A day had passed since the sleepless night. Vince sat slumped in a chair, lifeless and still, deep eye bags shadowing his face. Dried tear marks stained his cheeks. The supernatural feeling from last night hadn't faded, it clung to him.
Sunlight filtered through the window, cutting across the bed.
What the fuck is going on? he thought. I've been feeling like shit.
Every part of his body ached as he slowly pushed himself upright. His legs trembled beneath him. Stumbling to the sink, he splashed water on his face, the chill doing nothing to wake him.
In a burst of frustration, he kicked the toilet beside him.
"What did Estill do? Or who did this? They affected the whole damn building!" His voice came out cracked and hoarse, but it still carried weight.
Food. I need food.
Still half-dizzy, Vince opened the door. A strange, misty odor lingered in the hallway, sweet yet rotten. It was thick enough to taste.
Did a Stacker possess this place?
He could faintly hear people behind closed doors, voices muffled and warped. The halls were empty. Stepping outside, the air felt normal again, a clean, cool breeze brushing against his skin. But the moment he entered the main building, that heavy pressure returned.
It struck deep, crawling beneath his skin. His body convulsed in pain.
"Ah!"
Vince gasped, gripping his chest. He forced himself to keep walking, pushing through the invisible weight.
The halls were filled with people. They looked normal, laughing, chatting, moving around, but something was off. Their movements felt too smooth, too practiced.
Vince headed for the dining hall.
The smell hit him before the sight did, rotting meat, sour fruit, decay. The buffet tables were still full, but the food was covered in mold and flies.He covered his nose and walked by. The guests were still eating.
Still eating.
Their plates were crawling with maggots, but they shoveled the food into their mouths without hesitation.
Vince's stomach turned. What the fuck… Panicking, he grabbed a plate and ran to the far end of the hall. His legs burned, his lungs squeezed, but no one even looked at him. They just kept eating.
Sweat dripped down his face as he dared to glance toward the kitchen. The chefs moved mechanically, chopping and stirring without expression, their eyes dull, lifeless.Terrified, Vince looked down and forced himself to eat. The food was stale, but his stomach ached too much to care.
Then, through the sounds of chewing and clattering dishes, he heard it.
A soft hum. Familiar. Calm. Estill's hum.
Coming from the entrance of the dining hall.
Vince wanted to look, but his neck wouldn't move. No one else did, everyone kept eating like nothing was wrong.
Why is Estill here? What the hell did he do? Am I really going to die because of this guy? What if I pull out my gun now and try to kill him would these people attack me?
He kept picking at the little food on his plate. The humming returned, and the footsteps grew louder. Vince could barely see Estill through the crowd, but he watched as the man stepped up to the buffet and loaded a plate an odd mix of dishes then wore a grim smile as he passed by. Estill didn't notice him. When the man left the hall, Vince gasped, gripping his plate so hard it almost broke. He set it down and walked out of the dining area.
"Keith! I need Keith now!"
In an instant, Vince broke into a run. His footsteps echoed through the empty halls as he sprinted toward the guest building. Within seconds, he reached the second building, his eyes darting along the doors until they landed on the number.
689.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The sound of his knuckles against the wood filled the corridor. Silence followed, until the door creaked open.
Keith stood there with his usual wide grin, dressed in the same clothes as before. His cheerful tone cut through the tension.
"And how can I help you, Roe?" His smile stretched from ear to ear, like he didn't know what fear was.
Vince swallowed hard, his voice trembling. "U-Um, Keith, what's going on with the mansion?" Keith tilted his head, looking thoughtful before glancing up toward the ceiling.
"Hmm, I'm not sure just yet! I felt the change when I left the bar, but it didn't really affect me!" Didn't really affect you? Vince thought, grinding his teeth. Lucky bastard.
Then Keith's eyes lit up, as if a lightbulb went off.
"You know what, Roe! I think you just need to take your mind off things. I mean, I know you're strong, so here, I have an idea!"
He shut the door gently. Vince stood there, confused, hearing muffled movement from inside.
A few moments later, the door creaked open again. Keith stepped out, still grinning, his voice full of energy.
"Follow me!"