t totally against it, she loved gaming just as much as her brother. They’d spent countless hours battling each other in the living room, grinding through RPGs, and tag-teaming co-op shooters. A new game shop in town was weirdly intriguing.

"Fine," she said, pulling out of the parking lot. "But if it sucks, I get to say ‘I told you so.’"

Connor smirked. "Deal."

// THE DRIVE

Connor slid his fingers across the dashboard, flipping the flyer over again as Madison pulled out of the convenience store parking lot. The sun hung low in the sky, streaking the horizon in shades of orange and purple. Madison drove towards the edge of town, following the directions printed on the back of the flyer.

The road stretched into the outskirts, where abandoned warehouses and rusted train tracks replaced neighborhood streets.

"Y’know, ‘Obsidian Games’ is a weird name. Sounds like some creepy underground store from a horror movie."

Madison smirked. "Says the guy who begged me to drive him there. Why’d you even grab that? We were literally just buying Slushies."

Connor shrugged. "It was instinct. You see a video game flyer, you take it."

Madison scoffed. "That’s how they get you. What if it’s some scam store selling bootleg cartridges with viruses?"

"Then I’d still want to check it out," he said with a grin. "C’mon, a new game shop popping up out of nowhere? That never happens anymore. It’s all digital now."

She sighed, taking a sip of her drink. "Fine. But if we walk in and it’s just Funku Pops and overpriced anime statues, I’m leaving."

Connor held up the flyer. "Says they carry exclusives you can’t find anywhere else."

Madison raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, that doesn’t sound shady at all."

"Hey, worst case? We waste an hour or so. Best case? We find some obscure retro gems, and I get bragging rights for discovering the place first."

She rolled her eyes but smirked. "Oh yes, the legendary Connor’s Bargain Bin Treasures. I’ll be sure to add it to your resume."

He leaned back, grinning. "Damn right you will.... Hey, I live for the thrill of undiscovered gaming treasures."

She shook her head with a laugh. "You do realize that most of the time, those ‘treasures’ are just water-damaged game cases and sketchy repair jobs."

Connor grinned. "And sometimes... they’re once-in-a-lifetime finds."

"Yea, we'll see. Maybe if they have a decent import section, I might actually forgive you for making me drive all the way out here."

Connor raised an eyebrow. "Forgive me? You’re the one who decided we’re going."

"Yeah, but it’s still your fault."

As she flicked on her blinker and turned onto another backroad leading toward the edge of town, the car radio crackled for a split second... just long enough for a distorted voice to whisper something unintelligible before cutting off.

Neither of them noticed.

They drove in silence for a moment. The town’s outskirts were quieter than usual, as Madison noticed the streetlights thinning out, replaced by dark stretches of road.

"Hey Maddie, you think it’s strange? Some game store we’ve never heard of or seen before just pops up at the edge of town? Like, how many times have we driven past the old rail yard heading out of town with mom and dad? There’s nothing out there but warehouses and grave...”

"...That’s weird." Madison frowned at the GPS.

Connor looked over. "What?"

She tapped the screen on her phone. "This place isn’t on the map."

Connor blinked. "Wait, seriously?"

She nodded. "Yeah. No listings, no reviews, no addresses... nothing."

Connor grinned. "Okay, now I’m interested."

Madison sighed and turned onto the dark side road leading toward the shop. "We’re definitely gonna die."

// THE ARRIVAL

The dirt parking lot was empty, except for one vehicle - a dark, window-tinted van parked near the side of the building.

Madison cut the engine. "Welp. This is either a cool hidden gem or how we get kidnapped."

Connor smirked. "We have been looking for a more immersive gaming experience."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't shake the uneasy feeling as they stepped out of the car. The neon sign above the store flickered, half the letters burned out leaving only “SIDIAN GAMES” glowing weakly in the dusk.

The glass door pushed open with a soft chime. Inside, the place was… pristine. Too pristine.

Shelves of games lined the walls, but something about them felt off. No fingerprints. No dust. No sun-faded cases. The smell of plastic and something faintly metallic hung in the air. The fluorescent lights buzzed softly, but they weren’t the usual harsh white, more of a strange, bluish tint, like the glow of an old CRT monitor.

Connor wandered toward a row of titles. His fingers trailed over the spines of the game cases.

He paused.

"...Madison?"

She glanced over. "What?"

Connor pulled a game off the shelf and held it up. The cover art was beautifully detailed, depicting a warrior standing before a storm-wrecked castle. But the title?

"Shadow Bound III"

Madison frowned. "That’s not real."

Connor turned the case over, flipping through the text on the back. "Yeah, it is. Look, it's got publisher logos and everything. Says it came out in ninety four."

Madison grabbed the case, inspecting it. "Connor. There was no Shadow Bound II. Hell, there wasn’t even a Shadow Bound I. This game doesn’t exist."

Before Connor could respond, a voice drifted from the front counter.

"Ahh… you've got a good eye."

They both turned.

Behind the register stood a tall, thin man in a long-sleeved black shirt, his sleeves rolled just enough to reveal faint scars along his forearms. His name tag read "Mr. Graves."

Madison hesitated. "...Did you just open?"

Graves smiled. It didn’t quite reach his eyes.

"Yes," he said smoothly. "And you two are just in time… for something special."

CHAPTER II

// THE PROTOTYPE

A sharp, piercing scream shattered the silence.

Madison and Connor whipped their heads toward the source, a television monitor mounted high in the corner behind the counter, its glow casting an eerie flicker across the store. Somehow, neither of them had noticed it until now, as if their eyes had been guided away from it the moment they walked in.

On the screen, a woman ran through the neon-drenched streets of a cyberpunk city, her breath struggling, her footsteps echoing against the rain-slick pavement. Dark figures, twisted, contorted things with elongated limbs chased after her, their inky bodies distorting like corrupted data.

Connor’s brow raised. "What… what game is this?"

The graphics were unreal. Not in the exaggerated, hyper-detailed way of modern AAA games, but in a way that made Madison's stomach twist. The woman on-screen looked real. Not just photorealistic... real. Her terror wasn’t scripted. Her movements weren’t choreographed. The way she stumbled, the way her hands scraped against the pavement when she fell, it was too raw. Too human.

Connor took a step forward, eyes locked on the screen. "I've never seen anything like this before."

Mr. Graves let out a low chuckle, drawing their attention back to the counter. His fingers tapped lazily against the wood, his expression one of quiet amusement.

"That, my child…" He let the words hang, his voice smooth as polished glass. "...is the very special thing I was speaking about."

Madison swallowed. "What game is that?"

Graves’ smile widened, but his eyes held something else, something watchful.

"A prototype," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "A glimpse into the next era of gaming. More immersive than anything you've ever played. More real than you could ever imagine."

Connor practically pressed himself against the counter, still staring at the screen. "What’s it called? Who made it? When is it coming out?"

Graves let out a quiet laugh. "Oh, it won’t be coming out anywhere... not officially."

Madison tensed. "Meaning?"

Graves leaned forward just slightly, his presence somehow filling the space around them. "This is no ordinary game," he said, his tone conspiratorial. "It was developed in secret… for a console that doesn’t exist, at least, not in the eyes of this world."

Madison shot Connor a wary glance, but her brother was too caught up in the mystery to notice.

Graves lifted a hand, gesturing toward the screen. "What you see before you is a demonstration... a mere taste of what the DMon V.R. is capable of."

Connor blinked. "The what?"

"The DMon V.R." Graves repeated, savoring the name as he spoke it. "A black-market console. A true one-of-a-kind. Unlike anything the gaming industry has ever seen."

Connor looked at Madison, his excitement barely contained. "A black-market console? That’s insane."

Madison folded her arms. "And what exactly makes it so ‘one-of-a-kind’?"

Graves exhaled slowly, his gaze flickering toward the screen for a brief moment before settling back on them.

"Words will not do it justice," he murmured.

He tapped the counter twice, then tilted his head toward the back of the store.

"Lucky for you… I have one set up in the back."

Madison and Connor froze.

The store suddenly felt smaller. Quieter.

Graves' grin never wavered.

"Would you like to see it for yourselves?"

// THE DECISION

Madison and Connor exchanged uneasy glances.

On one hand, every instinct in Madison’s body screamed that this was a bad idea. The way Mr. Graves spoke, the way his words slithered into their minds like a whisper they couldn't quite shake, it felt like a trap, a well-practiced lure designed to ensnare the overly curious.

On the other hand… the DMon V.R., if it was real, was something they had to see.

Connor shifted on his feet, clearly battling with the same internal debate. "This sounds kinda sketchy," he admitted under his breath.

Madison nodded, her arms still folded. "Yeah… but if it’s legit?"

"It can't be," she continued. "Nothing that advanced just exists in secret. If it were real, people would already be talking about it."

Connor chewed on his lip, then glanced at the screen again. The woman was still running, her terrified breathing now drowned out by the pulsating hum of neon lights and sirens in the distance.

"But what if?" he murmured.

That was the question that sealed it.

The doubt. The need to know.

Before either of them could second-guess themselves, Madison sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "Alright. Fine. We’ll look."

Connor exhaled, a mix of relief and excitement crossing his face.

