The golden hue of morning spilled into the kitchen as Ethan padded softly. His hair was slightly messy from sleep, and his eyes still carried the weight of yesterday's journey.
"Good morning ", he greeted with a warm voice.
"Good morning" replied Liam , his cousin , setting two mugs of coffee on the counter. His shot brown hair was tied back, and she moved around the kitchen with the ease of routine.
As Ethan settled into a chair Liam casually added," By the way , l'm hosting the movie night tonight. My school team's coming over."
Ethan stirred his coffee, hesitating for a moment." Liam... that house across the street. The one I saw last night through the window.... Do you know anything about it?"
Liam paused for the briefest second, then offered a half-smile and shrugged ."Oh, that old thing? Probably nothing.Just a run- down place. Anyway- do you prefer salty or sweet popcorn?"
Ethan blinked.The sudden shift in topic felt deliberate. He nodded slowly, letting it go.... for now
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Evening - The movie Night
The sun dipped behind the building, casting long shadows over the city. Inside Liam's house, laughter bubbled as the team began to arrive.
Ethan stood in the living room, watching as unfamiliar faces poured in, each with their own energy . He'd heard of Liam's school team, but this was first time meet them.
"Ethan ,meets HIMSTORA, "Liam announced with the grid. "It's the weird name of our group don't ask".
Yui,with straight black hair and a calm, observation gase. She barely spoke but seemed to notice everything.
Kaito , lively ,confident ,and kind of guy who jokes without trying too hard.
Aiko, whose quite presence seemed in Ethan himself - thoughtful eyes and an air of quite mystery.
They were strangers, but there was something about them that felt like... They had their own story.
Movie started the light demmed. Pillows wear toassed on the floor, and snacks passed from hand to hand. But Ethan couldn't thinking about shadowy We House across the street.
"Hey...does anyone know about that abandoned house?The one just beyond the window?"
For a moment, silence blanketed the room. Eyes shifted,glances exchanged.
Yui looked down.
Aiko, tilted her head but said nothing.
Even Liam seemed seemed suddenly very busy with the popcorn bowl.
Then , Kaito broke the tension.
"Shall we find out? "He said with a grid .
"Why not? " Let's go check it out tomorrow. Could be fun ."
"Could be cursed" .Yui mumbled under the breath, and kaito elbowed her gentle.
Liam smirked."Don't get too excited. it's just an old place."
But the spark had already been lit
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Night -The quite before the storm
Later that night, the living room had become a sea of blanket and sleepy breath. Everyone had decide to stay over -pillow piles and half open sleeping bags stretch wall to wall.
Ethen lay on the his side, facing the soft glow of hallway.
Across from him, just a short distance away ,Aiko quietly, so wide awake. The others where already asleep, lost in dreams or worn out by popcorn and laughter.
There eyes met.
"Can't sleep?" Ethan whispered.
Aiko shook her head.
He said aap slowly monitoring towards the balcony ."Want to talk out there"? We'll wake everyone here."
Aiko nodded.
The sliding door clicked softly open ,and the two step out into the cold night. The breeze was gentle, and the City lights below flickered like start had fallen to earth.
Behind them, the house slept
But ahead of them.... across the street.... that abandoned house stored silently, waiting.