I've been lying in bed for almost three months now. Blane, October 5. I write in my journal but don't do anything with it.
It's so dark here because of the storm.
People don't go outside anymore. They all turn on the TV and stare at it for hours. Something happened here that changed everyone. But what? I still don't know.
We can't even go to the store anymore. Like, no one can. I hear someone knocking at the door...
BANG, BANG.
"Mom, Dad. Can someone please open the door?" I shout.
But no one answers. When I try to open the door, I realize my parents have fallen asleep. I see the food already set out with some drinks. I pick it up, watching the rain fall faster and faster outside. When I go back inside, I wake my parents up. They just can't miss the show.
It feels like we're forced to stay here. Like I have no choice but to stay inside and do nothing normal. That feeling sits deep inside me, scraping my tears.
I've never been this bored before. These are the hours when nothing is on TV. And since we can't do anything else, all we can do is be bored. I refuse to read books.
I live here with my parents, but no one else. I used to visit my grandparents sometimes, but not anymore. So many things just aren't possible now. My bedroom is starting to feel like my whole world. If I stay quiet for a moment, I hear thunder attacking the streets. Cats lost and wandering. Homeless people slowly dying.
After all that, there's a big tension among the townspeople. The TV show is supposed to start tonight at 8 PM. At least there's something to look forward to. But still, it feels strange. It's like the whole world revolves around it. The thing is, I've never been outside this town called "Dark Twist." Neither have many others, and I don't know why. Maybe this is the only place that exists—who knows.
A day earlier...
Zane
I live in the village next to the town of Dark Twist. I've heard a lot of stories about it. My brother Elias sometimes goes there for work. He says it's a secret project, but it remains a mystery. I don't pay much attention. But sometimes I hear the thunderclouds from just next door. I've never seen anyone enter or leave the town.
My brother and I have been through a lot together. When I was scared of storms, I could always hide with him. We also had to cross streams like those in Dark Twist now. If I felt sick or hurt, he was always there to support me. I tried to do the same for him.
I also have an older sister, Billie. She's the most creative one in the family. She was more like a mother figure to me since our parents were rarely around. I have a deep bond with her, and I hope it lasts forever.
When we came back from a lovely shopping trip, I already felt something was wrong with my brother. He had been acting strange and tense all day. My sister said I was just imagining things. I confronted Elias myself, but he wouldn't say a word.
So weird, and I know something is going on. I'll have to go to sleep with nerves. It's getting dark already, and tomorrow's going to be a long day. I hope he tells me what's happening, or I might go crazy.
The next morning...
I woke up with moonlight shining through my room. I saw blood on the floor. The ceiling had partially collapsed. Panic hit me and I started screaming, realizing where I was. I felt the rain fall on me in the depths of the night. What am I supposed to do now? I felt pain everywhere and started crying uncontrollably.
In the distance, I heard "TING? TING." It was just my alarm clock. Sweating, I woke up. I had to cry again, but this time from relief. Looking around the room, everything was fine. But then I noticed something: I suddenly had purple hair glowing all over my body. The moonlight, still shining, made it look almost holy. My hair reached down to my lower back. I was dressed, wearing makeup, and even heels. I couldn't remember anything from last night.
Still, it all felt so normal. Like I'd been getting ready for something big every day. Like I'd always had purple hair, and now I was about to confront Elias in the bathroom. And while I thought this, it actually happened.
I left the room and walked toward the bathroom. Elias was fully dressed too.
"Good morning, did you sleep well?" he said.
I answered, "Yes, just a nightmare."
I'm usually honest with my brother, but this time it felt wrong. It felt like we were just going through motions. My thoughts started to fade. I began doing things automatically—normal things like brushing my teeth. I stood in that bathroom for three hours. Elias and I didn't say a word to each other.
I got into the car that was taking us somewhere. No idea where. Fear tightened in my throat. Elias sat there like it was nothing. I didn't recognize the driver at all. The ride lasted a long time, and I had no idea where we were going. I saw homeless people who looked at us strangely. We drove through the strangest streets. It was still dark outside so early in the morning. The radio was silent the whole trip.
The car stopped next to what felt like a random house in an ordinary neigh-bour-hood. The driver left. The streetlights were still on, but there wasn't a soul around. It felt eerie—I can't explain it. I started imagining things in the shadows. Having no control over myself was so frustrating.
We went deeper and deeper into the street until we reached a manhole cover. I felt heavily watched, like I was about to learn a secret that must never be told. When the cover was lifted, a staircase to darkness appeared.
Elias
Almost there, then it's done. Then Zane and I will be the hosts. I've been working on this secret project for months. As soon as we go down that staircase, we'll enter one of the biggest secret productions. Finally, I can use Zane, that stupid brat. They'll be so proud of me. So many secrets, but no words to tell. No letters to write. I'm not telling Zane anything right now. That Billie can go to hell too. When I told her a little, she just laughed at me. We'll see what's so funny.
Zane
We went down the stairs, and I didn't say a word to Elias. I was too scared. He'd never acted so strangely before. The deeper we went, the more light there was. I saw lots of people busy walking around. I ended up in a... huge film studio. Like Hollywood underground. Everywhere was something related to a production.
Elias said, "You and I will be the hosts. Go to room number 8. The set should be ready. See you later."
Before I could say anything, he walked away. Fearful, I wandered through the halls. I wondered what for.
1
I saw the number and started finding my way. People were everywhere. I saw screens showing live feeds, just like the commercials said.
2
The further I went, the darker it got. I saw pictures of the cast and participants hanging on the walls. I saw a photo with the name Blane on it. Me and Elias were on there too. I was too scared to look further. I decided to walk away, but a photo fell on the floor...
3
Those photos were horrifying. Seeing all those victims—it was unbearable.
4
I passed number 4. Things went quickly. Now I saw a control room watching over the town of Dark Twist, with the next sets...
5
6
7
All of them overlooking the town. I realized they probably controlled everything from here. After walking several kilometres, I finally reached number...
8
But the hallways kept going. I definitely didn't want to go any further.
Elias
After setting things up and heading to room 8, I saw one of the photos lying on the ground. It was Billie's...