Graves let out a pleased chuckle. "I knew you two were the curious type."

Madison wasn’t sure if that was meant as a compliment or a warning.

With a slow, deliberate movement, Mr. Graves straightened his vest and adjusted the cuffs of his sleeves. "Now then," he said, his voice dropping just slightly. "Before I let you see the DMon V.R. for yourselves, I must ensure everything is in order. These things… require preparation."

He turned toward the back of the store, the air around him almost seeming to shift as he moved.

"You two are welcome to browse while I get things running," he added, his tone light, yet carrying an unmistakable weight. "There are many treasures here. Who knows? You might find something else just as interesting."

With that, he stepped past the counter and toward the rear of the shop.

Hanging in place of a door was a curtain of deep red beads, each strand swaying gently as if caught in a breeze that didn’t exist. As Graves passed through them, they barely made a sound, parting effortlessly before swallowing him into the shadows beyond.

Then, just like that... he was gone.

// WAITING

As soon as Mr. Graves disappeared behind the beaded curtain, Madison and Connor slowly turned to look at one another, their expressions a mix of disbelief and intrigue. The old man’s words still lingered in the air, a black market VR console? A game that could change the world? It all sounded like something straight out of an urban legend.

After a moment of silence, Madison let out a short breath and smirked. "Well… we wanted to check out the store, right?"

Connor nodded, though he was still processing everything. "Yeah, might as well look around while we wait. See what other crazy stuff this guy’s got."

They split up, each choosing an aisle to explore. The store, with its dim lighting and faint scent of old paper and electronics, had an almost otherworldly feel to it. It was the kind of place that seemed lost in time, filled with things that probably shouldn’t exist but somehow did.

Connor ran his fingers along the shelves as he walked, his eyes scanning rows of game cases. But something was strange, none of the titles looked familiar. Not a single one.

He leaned in, picking up a box at random. The artwork was stunning, almost too realistic, but the title, Cyber Divide, meant nothing to him. The next game, Blood Circuit, had a slick cyberpunk aesthetic, but again, it was completely foreign. He had spent years playing and researching games, and yet everything here looked like it came from an alternate timeline.

As he turned the corner into another aisle, something caught his eye.

A game case stood slightly apart from the others, positioned as if it was waiting to be noticed. The moment he laid eyes on it, the cover shifted and moved as if the artwork was alive.

Connor’s breath hitched as he stepped closer. It was like a hologram, but far more advanced. The image didn’t reset or loop like a traditional lenticular print. Instead, it seemed to animate on its own, as if responding to his presence.

He reached out and picked it up.

The title on the cover read "RAID SQUAD" in bold red letters. Below the logo, a group of heavily armed, anthropomorphic ants stood in front of a massive explosion, each one decked out in tactical gear from antenna to toe.

Connor flipped the box over, scanning the text on the back. His stomach dropped.

Platform: GamerStation

Region: North American Exclusive - Unit 1 of 20

His eyes widened. "One of twenty? No way." He had read about ultra-rare, one-of-a-kind games surfacing in private auctions, but to actually find one in a random store? His hands tightened around the box as his mind raced.

He had to show Madison....

Meanwhile, Madison had been aimlessly wandering, her gaze skimming over the endless rows of unfamiliar games. She wasn’t as much of a gaming expert as Connor, but even she could tell none of these titles were normal.

Eventually, she found herself near the back wall, where a tall framed poster hung above the shelves. Something about it made her stop in her tracks.

The image was dark, eerie. and unsettling. It depicted a shadowy figure, mostly obscured in darkness, standing in what looked like an abandoned alley. His face was barely visible, but his eyes… they seemed to look right through her.

Madison felt her breath slow as she stared.

A strange sensation crept over her, like déjà vu mixed with dread. The longer she looked, the more it felt like she knew this image. But she couldn't place where or why.

Then, just as a thought started to form in her mind, she heard footsteps approaching.

Connor rushed up to her, gripping the game case in his hands. "Mad, you gotta see this!"

But Madison didn’t respond. She was still staring at the poster.

Connor followed her gaze, his eyes settling on the image for the first time.

A chill ran down his spine.

"Doesn’t that look a lot like..." Madison began, her tone barely above a whisper.

Before she could finish, Mr. Graves’ voice sliced through the store like a blade.

"See anything that caught your eye?"

Both of them jumped.

Madison jolted slightly, snapping out of her trance as her wide eyes darted toward the counter where the old shopkeeper had reappeared, standing unnervingly still. The beaded curtain swaying gently behind him.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Connor swallowed and tightened his grip on the game box in his hands. He turned back to Madison, who was still trapped in her thought's about the framed poster. "Mad?" he whispered, nudging her elbow.

She blinked a few times, then exhaled sharply, shaking her head as if trying to rid herself of a strange thought.

"Y-Yeah," she muttered, still sounding slightly dazed. "I just… That guy in the poster, he looks exactly like."

Mr. Graves stepped forward, the weight of his presence pulling their attention back to him.

"Ah," he said, a knowing smile creeping onto his lips. "You’ve found some of my special stock, I see."

Connor hesitated before glancing down at the game in his hands. "This says it’s a North American exclusive, unit one of twenty. Is that real?"

Graves’ grin widened. "Oh, quite real, my boy. Rarer than rare. You won’t find that in any online listing or collector’s archive. A game lost to time… yet here it is, waiting for the right person to discover it."

Connor looked at the cover again, feeling a strange sensation in his gut... excitement, sure, but something else too. Something off.

"And you," Graves continued, turning his attention to Madison, "seem to have taken an interest in that poster."

Madison stiffened. "I..." she hesitated, then finally shook her head. "It just looked familiar, that’s all."

Graves folded his hands behind his back, rocking slightly on his heels. "Familiar, you say?" His voice was thick with amusement. "Curious, isn’t it? How some things feel like they shouldn’t exist, yet they do…?"

The store fell eerily silent.

Then, in one fluid motion, Mr. Graves clapped his hands together, breaking the tension. "Well then! It seems you two have quite the eye for the extraordinary." His gaze flickered toward the game in Connor’s hands, then back to them both. "But as fascinating as my collection may be, I did promise you something far more… exclusive."

Connor and Madison exchanged another uneasy glance.

Mr. Graves gestured toward the back of the store, where the red beaded curtain still swayed ever so slightly. Waving his hand in a slow, deliberate motion, gesturing toward the doorway.

"If you’re ready," he said, his voice lowering to a near whisper, "the DMon V.R. awaits."

// THE BACKROOM

Madison and Connor hesitated, exchanging one last look before stepping forward. The beads rustled lightly as they passed through, the soft clinking sound making the moment feel strangely ceremonial.

As they entered, Madison’s gut tightened. Every instinct told her this was not a good idea. Everything about this place felt… off. The way Mr. Graves spoke, the strange poster, the games she had never heard of, something about it all gnawed at the back of her mind. But curiosity, that insatiable human urge to see what lies beyond, kept her moving forward.

Just behind them, Mr. Graves remained at the entrance, standing eerily still, his presence like that of a ride operator at an amusement park waiting to send them off on something they couldn't back out of once it started.

The air inside was thicker, carrying a musty, almost damp scent, like old cardboard mixed with something metal. Dim red lighting from unseen sources cast long, unnatural shadows across the space, making it hard to tell just how big the room actually was.

Lining the walls were rows upon rows of shelves, crammed with all sorts of items, game cases stacked precariously, tangled wires spilling from old boxes, consoles both recognizable and alien in design. Some of the items looked ancient, while others seemed like they came from a future that hadn’t happened yet. There were even things that didn’t look like they belonged to gaming at all, odd trinkets, rusted mechanical parts, and jars filled with something too dark to make out.

But none of that held their attention for long.

Their eyes were drawn to the farthest wall, where a massive projector screen loomed, its blank surface waiting like an unopened portal.

And in front of it.... A ride cart.

The two-seat machine looked like it had been ripped straight from the tracks of a high-end theme park coaster. Sleek, black, and reinforced with metallic plating, it rested on a short platform, looking both futuristic and industrial. The seats had built-in harnesses, and a small control panel was affixed between them. The whole setup looked like something designed for immersion, but at the same time, it didn’t resemble any VR setup Madison or Connor had ever seen before.

And then there was the console.

Sitting atop a polished, piano-black pedestal about four feet high, the machine radiated presence. Its casing was deep black with an underglow of sinister red, pulsing faintly as if it were breathing. Across its surface, illuminated neon-red lettering spelled out:

DMon V.R.

The logo was hypnotic, a sleek, reptilian tail coiling around the letters in an infinite loop, while a set of sharp, menacing eyes hovered just above, staring back at them.

Connor swallowed hard. He wasn’t sure if it was the lighting or his imagination, but for a split second, the eyes on the console seemed to move.

Madison exhaled slowly.

“…Okay, this is definitely not normal.”

Connor nodded, unable to look away from the glowing letters. “No kidding.”

Behind them, Mr. Graves finally stepped forward.

"Beautiful, isn’t it?" His voice carried a strange reverence, like he was speaking about something sacred.

Madison and Connor turned toward him, but he wasn’t looking at them. His gaze was fixed on the console, eyes gleaming with something between admiration and obsession.

