Chapter Two
The night of the meeting was heavy with fog. Blackwood Mansion rose out of the mist like a corpse from the earth, its windows hollow, its gates rusted.
Ethan arrived first. He leaned against his beat-up car, glancing nervously at the towering structure. Soon, headlights cut through the haze—Maya, then Dylan, Sophia, and finally Liam.
Five strangers, standing awkwardly before the gates.
"Anyone know what this is about?" Ethan asked, his voice too casual to be sincere.
"Some kind of contest," Sophia said smoothly. "I imagine we'll find out soon enough."
Dylan grinned. "Bet it's like Squid Game but with less murder. Maybe a rich guy's party. Either way, I'm in."
Maya frowned. "This doesn't feel right."
But the gates creaked open on their own, silencing them all.
They walked in together.
Inside, the mansion was pristine. Chandeliers glowed overhead, the floor gleamed like glass, and the air smelled faintly of lavender. It was as though the house had been waiting for them.
And at the far end of the grand hall stood a figure in a black suit and a porcelain mask. The mask's painted smile never shifted, though the voice behind it was warm and theatrical.
"Welcome, guests." The figure bowed deeply. "I am your Creator You have come seeking fortune, and fortune you shall have. But first—you must play The Game."
Sophia crossed her arms. "And what exactly does this 'game' entail?"
The Creator tilted his head.
"It is simple. You win… or you die."
A silence fell, heavy and suffocating.
Dylan laughed nervously. "Funny. Very Saw. You're joking, right?"
The Creator's mask turned toward him. "Do I sound like I'm joking?"
The chandeliers flickered, and the doors slammed shut behind them.
The Game had begun.