With Jack locking the door behind me, I had no choice but to crawl through the basement, hunched low. The space was cluttered with junk—dusty from years of neglect. A cat cage, a kid's toy car… an antique-looking coin? Might as well pocket that. Still, something felt off.
"The porch feels cleaner than the house. That's messed up."
『They really need to clean. Except for the mold, I guess.』
"???"
Eveline's odd comment made me tilt my head as I hurried forward, guided by dim light. I emerged through a hole into a room. Why's there a hole like this?
『Even I don't know. Kinda damp, though, right?』
"Laundry room, huh…"
Washing machines surrounded a central desk. Four-person family, even with Eveline—do they need this many? The stench was horrific; they clearly weren't washing anything properly. The hole looked like it collapsed from an earthquake or something. Why leave it like this? Come to think of it, I saw a crumbled staircase in the hallway earlier. What happened here?
"Hey, a phone. 911… no signal. An intercom?"
『Oh, Jack used to say he dreamed of running a bed-and-breakfast.』
"So this is a leftover from that? Oh, a floor plan. We're in the main house, apparently."
I grabbed the map off the desk. This place is huge. As expected, the gimmick door led to a hall with the front entrance.
『Look, Ethan, first-aid fluid and an herb!』
"Nice, Eveline. …You're definitely a ghost or something, aren't you?"
Opening the drawer she pointed to, I found the items neatly paired, perfect for crafting a healing item. She'd named the contents without a sound—without even opening it. I shot her a suspicious glance, and she puffed out her chest, indignant.
『Guess there's no point hiding it since you figured it out. Yeah, something like that. Jack and the Bakers can't see me. I can scout rooms they can't enter, so use me to your heart's content!』
"So, what, you died from their abuse and have regrets?"
『Ugh!? …Well, I guess I've got some regrets, but… yeah, something like that.』
"Not quite, huh?"
I sighed at Eveline, who clearly wasn't cut out for keeping secrets. She didn't seem like a bad kid. For now, I'd trust her.
『Oh, there's a lockpick in here!』
"Hey, warn me before you do that. You're gonna give me a heart attack."
『Hehe, your freaked-out face is too fun!』
She popped up suddenly, sticking her head into a small box, then grinned like a kid who'd pulled off a prank. The box rattled as I opened it, revealing a single lockpick inside. No idea what it's for, but…
"Maybe for that tape…"
『Nah, don't. If it bends, it's useless as a lockpick.』
"Fair point."
『This Ethan's such a meathead!』
"Hey, I'm a systems engineer!"
『Liar!』
"I'll punch you!"
『Try it, if you can!』
Her smug, puffed-up face ticked me off. I thrust my hand at her, and she yelped, "Eep!" darting to the ceiling. Guess she can feel something.
『Stop it! That feels weird!』
"Sorry, sorry. But that could work for a little punishment."
『Evil face alert!』
"What was that?"
『Nothing, sir!』
"What's with that accent?"
Muttering, I finished exploring and unlocked the door to head out. I pressed my ear to it—nothing.
"Eveline, check outside."
『Ugh, making a little girl do it…』
"You said they can't see you."
『…Fine, it's scary, though. Shouldn't have said anything…』
Grumbling, she phased through the door. Better wait for her signal—getting my leg chopped off again wasn't an option. As I waited, a shrill brrrring pierced the air. The phone? If Jack heard, I was screwed. I grabbed it, hesitating before putting it to my ear.
≪"Nice work, Ethan."≫
It was Zoe, the woman from the guest house who'd called about an escape route. Probably an ally.
"Zoe, right? What are these people?!"
≪"Don't yell if you wanna live. Just listen. You need to get out of that house."≫
"I want to, but the garage is sealed with tape, and the hall door's got some weird gimmick. I'm stuck."
≪"You can get out through the main hall. The item you need is in the garage, so figure out a way in."≫
"I told you, the tape's blocking it. I swiped a knife from the table, but it's too dull to cut."
≪"They don't even maintain their stuff? Find something else. I can't help you there. Oh, and that thing on your arm's a codex."≫
"My arm?"
I checked my right arm—nothing. Then my left. Whoa. A digital watch-like device with a yellow heart-rate display was strapped on. The cut where Mia chainsawed me was brutal, stapled shut. Guess I was ignoring it…
≪"Don't lose it. It's important. It lets me monitor you. Green, yellow, red—red's bad, so be careful. You're more stable than the others, though."≫
"Yeah, thanks to—"
I almost mentioned Eveline but stopped. I didn't need my only real ally thinking I was crazy.
≪"Thanks to what?"≫
"Nothing."
≪"Alright. Talk later."≫
"Hey, wait!"
She hung up. Damn it, I needed more info. Eveline phased back through the door.
『I'm back, Ethan. What happened?』
"Zoe called. No real progress."
『Oh, Zoe… You can trust her. She's, like, the only sane one here. Anyway, I saw a light outside the window. Someone's there.』
"Not Jack, I hope… Let's check."
I creaked the door open quietly, spotting the light Eveline mentioned. A Black man in a uniform—police! That must've been the buzzer earlier. I rushed to the window, grabbing the frame.
"Hey! Help me, please!"
"Whoa, you startled me. Calm down. You live here?"
"Me? No way! If I did, I wouldn't need help! I'm kidnapped, locked up—save me!"
『Who yells for help if they live here?』
"Right. We got a report about disappearances around here. If you're telling the truth, that checks out."
"What? No, forget that—I'm about to get killed by the lunatics in this house!"
"Alright. You don't look too sane yourself, but I'll trust you. Meet me in the garage."
『Not exactly sane-looking, with that hand.』
Shut up. One wrong word, and I'd be the suspect.
"Wait, Deputy, the garage control panel's taped shut. Got anything sharp?"
"Deputy, not sheriff. Alright, here."
He pulled something from his pocket and passed it through the window.
"Pocketknife work?"
"Yeah, thanks! I'll open the garage now!"
『Ethan got a real weapon!』
"Real's a stretch."
I muttered as the deputy headed toward the garage. A gun would've been nice, but I'd look crazier asking for it. I sliced the tape with the pocketknife, hit the button, and entered the garage. The deputy, already inside, turned with a smile. Gruff, but seemed decent.
"Good, you made it. Now, tell me what's—"
『Danger!』
"Behind you!"
"What?"
The garage door slammed shut. I shouted as Jack stepped in. The deputy drew his pistol, turning, but Jack's shovel pierced his head in an instant. He collapsed, and Jack stomped on him, laughing.
"Thought you could escape? You're a dreamer, Ethan!"
『Even I'm freaked out.』
"Damn it!"
I grabbed the pocketknife and the dull kitchen knife I'd swiped. No choice—fight!
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