Then, with a slow smile, he lifted a hand and gestured toward the seats.

“Well then,” he said, voice smooth as silk. “Shall we begin?”

At that moment Mr. Graves sighed dramatically, shaking his head.

"Ah, what poor timing," he mused, tapping a long, bony finger against the glowing surface of the DMon V.R. console. The neon-red lettering flickered ever so slightly, as if in response to his touch. "It seems the battery is running critically low. Too much recent activity, I’m afraid. This beauty takes a full twenty-four hours to recharge properly."

Connor frowned. "So... we can’t try it?"

Madison let out a small breath of relief, she wasn’t sure she even wanted to try it at this point.

But then, Mr. Graves held up a finger. "Ah, but," he continued smoothly, his lips curling into that ever-present eerie grin, "since I’ve already gone through the trouble of bringing you two back here... I’d hate to disappoint you. There’s just enough life left for a brief preview. A little taste of what awaits you when you return for the full experience.”

Madison and Connor exchanged a glance.

On one hand, the logical part of them knew that every part of this situation was weird. The store. The games. The way Mr. Graves talked about this console, like it was more than just technology. But on the other hand...

How could they not see it for themselves?

Connor swallowed. "Just a preview?"

Mr. Graves nodded once. "A quick glimpse, no more. Enough to see what’s possible." His fingers drummed against the top of the console. "If you like what you see, you can return once it's ready for the full experience."

Madison bit her lip, still unsure. "And nothing… weird is going to happen?"

Mr. Graves chuckled, stepping aside to gesture toward the two-seated rig. "I assure you, my dear, it’s just a game. Nothing more."

That was the least reassuring thing he could have said. But they had already come this far. The DMon V.R. was real. And it was right there in front of them.

Madison exhaled sharply. "Fine."

Connor grinned, placing the "Raid Squad" box on the counter behind him, already stepping toward the ride. "No way we’re passing this up."

The rig itself looked even more surreal up close. Sleek and black with reinforced metal plating, it almost looked like something from a futuristic amusement park ride. The two bucket-style seats were equipped with over-the-shoulder harnesses and a control panel between them. The whole thing had an air of something both advanced and experimental.

Connor climbed in first, gripping the edges of his seat as he settled in. Madison hesitated for just a moment before following, cautiously lowering herself into the other seat. The material was cool against her arms, the whole setup feeling unnervingly secure, like it was made to hold them in place.

As soon as they were both seated, Mr. Graves moved with unsettling precision, stepping forward to press something on the control panel between them. The harnesses snapped down over their shoulders with a smooth mechanical hiss, locking them in.

Madison stiffened. "Okay, that was..."

The screen in front of them suddenly lit up, the red glow intensifying as the DMon V.R. console hummed to life.

Mr. Graves’ grin widened as he stepped back, folding his hands neatly behind his back.

"Now then," he purred.

"Let’s begin."

CHAPTER III

// ANOTHER WORLD

The words slithered from Mr. Graves’ lips, carrying an air of finality, wrapping around Madison and Conner like a spell being cast.

A sharp hiss sounded above them.

Madison and Conner instinctively looked up as the top-mounted pieces of their seat, what they had assumed were just padded headrests, began to descend. Attached to thin mechanical arms running along a nearly invisible track in the ceiling, the devices lowered with deliberate, eerie precision. They weren’t just headrests.

They were helmets... military looking.

Dark and metallic, they looked both old and futuristic, worn yet brimming with technology far beyond anything they had ever seen. Faint red circuitry pulsed across their surfaces, veins of energy running like cracks in a smoldering coal. A subtle scent of burning hair lingered in the air.

"What are those?" Conner asked, shifting uneasily.

Mr. Graves let out a small, knowing chuckle. "Ah, my dear boy, just a set of goggles? A simple screen? No, no, no..." He wagged a finger. "That would never be enough. You see, true immersion isn’t about what you see. It’s about what you feel. What you hear. What you smell.... What you believe."

His voice dropped to a hushed whisper, the dim glow of the neon letters reflecting in his dark eyes.

"The DMon V.R. isn’t just a console. It’s an experience. Something so real, some might even say..." His grin widened. "...it shouldn’t be possible."

Conner and Madison exchanged nervous glances, their skepticism battling with an undeniable curiosity. But curiosity was stronger than caution.

Mr. Graves stepped aside, gesturing toward the helmets still hovering inches above their heads. "And those?" he continued, voice dripping with satisfaction. "They are your front-row ticket to the greatest show that never existed."

Madison hesitated, her hands gripping the armrests of her seat. Every warning signal in her brain screamed at her to walk away. And yet... they had already come this far. They had seen things in this store that defied logic, games that shouldn’t exist, technology that felt decades ahead of its time.

This could be the chance to experience something no one else ever had.

With a deep breath, she reached up, grasped the helmet, and pulled it down over her head.

Conner followed. "Here goes nothing..." he muttered.

The moment the helmets locked into place, a final hiss of air escaped from the back, sealing them in.

And then... Everything vanished.

The cluttered backroom, the dim lighting, the scent of old cardboard, all of it disappeared in an instant.

Madison felt an eerie weightlessness, like she was drifting, not physically, but mentally, her consciousness being pulled somewhere else.

A pulsing red icon appeared in front of her, floating in an infinite sea of black.

She turned her head, or at least she thought she did. There was no weight, no sensation of movement, but beside her, she could see Conner, suspended in the same black void, the red symbol reflected in his wide eyes.

Then, Mr. Graves' voice filled their helmets, louder, clearer than before, like he was inside their heads.

"Ahh, there we go. Just a moment, my friends… Since the battery is low, we won’t be able to access a full game just yet."

The red symbol pulsed faster.

"But don’t worry," he continued, his voice carrying a smooth confidence. "You’ll still get a taste of what the DMon V.R. is truly capable of. A little… preview of the experience."

His words dripped with satisfaction.

Madison didn’t like it. Then the red icon expanded.

Lines of crimson light shot outward, stretching and weaving together with impossible speed, forming shapes, structures, an entire world assembling itself before their eyes.

The black void peeled away, and in its place a city. But not just any city, a paradise.

Golden sunlight bathed the skyline, gleaming against towering skyscrapers that stretched endlessly into a perfect blue sky. The streets were alive with movement, smiling faces, laughter, music drifting through the air. Digital billboards flickered with dazzling advertisements, displaying futuristic technology and impossibly perfect celebrities waving from bright screens.

Confetti rained down from unseen heights, carried on a soft breeze, as if a grand festival was in full swing. Streamers and banners decorated the buildings, and crowds gathered in every direction, their voices merging into a chorus of celebration. A parade marched down the main boulevard, colorful floats, holographic displays, a spectacle unlike anything Madison or Conner had ever seen.

Everything was bright. Beautiful. Perfect.

"Oh, man..." Conner exhaled, turning in place. "This is insane!"

Madison could barely process what she was seeing. Every detail was flawless, from the warmth of the sun on her skin to the distant scent of fresh bread from a bakery stand across the street. She could hear individual voices in the crowd, feel the energy of the festival like she was truly standing in the middle of it.

"This can’t be VR..." she murmured. "Not like we know it."

"And yet, here you are," Mr. Graves' voice hummed in their ears. "This... is just the beginning."

Fireworks erupted in the distance, sparkling colors raining down over a massive central plaza where a grand stage stood, its golden frame reflecting the sunlight. A voice rang out over loudspeakers, welcoming all to the “Greatest Celebration of All Time.”

"A game has never felt like this before," Conner said in awe, his hesitation completely gone. "I mean, this is real. It feels real."

Mr. Graves let out a satisfied chuckle. "It should."

Madison turned, scanning the perfect cityscape, but something gnawed at the back of her mind.

Something about it all felt too perfect.

Every face in the crowd was smiling, every interaction between people effortless, as if scripted to be just right. Even the way the confetti fell seemed... engineered.

Like the whole thing was designed to overwhelm them.

To make them want more.

"This demo level," Mr. Graves continued smoothly, "is only available when the console is in low-power mode. Though it serves a purpose... to show you just a glimpse of what’s possible."

His voice softened, dripping with persuasion.

"But if you want to experience the real thing..." A pause. "You’ll have to come back once the console is fully charged."

Madison felt Conner's hand on her shoulder. She turned to see him grinning. "I don’t know about you, but I’m coming back for sure. This is crazy."

Madison hesitated.

Everything about the world around her screamed perfection.

And that was the problem. Nothing this perfect was ever real.

Before she could voice her doubts, the edges of the world glitched.

Flickered.

For the briefest second, the dazzling cityscape faltered, just a frame, an imperfection, before snapping back into place.

Madison’s stomach twisted.

And then.... Darkness.

The demo ended.

The helmets lifted from their heads with a final hiss, and Madison and Conner were back in the dimly lit backroom of Mr. Graves’ shop, the musty air rushing back into their lungs.

Mr. Graves stood before them, hands folded, a pleased look on his face. "Well?" he asked smoothly. "What do you think?"

Conner let out a breathless laugh. "That was the greatest thing I’ve ever seen."

Mr. Graves’ smile widened.

"Then I’ll be seeing you both again soon."

