It was 7:48 p.m.
The sun was already low in the sky, sinking into the ocean like it was tired of the day. The sky was painted orange and purple, and the air was calm. Too calm.
An island sat just off the coast, surrounded by dark blue water. The beach wrapped around it in a smooth curve, white sand untouched, like no one had stepped on it in days.
At the center of the island stood a mansion.
Big. White. Clean.
Every light inside it was on.
From the outside, it looked expensive and beautiful, the kind of place only rich people owned. Tall walls, wide windows, and a massive gate at the front. But there was something strange about it.
It was silent.
No music.
No voices.
No movement.
The trees around the mansion moved gently as the breeze passed through them, their leaves rustling softly. The waves at the beach rolled in and out, doing their thing like always.
Nature was alive.
The mansion wasn't.
From a distance, three shapes cut through the water at high speed.
Three sea scooters moved fast across the ocean, heading straight for the island. The engines hummed loudly, breaking the quiet.
They reached the shore and slowed down, the scooters sliding onto the sand.
Three guys stepped off.
One of them laughed and turned toward the guy beside him.
"Sal! Man, how the hell are you that fast, bro?" he said, shaking his head.
Sal stood there casually, pushing his hair back. He had blue eyes, brown hair, and a strong athletic build. The kind of body that looked like it belonged in a gym, not on an island. He smiled like he already knew the answer.
"Ha," Sal said. "Maybe I'm just that guy."
A voice came from behind them, still standing near the sea scooter.
"Yo, Mick," the guy said. "You two were moving at the same speed to me."
This was Nick.
Nick had ember-amber eyes, black hair, and a regular build. Nothing flashy, but he had a sharp look to him. He always talked like he had something smart—or annoying—to say.
Mick turned around slowly.
Mick looked similar to Sal, but a little leaner. His eyes were slightly bigger, brown, and his face always looked serious, like he was already tired of everyone.
"Shut up, Nick," Mick said. "Nobody asked for your opinion."
Sal smirked.
"Ooo," Sal said. "Someone's mad."
Nick burst out laughing.
Sal laughed too, clearly enjoying it.
Mick clenched his jaw, his anger rising for a moment, then he exhaled.
"…I swear I'm surrounded by idiots," Mick muttered.
They all looked toward the mansion.
Something felt off.
Usually, when they came here, the staff would already be waiting. Maids. Guards. Someone. Anyone.
But there was no one.
No welcome.
No movement.
Nothing.
Minutes passed.
They waited.
And waited.
Nick pulled out his phone.
"I've been calling," Nick said, checking the screen. "It says the phone's off."
Mick frowned and checked his own.
"Same."
Sal looked up at the tall white wall surrounding the mansion. It was at least twice their height.
"Well," Sal said casually, "maybe we have to climb the wall."
Mick turned to him fast.
"Oh hell nah," Mick said. "I'm not doing that."
Sal grinned.
"We can," Sal said. "By the power of friendship."
Nick nodded seriously.
"Yeah," Nick said. "The power of friendship."
Sal and Nick started laughing again.
Mick stared at them like he wanted to throw one of them into the ocean.
Before he could say anything, the main gate creaked open.
Slowly.
By itself.
All three of them stopped laughing.
"…Weird," Nick said.
They stood there, expecting someone to walk out.
A guard.
A maid.
Anyone.
No one came.
The gate stayed open, inviting them in.
After a moment, they exchanged looks and walked through.
The moment they stepped inside, the atmosphere changed.
The grass fields were dark. No lights.
The path leading up to the mansion was dark.
But the inside of the mansion was fully lit, glowing through the windows like it was calling to them.
Sal felt something run down his spine.
Nick swallowed.
Mick stayed quiet.
They walked forward slowly, Mick leading, Sal and Nick behind him.
As they got closer, Mick suddenly slipped.
"—Shit!"
He caught himself before falling.
"What happened?" Nick asked.
Mick bent down, touching the ground with his fingers. He sniffed them.
His face tightened.
"…Smells like the stuff they use to fill cars," Mick said.
"Gas?" Sal asked.
Nick looked confused.
"How do you know that?" Nick asked.
Mick shrugged.
"Homie, I do experiments, okay?"
They looked at the ground, but it was too dark to see clearly.
They moved on, leaving it behind.
Unaware.
They reached the front door of the mansion.
Mick checked around the doorframe, looking for the spare key.
Nothing.
Then—
Creeeek.
The door opened.
Slow.
Quiet.
All three froze.
Mick slowly reached out and pushed the door wider.
He leaned in and peeked inside.
"…No one," Mick said.
Sal and Nick looked over his shoulders.
The inside was massive.
Clean.
Too clean.
They stepped inside.
The door closed behind them.
The sound echoed through the hall.
They stood in the middle of the mansion's main hall.
That's when they heard it.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
Something was pouring.
They all looked up.
The roof above them was made of glass.
And standing on it…
Was a man.
Dressed in full black.
His face was hidden.
He was pouring something dark over the glass.
The liquid spread, dripping down like black rain.
Fear hit them all at once.
The man stopped.
He pulled out a lighter.
The flame flickered.
Then he dropped it.
The fire exploded across the roof.
And everything went up in flames.