// SEEING IS BELIEVING

His voice carried a certainty that sent an unwelcome chill crawling up Madison’s spine. The way he said it, it wasn’t a casual remark, not a suggestion, but a fact.

Conner, oblivious to the undercurrent of unease hanging in the air, answered without hesitation, his excitement overpowering any lingering doubts. “Of course!”

Madison turned her head sharply toward him, eyebrows knitting together. Seriously? After everything? Every little warning sign, the strange energy in the shop, the eerie way the console reacted, the unsettling presence of Mr. Graves himself.

All had been pushed aside in favor of Conner’s reckless enthusiasm. He wasn’t even thinking about it.

“So, you said this thing takes twenty-four hours to fully recharge,” Conner continued, leaning slightly forward toward the console. “As in… we could come back tomorrow night?”

Mr. Graves tilted his head slightly, studying him like a predator sizing up prey. Then, ever so slowly, that grin of his stretched wider, revealing just a little too much teeth.

“Well…” he began, drawing the word out, his tone taking on an almost teasing quality. “It would be ready by then, but consider this... the shop will only be open for a few hours that late in the day.” He tapped his fingers rhythmically against the counter, his nails making a faint clicking sound. “And trust me, a few hours will feel like mere minutes once you’re actually playing.”

Madison caught the slight shift in his expression, the way his smile deepened as he watched their

reactions. It was like he was enjoying the suspense, the slow pull of the hook after dangling the bait.

“Might I suggest…” Mr. Graves continued, his voice dipping lower as his grin stretched almost unnaturally wide, creeping toward his ears. “…that we set an appointment for Sunday around noon?”

Conner blinked. “An appointment?” he repeated, his excitement momentarily giving way to curiosity. “Wait a minute, didn’t your flyer say that the shop is closed on Sundays?”

Mr. Graves let out a rich, velvety chuckle, shaking his head in amusement. “Very keen memory you have, son,” he mused, his gaze gleaming with something that made Madison uneasy. “I knew there was something special about the two of you.”

She shifted uncomfortably, the hairs on the back of her neck standing up. There it was again, the way he spoke, like he already knew them. Like he had been waiting for them.

“Yes, to the general public, we are indeed closed,” Mr. Graves admitted with a theatrical sigh. “But you two…” He leaned forward just a little, a strange slight hint of sulfur lingering off his breath. “You are preferred customers.”

"Preferred?" Madison frowned. That wasn’t how businesses worked. You didn’t just decide someone was a preferred customer after knowing them for less than an hour she thought.

But Conner, completely undeterred, was already nodding. “Oh, cool.”

“Besides,” Mr. Graves continued smoothly as he started towards the beaded curtain leading out into the store area, “I was planning on being here anyway, organizing inventory, tidying up a few things behind the counter. I wouldn’t mind the company while I work.”

There was a beat of silence, as Madison and Conner slowly followed him back into the front, the weight of his words settling between them.

Then, with the grace of a seasoned performer, he delivered the final pitch. Again standing tall behind the front counter as if it was his podium.

“So what do you say?” he asked, his voice silky. “I keep my word and show you an experience you’ll never forget… and in return, you keep me company for a little while.” His grin widened once more. “Sounds like a win-win, wouldn’t you agree?”

The way he said it, like the deal was already sealed, like they’d already agreed, made Madison’s nerves twitch.

Conner turned toward her, his face practically glowing with excitement.

“What do you think, sis?” he asked eagerly.

Madison met his gaze. He was so into this. She could see it in the way he was practically bouncing on his heels, the way his hands were fidgeting like he could barely contain himself.

But she wasn’t feeling the same.

Every instinct in her body was telling her to say no. Something wasn’t right about this whole thing. The shop. The console. Him. It was all too… staged. Too perfect.

And yet, if she shut this down now, Conner would never let her hear the end of it. Not exactly how she wanted to start her summer vacation.

She exhaled sharply through her nose.

“…Sure, I guess,” she said, the words tasting bitter as they left her mouth. “Didn’t really have anything planned for Sunday yet.” She shrugged, forcing indifference into her tone. “I guess I could sacrifice a few hours to see what it’s all about.”

Conner whooped, slapping her on the back. “That’s the spirit!”

Mr. Graves exhaled through his nose, something almost akin to satisfaction flashing across his face. “Wonderful,” he purred.

There was something about the way he said it that made Madison’s skin crawl.

“I’ll be expecting you both at noon sharp.” His gaze flickered toward her specifically, as if making sure she clearly heard him.

And for the third time that evening, Madison noticed the certainty in his voice.

// THE APPOINTMENT

Mr. Graves clapped his hands together, the sound sharp and unsettling in the quiet shop.

“Excellent! Then it’s settled.” His grin never faded as he reached beneath the counter and produced a small, leather-bound notebook, flipping it open with deliberate care.

The edges of the pages were yellowed, giving it an ancient, well-worn look, and the binding creaked as he flipped it open. He retrieved a long, black fountain pen from beside the register and scrawled something onto the page. “Sunday at noon. A private session for my preferred customers.”

Mr. Graves extended his hand across the counter, his long fingers curling slightly, waiting for them to shake. Conner gripped it without hesitation.

“Looking forward to it,” he said.

Mr. Graves’ fingers tightened ever so slightly around Conner’s hand. Not painfully, but firm enough that Madison noticed the subtle shift in Conner’s expression, a flicker of surprise, maybe even discomfort.

And then, just as quickly, Mr. Graves let go, his smile never wavering.

Madison hesitated for half a second before offering her own hand, but when he took it, his grip was noticeably lighter. Gentle. Almost… child like.

“I’ll see you both very soon,” he murmured, his voice carrying the same eerie tone that had lingered in every word he’d spoken that night.

Madison swallowed hard. There was something about the way he spoke, something behind his voice that sent another wave of unease rolling through her.

She turned toward the door, eager to leave as Conner followed, practically buzzing with excitement. But just as her fingers grazed the handle.

“But wait!”

Madison and Conner both turned sharply, startled by the sudden urgency in Mr. Graves’ voice.

He stood behind the counter, holding something in his hands, a game box.

Madison’s breath caught in her throat.

It was the game Conner had picked up earlier, the one he’d been admiring before they were led into the back. She hadn’t even noticed Mr. Graves take it. Had he grabbed it when they weren’t looking? Had he taken it on purpose?

“Were you interested in this game?” Mr. Graves asked, his grin creeping back into place as he lifted the box ever so slightly.

Conner’s eyes widened. “Oh wow, I totally forgot about that.” He stepped forward, peering at it with renewed interest. “Uh… yeah, I was kinda curious about it. I noticed there wasn’t a price anywhere on the box. How much is it?”

Mr. Graves made a small, dismissive gesture. “Oh no… I would never deface the artwork of such a classic title like this with tacky stickers, price tags, or markings.”

He turned the box around, presenting the cover as if it were a sacred relic.

“They don’t make ’em like this one anymore,” he mused, running his fingers lightly along the edges.

Then, to Madison’s growing discomfort, he took a slow, deep breath, as if savoring the moment.

“For you, my son…” His dark eyes lifted to Conner’s, twinkling with something unreadable. “…it’s on the house.”

Madison’s stomach twisted again.

“Oh no, sir, we couldn’t accept something like that without paying,” she interjected quickly.

She knew better. Nothing came free.

Conner snapped his head toward her, his expression somewhere between disbelief and annoyed. “Maddie, seriously?”

Mr. Graves, however, chuckled. “But of course you can,” he insisted smoothly. “Consider it a gift.”

Madison clenched her jaw. The way he said that word made it feel heavy.

“I have a feeling,” Mr. Graves continued, his gaze lingering on them both, “that the two of you are going to be long-term customers here at the shop.”

Madison felt her heart skip a beat.

There it was again. That certainty.

He wasn’t hoping they’d come back. He knew they would.

“I consider it an investment,” he added, still holding out the game. “Into our friendship.”

Conner hesitated for only a second before stepping up to the counter. “Are you sure?” he asked, though the excitement in his voice made it clear that he wanted Mr. Graves to say yes.

“Positive,” Mr. Graves assured him, already slipping the game into a small, unmarked black bag. The material crinkled softly as he folded the top neatly, his movements slow and deliberate.

Then, without breaking eye contact, he stretched his arm forward, holding the bag just over the counter.

Madison’s pulse drummed in her ears.

She could feel it, something unspoken in the air.

Conner, reluctant but thrilled, reached out and took the bag.

“Thanks, Mr. Graves,” he said, his voice filled with genuine gratitude.

“Oh, no need to thank me,” Mr. Graves replied, his grin widening.

His gaze flickered to Madison, holding for just a second too long. I’ll be seeing you both… very soon.”

Madison stood frozen, watching the exchange unfold like something out of a dream, or a nightmare.

Conner turned to her, oblivious to the weight pressing down on her chest. “See? Nothing weird. The dude’s just generous.”

Madison wanted to believe that.

But as she finally turned back toward the door, her grip tightening on the handle, she couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever had just happened…

Wasn’t generosity.... It was a transaction.

And they had just accepted it.

// LOST TIME

Without another word, she turned toward the door. The little brass bell above it jingled softly as they stepped outside, and the cool night air hit them like a splash of water.

Madison shuddered. It wasn’t just because of the sudden temperature drop.

Something about all of this felt wrong.

Behind them, the neon “OPEN” sign flickered once, then twice, before steadying again.

And inside, just beyond the glass, Mr. Graves stood watching them leave, his hands folded neatly on the counter, his expression unreadable.

Madison briskly walked toward the car, her mind still reeling from the last few minutes inside the shop. She wanted out of there. She wanted distance.

Behind her, Conner followed, the small black bag swinging back and forth in his hand with an almost carefree rhythm. He still seemed caught up in the excitement of the night, completely unfazed by the uneasy pit that had settled in Madison’s stomach.

She unlocked the doors, flopped into the driver’s seat, and shoved the key into the ignition.

As soon as she turned it...

BZZZZZZZZZT—

A harsh burst of static exploded from the speakers, loud enough to make them both jump.

“What the hell?!” Conner shouted, scrambling to lower the volume while Madison instinctively slapped at the controls. The sound fizzled and cut out, leaving an eerie silence in its place.

Madison’s heart pounded. The radio hadn’t even been on when they got out of the car.

Her eyes flicked down to the glowing display on the dashboard—

9:11 PM.

Her stomach twisted. “There’s no way we were in there that long,” she murmured.

Conner, rubbing his ears, frowned at the clock. “Wait… what?”

They both yanked out their phones at the same time. The screens confirmed it. 9:11 PM.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

“What time was it when we got here?” Madison finally asked, trying to make sense of the impossible gap.

“Couldn’t have been after five,” Conner said slowly, piecing it together. “We left school, hit the Quick Mart, and then came straight here.”

Madison tightened her grip on the wheel, her pulse ticking faster.

Over four hours?

It felt like maybe an hour, at most. Even with how immersive the game had been… four plus hours?

“It must have been playing that game,” Conner said, flipping the bag over in his hands. “Mr. Graves did say time felt like it flew by in there. Maybe he was being serious?”

Madison’s skin prickled.

Or maybe there was more to it than that.

She didn’t answer. She just threw the car in reverse and pulled out of the parking lot, eager to put as much distance between them, the game shop and Mr. Graves as possible.

Conner stretched out in the passenger seat, still staring at his phone. “Mom and Dad are gonna be pissed,” he groaned. “We’re not gonna get home till after ten.”

“Yeah,” Madison muttered, her grip tightening on the wheel. “You might wanna call them. Let them know we’re heading back.”

Conner scoffed. “Why me?”

“Because you’re their precious little baby,” she teased, finally cracking a small smile for what felt like the first time all day.

Conner rolled his eyes but grinned. “Suck up.”

Madison shook her head, her expression fading back into something unreadable as she focused on the road ahead.

She didn’t say it out loud, but one thought gnawed at the back of her mind, refusing to let go....

How the hell did over four hours disappear like that?

And worse.... Why did Mr. Graves seem to know it would?

CHAPTER IV

// THE DRIVE BACK

Conner held his phone to his ear, waiting as the line rang. Madison kept her eyes on the road, gripping the wheel a little tighter as she ran through the night’s events in her head. A beat later, their mom answered, her voice carrying the usual warmth, mixed with just a tinge of suspicion.

“Hey, honey. You two okay?”

“Yeah, we’re good, Mom,” Conner said quickly, adjusting in his seat. “Uh... so, we’re heading home now. Just wanted to let you know why we’re getting back so late.”

Madison didn’t have to see her mom’s face to know that the next thing she’d say would come with a raised eyebrow.

“Oh?”

“Yeah, so…” Conner launched into his story, retelling their afternoon like it was some grand adventure. He started with their usual routine, stopping by the Quick Mart for slushies, then got to the part about the flyer, hyping up how they’d found some hidden game shop out by the rail yard on the far end of town.

He was way too excited about it.

Madison stayed quiet, her thoughts swirling as he went on about the shop, describing all the futuristic and rare gaming stuff inside.

Then came the part about Mr. Graves.

“So, the place is run by this creepy old dude with nasty breath,” Conner continued, leaning into the horror-movie vibe like he was telling a campfire story. “Like, I swear, Mom, straight out of a horror movie. And he’s got these scars, burns or something all up his arms.”

Madison could almost hear their mom stiffen on the other end of the line.

“But come to find out,” Conner added, “he’s actually, like, the coolest old dude I’ve ever met. Still creepy, yeah, but that just makes him cooler.”

Madison glanced at him, lips pressing into a thin line.

Cool?

That wasn’t the word she’d use.

But Conner was still talking, completely oblivious.

“He let us try out some new kind of VR console in the back, and then he even gave me this free game I was checking out...”

Madison barely heard the rest. His voice began to fade into the background as her mind replayed the night’s events like a glitching reel.

The shop itself, the way it felt off from the moment they stepped inside.

The way Mr. Graves had watched them.

The way time had just... disappeared.

And then there was the game.

That game.

Something about the whole thing still felt wrong, like a puzzle with pieces that didn’t quite fit.

Then.

“Maddie, you there?”

Her mom’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts like a slap to the face. She blinked, realizing the car had gone eerily silent, Conner waiting expectantly beside her.

“Yeah, Mom,” she said, shaking off the daze.

“It’s getting late, hon. Make sure you two head straight home.”

“Yeah, were doing that now mom.”

Her mom cut in, “Conner said you stopped by the gas station earlier?”

Madison glanced down at the phone, frowning slightly. “Yeah… right after school, before we went to the game shop. We were just gonna head home until.”

“Well…” her mother’s tone shifted, that unmistakable mom voice creeping in. “Your father is asking if you actually got any gas while you were there.”

Oh, crap.

Madison’s head snapped toward Conner just as he turned to look at her. Their wide-eyed stares locked in mutual realization.

Her grip on the wheel tightened.

Conner let out a slow, guilty “Uuuuummmm…” as Madison finally glanced at the gas gauge.

Less than a quarter tank.

Damn it.

“Do you need gas?” their mom asked, already knowing the answer.

Conner dragged a hand down his face, groaning as he leaned his head back.

Madison sighed, shoulders slumping. “A little…” she muttered.

A pause.

Then, faintly through the speaker, their dad’s voice:

“Told ya, babe.”

Madison rolled her eyes. Conner exhaled through his nose.

“Maddie…” their mom started, her disappointment subtle, but definitely there.

“I know, I know,” Madison groaned.

“Well, stop by Rick’s, fill up, and then come straight home.”

The sigh in both their voices was synchronized when they replied, “Yes, ma’am.”

“Alright. I’ll see you both soon. Be safe.”

“Love you,” they both said, rehearsed and automatic.

“Love you too.” As the call ended.

For a few seconds, neither of them spoke. The only sound was the low purr of the car’s engine and the distant hum of streetlights buzzing against the night.

Then, Conner let out a deep breath and turned toward her, expression deadpan.

“So, what do you think the odds are that you actually get some gas this time?”

Madison shot him a glare.

Conner smirked.

And as she turned onto the road leading to Rick’s Quick Mart, something in the back of her mind still nagged at her.

Something she couldn’t quite shake.

Even after the call, even after the brief moment of normalcy. She still couldn’t get rid of that unsettling feeling.

And somehow, she knew.... This night wasn’t over yet.

// GETTING GAS

The ride was quiet. That kind of heavy silence that only really hits after you’ve had your energy drained by something you can’t quite explain. The kind that fills up the space between two people like fog.

Outside, the dark road stretched on endlessly, only lit by the occasional street lamp and the soft glow of the dashboard. Madison kept her eyes on the road, fingers drumming against the steering wheel in rhythm with her own restless thoughts. Every now and then she’d glance at the gas gauge, as if staring at it could magically make the needle rise.

Conner broke the silence first. Not with words, but by flipping open the cracked plastic case to “Raid Squad.” The manual slid out like a forgotten secret, old and slightly yellowed. It had that strange smell of aged paper mixed with something he couldn't identify. He leaned into the passenger side light, squinting as he turned each page with growing excitement.

“Yo… this thing looks awesome! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a battle royale game like this before, and it was made in the 90s?” His voice lifted with disbelief as he flipped to a page full of stylized character art, gritty, retro illustrations of ant like soldiers, mechs, and cyber-mutants locked in chaotic combat.

Madison glanced over but didn’t respond. Her thoughts were still stuck back at Mr. Graves' shop. Something about that place didn’t sit right. It wasn’t just the eerie vibe or how the lights flickered when they stepped inside... it was the way her stomach knotted up the moment she slipped on the headset. Like her body instinctively knew something was off, even if her brain hadn’t caught up yet.

“Mad, look!” Conner practically shoved the booklet in her direction. “It’s got a whole class system! Look at this guy, ‘Ghost Unit: Vanishes between rounds to recover HP.’ That’s wild.”

Madison blinked and forced a half-smile, trying to focus on the road. “Yeah… cool.”

Undeterred, Conner went on, flipping through the booklet like it held the secrets of the universe. “We have to play this when we get back. If it even plays half as good as it looks? Man…”

As he rambled, the glow of neon crept into view up ahead, the familiar turquoise and pink buzz of the Quick Mart's "Gas & Go" sign flickering like always, buzzing just loud enough to be annoying if you were standing under it.

“Calm down,” Madison finally said, slowing the car and easing into the lot. “We’re here. I pay and you get the change.”

Conner leaned back in his seat, arms folded. “Fine. Hey, can you grab me a root beer while you’re in there?”

Madison shot him a sideways look. “Seriously? We’re not even ten minutes from home. You can’t wait?”

“Wait?” he gasped dramatically. “I’ve been waiting all night. I haven’t had anything to drink since that slushie earlier. I’m running on fumes here, sis.” He tilted his head, giving her the most pitiful look he could manage. “Besides, we don’t have any root beer in the fridge right now, and I’ve been craving one like crazy since we came out of that game.”

Madison narrowed her eyes at him, lips twitching like she wanted to smile but refused to give him the satisfaction. She sighed, popping the door open.

“Fine. But you better actually pay me back this time.”

“You have my word,” Conner said, placing a hand over his heart. “Scout’s honor.”

Conner was already back to flipping through the game booklet like it was sacred scripture as Madison stepped out of the car. The moment the door shut, she felt it, that slight pressure in the air, like something was watching her from just beyond the edge of the parking lot.

She glanced around casually, not wanting to make a thing out of it. Nothing. Just the usual buzzing neon sign overhead, a couple of flickering lamps lining the storefront, and the hum of an old ice machine near the propane cages. Still, the chill that crawled up her neck said otherwise.

She tugged at her hoodie sleeve and walked toward the entrance.

Chime.

The automatic doors opened with a soft hiss, and she stepped into the cold fluorescent wash of the Quick Mart. The familiar smell of hot dogs on endless rotation and lemon cleaner greeted her like it always did, but it didn’t feel the same. Not tonight.

Madison moved to the drink aisle, the glass door cold against her fingers as she reached for the root beer.

Thunk. The door closed with a soft vacuum seal.

That’s when it happened.

For just a split second, in the reflection of the glass, she saw him.

Mr. Graves.

His gaunt face and piercing eyes flashed like a glitch in reality, looking straight at her from behind her own reflection. And then, his voice whispered and weightless, like it came from every aisle at once.

“See you soon.”

Madison jumped back with a gasp, her shoulder slamming into a shelf behind her. The soda slipped from her grip and thudded against the floor, rolling a bit before settling near her foot.

“Shit!” she muttered, heart thudding wildly in her chest. Her eyes shot back to the glass door.

Just her reflection now. Pale and wide-eyed, staring back at her like she didn’t recognize herself. She crouched down, snatched Conner's root beer, and practically power-walked to the counter, her nerves still buzzing.

Mr. Rick stood at the register, his usual poker face on display as he scanned the bottle.

“You alright?” he asked without looking up, clearly catching the look on her face.

“Yeah. Just... dropped the drink. My fault,” Madison replied quickly, eyes flicking around the store, almost expecting to see someone lurking in the back. But again, nothing.

"Can I get the rest on pump three please?" Madison asked kindly pulling out two twenty dollar bill's folded in half from her back pocket.

"Why, of course." As Mr. Rick began pressing the keys on the register, placing the money in the tray, Madison's gaze settled in on something small, but strange.

A stack of flyers. Still there. Still untouched.

Right between the dusty gum packs and the half-filled donation jar, propped up like they had been waiting for her to notice.

'Obsidian Games'

The name practically glowed under the flickering overhead lights. That old style logo with its jagged black diamond, and the slogan underneath it that now felt more like a warning than a motto....

"Play Beyond the Game"

Madison stared at it a second longer than she meant to, something cold pooling in her chest.

The ding of the bell above the door followed her as she walked briskly back to the car, the cool night air doing little to settle the unease still clinging to her skin.

She made her way to the pump, swiping the nozzle from it's holster with a practiced motion. As the fuel started flowing, a sudden sharp sting hit her nose. She paused.

Sulfur.

The unmistakable stench of it. Bitter, burnt, and wrong. Her stomach turned as it immediately pulled her mind back to the backroom of the game store, to him, to that breath that hit her like rot in the lungs when he leaned in too close.

She covered her nose with her sleeve and looked around.

Nothing.

Madison closed her eyes, counted to five, and forced the memory down. When the tank clicked full, she didn’t hesitate to hang the nozzle and hop back into the driver’s seat. Conner already heading towards the store to retrieve the change.

The second she closed the door, the air inside felt thicker. She took a deep breath, trying to ignore it.

Suddenly the distorted voice from earlier came back, faint, fragmented, like a glitch in the airwaves.... then static.

Her hand darted to the radio, spinning the dial, but it was already off.

She froze, hand hovering just above the dash as the passenger door swung open, snapping her attention away. Conner hopped in with a proud grin and a hand full of change.

“Oh, and look!” he said, holding up a small stack of Obsidian Games flyers. “They still had a bunch left on the counter, so I grabbed a few more. I mean, this game looks insane! We gotta spread the word, Maddie. This is like... once-in-a-lifetime stuff.”

Madison just stared at him.

“Seriously?” she finally said, eyes darting between the flyers and his face. “Did you not just hear anything I said earlier?”

Conner blinked, still smiling, but clearly taken aback by her tone. “What? I just thought it’d be cool to...”

PSHHHHHHTTTT!!

His root beer exploded the second he cracked it open. A massive hiss echoed through the car, carbonated foam shooting up like a geyser, splashing across the dashboard, her steering wheel, his shirt, and both their faces.

Both of them froze, wide-eyed, soaked in stickiness.

The silence hung heavy for a moment, broken only by the fizzy bubbling of the bottle still hissing in Conner’s hand.

Madison turned slowly toward him, her eyes half-lidded, jaw twitching as a drop ran from her temple down her cheek. Her breathing was shallow, frustration brewing, mouth slightly agape like she was seconds from snapping.

... but then it hit her.

She never grabbed a new drink. That was the dropped soda.

Her anger twisted suddenly, bubbling up into a half-snort. She bit her lip. Conner looked at her sideways, root beer dripping from his chin.

Then they both lost it.

Laughter erupted from them like a pressure valve blown open. Conner wheezed, slapping his thigh while Madison leaned into the steering wheel, gasping between waves of uncontrollable giggles.

// HEADING HOME

They laughed hard, harder than they had in months, like two kids who knew something was wrong, very wrong, but for just a moment didn’t care.

The laughter faded slowly, tapering off into little hiccups and exasperated sighs.

Madison wiped her face with her sleeve, eyes glistening, not just from soda.

“Guess you really were running on fumes,” she muttered with a chuckle.

Conner grinned back. “Told you. Totally worth it.” As he attempted to drink what was left of his now fizzed and flattened root beer.

She shook her head, the heaviness from earlier still there, but just a little less suffocating now.

"Do you have any towels or rags in the trunk." Conner asked, still chuckling as he flicked a few sticky drops off his hands and glanced down at his damp shirt. “I feel like I just got baptized in soda.”

Madison started the car and reached back for her seat belt. “We’ll just deal with it when we get home,” she said, shifting into gear. “You’ll survive the Great Root Beer Flood of Twenty-Five.”

Madison smirked but didn’t take her eyes off the road as they pulled out of the Quick Mart parking lot, the neon sign shrinking in the rearview mirror.

Streetlights were scarce, giving way to stretches of deep shadow between patches of pale orange glow. The hum of the tires on the asphalt became a comforting backdrop as they finally made their way towards the neighborhood.

Conner sat back, scanning over one of the flyers again with wide-eyed excitement. Somehow, the stack he’d grabbed off the counter, now cradled in his lap, was perfectly dry. Completely unfazed by the soda-soaked chaos.

Madison glanced over, blinking at the pristine papers, untouched by the sticky mess splattered across their seats and clothes.

"How did those not get drenched?" she muttered more to herself than to him, eyes narrowing slightly.

Conner looked down at them too, as if realizing it for the first time, intensely examining the pages. But to his surprise.... nothing. They were completely dry, somehow avoiding everything that came from the sugary explosion just minutes prior.

“Huh… guess I’m just that lucky,” he grinned, shrugging it off still flipping through the stack. Not a wrinkle. Not a stain.

Madison didn’t respond. Her fingers tightened slightly on the steering wheel, her gaze fixed forward as the neon lights of the Quick Mart faded behind them.

Lucky… right.

“I still can’t believe we found this game,” he said. As he reached forward pulling out the Raid Squad game and booklet from the glovebox, where he had stashed it before going into the store.

“Like, what are the odds? The box art alone looks like something from another world, and I still don't understand how this holographic cover works. Could you imagine if their were comics like this. It would be like watching a cartoon, but on the pages!”

Madison nodded absently, her grip still tight on the wheel. Her mind wasn’t on Raid Squad. Not anymore.

The reflection in the glass door…

That whisper in the car.

The sulfur.

Mr. Graves.

It all swirled at the edge of her thoughts, like puzzle pieces that didn’t quite fit, but still felt connected.

“…you okay?” Conner’s voice cut in, soft and slightly cautious.

Madison blinked, realizing she had zoned out. “Yeah. Just tired, that’s all.”

He looked at her for a second longer before nodding, letting it go.

They passed the old church on the corner, its steeple silhouetted against the stars, then the faded billboard that used to advertise fireworks. Their block was just up ahead.

As they rolled to a stop at the last intersection before home, Madison tapped the brake lightly and looked both ways.

A single streetlamp buzzed overhead.

She thought, for just a second, she saw movement near the stop sign. Something tall, thin, and too still. But when she blinked, it was gone. Just an empty street corner and the rustling of leaves.

She shook her head. Probably just a shadow.

The driveway came into view, dimly lit by a faded porch light with a dying buzz, something their dad said he fixed days ago. Madison eased the car into place, the tires crunching over loose gravel as the engine settled into silence with a low, final sigh.

Neither of them moved right away.

Conner broke the quiet first, stretching with a yawn and wiping at the remaining root beer on his arms. “Alright, sticky or not, I need to see what this game is about,” he said with a grin as he grabbed the bag and his precious flyers, tucking them under one arm.

Madison reached for the keys, pausing briefly before pulling them from the ignition. Her eyes lingered on the rearview mirror. The empty street behind them stared back. Still. Quiet. Normal.

She shook off the chill in her spine and stepped out of the car. The smell of wet leaves and summer air wrapped around them, the hum of distant crickets filling the night.

As they made their way toward the front door, the porch light blinked… then died completely, plunging them into momentary darkness.

“Seriously?” Conner groaned. “That’s not ominous at all.”

Madison didn't answer right away. She slid the key into the lock and opened the door, flipping the hallway light on as they stepped inside. The familiar creak of the floorboards greeted them, along with the faint scent of the cinnamon candle their mom always kept by the kitchen window.

The smell of home she thought. Relaxing her shoulders with a sense of safety.

“Straight to the TV?” Conner asked, already making a beeline for the living room.

Madison hesitated at the door, glancing back into the quiet night one last time. The driveway was empty. The car sat still. The air unmoving.

And again, for just a moment, she swore she saw something… a shape, shifting at the far end of the street, right where the streetlamp flickered.

She closed the door firmly and locked it.

CHAPTER V

// HOME SWEET HOME

After Madison locked the front door, she let out a long, quiet breath. The house was dim, cozy, and still, the familiar comfort of home instantly dulling the strange tension that had built up during the ride. She turned and made her way down the hallway, her footsteps soft against the hardwood floor. As she rounded the corner into the living room, her mother’s voice cut through the quiet.

“Why are you all wet and sticky?” she asked, her tone balancing somewhere between confusion and amusement.

Conner stood sheepishly near the coffee table, peeling his shirt away from his chest as it clung from the dried soda. “Root beer. It exploded in the car when we left the gas station.”

“And you didn’t clean it up at the store?” her mother asked, turning her gaze to Madison, who had just entered the room.

Madison calmly shrugged. “Figured it wouldn’t have made much of a difference. Everything was already soaked and we were only a few minutes from home. I’d rather rinse off in our bathroom and clean the car out front in the driveway than deal with it at Rick’s. Plus, it was already getting super late.”

Her mom paused, processing the logic, then gave a reluctant nod. “Alright. Just make sure you two wash up before you touch anything.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Conner mumbled, setting down the black bag that held the Raid Squad game, placing it carefully on the coffee table as if it were something fragile. Without another word, he started toward the stairs to wash off.

Madison’s mom turned to her. “So how bad is the car?”

“Pretty much the whole bottle,” Madison replied, lips twitching as she tried to suppress a grin.

Her mom let out a slow breath through her nose, shoulders slumping with resignation. “Well… it’s too late to deal with it properly tonight. I’m sure it’s all dried up and sticky by now. Just make sure you take care of it first thing in the morning.”

“I will,” Madison nodded quickly.

“I mean it Maddie, no shortcuts,” she added, pointing a stern finger at her. “It’s summer. That’s how you end up with ants, fruit flies… or worse. Once they’re in, you'll never get rid of them.”

“I know,” Madison assured. “I’ll take care of it first thing, promise.”

Her mom studied her for another second, then nodded. “Alright. Now go get cleaned up, and make sure you say goodnight to your father before he heads to bed. He’s got to be out of here early in the morning, and he won’t be back until late.”

“Again?” Madison asked, surprised. “Okay. Is he in the kitchen?”

“Like usual,” her mom said, turning slightly before Madison stopped her.

“Oh! Before I forget, Michelle and Casey are coming by in the morning, just before lunch. We’re just gonna hang out for a bit before Casey has to head to work.”

Her mom turned back around with a raised brow. “On the first day of summer break? And a Saturday? That girl must really enjoy her job.”

Madison chuckled, nodding. “Yeah, she’s actually excited about it. She said the tips have been crazy since they added that new patio space.”

“Well, good for her,” her mom said, walking toward the laundry room. “Just don’t forget about that car in the morning.”

“I won’t,” Madison called out with a smirk.

“And your father was in there making sandwiches, be sure to tell him I said to clean up his mess. I just straightened up in there.”

And with that, Madison turned and headed toward the kitchen, the faint buzz of the refrigerator and low hum of the kitchen radio guiding her in.

Madison stepped into the kitchen, greeted by the comforting sound of the radio softly broadcasting the tail end of the local baseball game. Her dad stood at the counter, pouring a bag of chips onto a paper plate beside two sandwiches already stacked neatly. He looked completely at ease in his plaid pajama pants and old faded t-shirt, casually listening as the announcer's voice faded beneath the distant roar of a crowd.

He looked up with a grin as she walked in. “Whoa, what happened to you?” he said, eyeing her damp clothes and slightly frizzed hair.

Madison let out a sigh, already knowing how this was going to go. “Conner opened a root beer and it basically exploded all over us in the car.”

Her dad snorted. “Sounds like a sticky situation.”

Madison groaned. “Please don’t.”

He chuckled proudly at himself and picked up one of the sandwiches, taking a bite as she made her way over to the sink to rinse her hands. She let the cool water run over her fingers, trying to wash away the syrupy residue. The air still smelled faintly like soda.

“Oh... and the porch light went out when we got home,” she added, glancing over her shoulder. “Thought you just replaced it?”

Her dad furrowed his brow. “I did. Literally like… three days ago.” He paused mid-bite. “Maybe it’s just a bad bulb.”

“Maybe,” Madison mumbled, drying her hands with a dish towel.

Her dad leaned against the counter now, eyeing her more closely. “What was Conner so excited about earlier when he walked in? He sounded like he won the lottery.”

Madison smirked slightly, though the humor was short-lived. “It’s this game shop we found... Obsidian Games. Way out past the train tracks on Hawthorne.”

“That rundown stretch near the old fire tower?” her dad asked, raising a brow.

“Yeah… that one.” Madison paused, picking at her shirt sleeve as she spoke. “It was weird. The place was kind of hidden. We didn’t even notice it until we were right there. The neon sign was half lite, and the inside was spotless. Like, barely a spec of dust anywhere.”

Her dad blinked. “And they’re selling games out of there?”

“Yeah. The guy running it Mr. Graves, he gave us this special release game. Said it was exclusive, only one copy left, and that Conner was meant to find it or something like that.” She shook her head a little, the memory of the old man’s pale skin and sharp eyes creeping back into her mind.

Her dad let out a short breath, brushing crumbs off the counter. “Sounds like one of those gimmicky indie shops, trying to be edgy and mysterious.” He walked over to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. “Anyway, I’m gonna use the big TV in the living room to watch the news for a bit before bed. So if Conner wants to play that game tonight, he’ll have to do it in his room.”

Madison gave a small nod, still lingering by the sink. Her fingers idly twisted the towel as her mind wandered.

Her father turned back around, his voice softer now. “You okay, Maddie?”

She hesitated. Then looked up.

“Something about that guy, Mr. Graves…” she started, voice low. “Ever since we left the shop, I’ve felt… off. Like something’s following me. Watching.”

Her dad set the water down and gave her his full attention.

“What was he like?” he asked calmly.

She considered her words. “Old. Super pale. With dark eyes, almost sickly but with some kind of burns or scars going up both his arms. Thin, weak-looking, but he had this… grip. Like when he shook Conner’s hand. It was firm. Too firm.”

He rubbed his jaw, thinking. “Probably just one of those oddball types. Creepy, maybe, but harmless. Probably gets a kick out of being weird and freaking out teenagers.”

Madison nodded slowly, though the uncertainty still lingered in her eyes. She stepped over and gave her dad a quick hug.

“Don’t forget to clean up before Mom catches you,” she said with a half-smile.

“Yeah, yeah. I’ve got it covered,” he replied, returning the hug with one arm before reaching for the remote resting on the counter.

// GETTING CLEANED UP

Madison left the kitchen, walking over to the coffee table where Conner had dropped the black bag holding the game. She scooped it up and turned toward the stairs.

As she climbed, she finally slipped the game box out of the bag. The packaging was surprisingly sleek, black with streaks of silver and crimson swirling across the front. What really caught her attention though, was the animated holographic effect. Characters shifted and moved in an endless, seamless loop, one leaping across a rooftop, another turning to fire a strange alien weapon as digital debris flared around them.

She’d seen some collector’s editions with motion covers before, but this was… different. Cleaner. More immersive. As if the box wasn’t just showing a looped animation, but a tiny living window into the game's world itself, and the more she stared, the more it seemed like the little characters on the box… noticed her.

Madison was so caught up in the cover, she didn’t hear the footsteps ahead.

As she reached the top of the stairs and turned down the hallway, Conner suddenly stepped out from his room, still towel-drying his hair.

“AAHHH!”

She jumped back with a sharp gasp, dropping both the black bag and the game box. They landed with a dull thump on the carpet between them.

“Whoa! Sorry!” Conner held up his hands, eyes wide.

Madison took a second to breathe, hand clutching her chest.

“You scared the hell out of me!” she said, half-laughing but clearly still rattled.

“I just came to see if you, wait…” Conner looked down at the game box on the floor, the holographic image shimmering faintly in the dim hallway light. “You looked at the cover yet?”

Madison picked it up, holding it for a second longer than she meant to, watching the animation restart from the beginning.

She blinked and shook her head.

“Yeah,” voice quieter. “It’s… something else."

She gave the cover one last look, a subtle chill brushing up her spine, then gently placed the game back into the black bag.

Without saying a word, she extended it out toward Conner.

“Here,” she said, handing it over.

Conner took it with a smirk, gripping the bag like he was being handed a priceless artifact. “Thanks, guardian of the treasure,” he quipped, holding it up dramatically for a moment before slinging it over his shoulder.

Madison just gave a faint, weary smile in return.

Then, with an immediate shift in tone and a sudden stern look forming on her face, Madison narrowed her eyes.

“Wait a minute,” she said, brow furrowed. “You’re already out of the shower?”

Conner shrugged, a bit too casually. “Yeah, how long was I supposed to be? I only really had to clean up the soda mess.”

Madison's face twisted into one of disgusted realization. “And… the rest of the day you had before that. You’re so nasty.”

He laughed as he started past her in the hallway, the towel still hanging around his shoulders. “Hey, at least you’ll get all the hot water. I’m just looking out for you, sis.”

“Such a gentleman,” she muttered, rolling her eyes.

“Oh, and Dad’s downstairs,” she added as he started to walk away. “He said you’ve got to play the game in your room. He’s watching the news tonight in the living room.”

“Yeah, Mom already gave me the heads-up when she brought me some clothes.” He paused and looked back at her. “You want me to wait to start it until you're done?”

Madison shook her head gently. “No, it’s been a long day. I’m just gonna grab something quick to eat and crash. We’ll deal with the car first thing in the morning.”

“Wait a minute... we’ll deal with the car?” Conner asked, raising a brow as he turned slightly toward her at the top of the stairs.

Madison’s expression shifted into something more serious, arms crossing instinctively. “Yeah, we’ll. It was your root beer.”

Conner scoffed, pointing a finger. “Yeah, but I wasn’t the one who shook it up like a can of paint. You gave it to me like that. Wait a sec…” He leaned in a little, narrowing his eyes dramatically. “You set me up for disaster.”

Madison’s lips curled into a sarcastic smirk. “Right, bro. I handed you a soda bomb... while you were sitting right next to me... in my car.”

There was a beat of silence as Conner paused, gaze locked on hers like he was solving a mystery. Then he slowly nodded. “Okay, fair. That’d be a pretty dumb plan.”

“Exactly.”

He gave a shrug, accepting defeat with casual grace, then pivoted to a grin. “You sure you don’t want in on the Raid Squad game? I mean, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime underground find... or so I’ve heard.”

Madison chuckled lightly, shaking her head. “Yeah, I’m good. You enjoy the cursed cartridge or whatever it is.”

“You sure?” Conner asked, the usual energy in his voice now softened with a hint of concern.

She nodded. “I’m sure.”

“Your loss,” he said with a grin as he backed down a step. “Just remember when I’m famous for discovering the next big thing, I offered you a spot.”

“Noted,” Madison replied dryly, already turning toward her room.

“Alright, well… I guess I’ll catch you in the a.m.,” giving her a quick smile before turning and jogging down the stairs, his footsteps fading as he rounded the corner below.

Madison stood still for a moment alone in the hallway, the brief quiet settling in like a blanket. Then she exhaled deeply, letting the breath stretch as if trying to push the weight of the entire day out with it.

She turned and made her way slowly down the hall toward her bedroom, the soft creak of the floorboards under her bare feet accompanying her thoughts.

Thoughts of Mr. Graves, the strange energy of the game shop, and that nagging feeling that something was still just a little... off.

Walking into her room a sense of comfort blanketed her....

Madison gathered her clothes from the foot of her bed, rubbing at her eyes as the weight of the day settled into her bones. The faint thumping of bass and electronic sound effects echoed faintly through the walls. Conner had already started playing Raid Squad. Of course he did.

She pushed her bedroom door closed behind her and padded down the hall toward the bathroom. The deeper she walked into the hallway, the louder the game grew: tiny gunfire, character voices barking orders, the crisp metallic clank of armor. Conner must have had his speakers on full blast.

By the time she stepped inside the bathroom and closed the door, the noise was reduced to a distant background hum. She turned the shower knob, steam filling the room in seconds.

As the warmth rolled over her skin, she let her thoughts slide away, drifting aimlessly through every weird moment of the day.

The flickering porch light.

Mr. Graves’ cold smile.

The sulfur smell.

The time slipping away without explanation.

That moment in the Quick Mart.

Her mind floated in and out of memories until the hot water slowly faded into a lukewarm drizzle, then a gentle chill. She snapped out of her trance with a small gasp.

“Shit,” she muttered and shut off the water.

When she opened the bathroom door, a thick cloud of steam rolled out into the hallway like fog creeping across the ground. She waved at it with her hand, stepping out barefoot onto the carpet.

Behind her, unseen in the shifting fog, the mirror cleared just enough for a face to form in the condensation. Long, gaunt, hollow-eyed. The suggestion of a grin.

But Madison didn’t turn around. She was too focused on toweling off her hair.

“Whoa!” her mom’s voice echoed from the hallway. “You trying to turn the house into a sauna?”

Madison jumped. “Sorry... I guess I wasn’t paying attention.”

Her mother smiled as she approached, leaning her head around the bathroom doorway to peek inside. “Make sure you say goodnight to your father before he goes to bed. And remember, you’re cleaning the car first thing in the morning.”

“I know, Mom,” Madison answered with a small laugh. “I’ll take care of it.”

As Madison stepped past her, her mom suddenly let out a soft startled inhale and flinched back. Madison stopped immediately and spun around.

“What? What happened?”

Her mom blinked at the mirror inside the bathroom, her brows knitting. Then she shook her head, exhaling a half-laugh. “Nothing. I thought I saw something. I’m tired. My eyes are playing tricks on me.”

They both looked back at the mirror. The face was gone, melted and smeared into a vague, muddy smudge of gray streaks.

“It’s been one of those days,” Madison said, hugging her mom quickly.

“Goodnight, baby,” her mom murmured.

“Night.”

Madison jogged down the stairs, poking her head into the living room. Her father was already halfway through a plate of sandwiches and chips, the TV humming with the evening news.

“Night, Dad.”

He waved a sandwich at her. “Night, kiddo. And hey, don’t forget that car in the morning.”

“I won’t,” she promised.

Then she headed upstairs, turning toward Conner’s room. His door was cracked open, blue lights flickering through the gap like lightning from another world.

She knocked lightly.

“Yea, come in!” he shouted over techno music and digital explosions.

She stepped inside. Conner was cross-legged in front of his TV, controller in hand, completely immersed. The Raid Squad title screen art still lay on the bed behind him, looking as pristine as if it were brand new from the factory.

“Hey,” she said. “Just reminding you, we’re getting up early to clean the car. And Michelle and Casey are coming by before lunch.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he muttered, barely hearing her. “Mads... YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS!”

“I’m good,” she started, but he was already talking over her.

“No, seriously, sit down. Just watch this. Watch this part.” His voice rose with genuine disbelief. “It knows my name. Listen.”

As if on cue, the game’s narrator’s voice boomed through the speakers.

“Conner: your squad is awaiting your command.”

Madison froze.

It didn’t sound synthetic.

It didn’t sound like a pre-programmed voice file.

It sounded like a person. Someone Alive. Something aware.

“What… what did it just say?” Madison whispered.

Conner twisted around with a grin that almost hurt his cheeks. “RIGHT?! I told you! This thing is nuts! And it says this came out in the 90s. No way the tech could do this back then!”

Madison watched the screen for a long moment, a knot tightening low in her stomach. It was impressive, beyond impressive. And yet something felt fundamentally wrong about it.

“I’ll try it tomorrow,” she said finally. “After we clean the car.”

Conner rolled his eyes but nodded, turning back to the game instantly as if the world outside no longer existed.

Madison closed his door gently behind her and walked down the hall toward her room, her body aching with exhaustion. All she wanted was sleep. Just a few hours of nothingness.

She slipped inside her room, shut the door, and exhaled.

For the first time all day, the house felt quiet.

Still.

Almost safe.

And yet, as she crawled into bed and pulled the covers up to her chin, a whisper of doubt twisted at the base of her spine. Soft, cold, and familiar:

"See you soon…"

She squeezed her eyes shut, forcing her breath to steady.

Tomorrow was another day.

---

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