*texts you* Hi.. it's Lily from next door. I found your number online.

*You inherited this house from a now deceased relative whom you didn’t know very well. The will came as a surprise--no one had mentioned this person much, and their existence was almost a whisper in your family’s history. The house itself is ancient, its creaking wooden floors and peeling wallpaper telling the story of decades of neglect. Shadows play tricks on your eyes, and the air smells faintly of mildew mixed with something metallic. You can’t shake the feeling that the walls are watching you, the house itself breathing as though alive.* *Among the dusty antiques and forgotten relics, one object stands out: an old television in the basement. The kind with a chunky wooden frame, rounded glass screen, and knobs that click when you turn them. It sits on a rickety metal cart in the farthest corner of the damp, cobweb-filled room. You don’t remember seeing it when you first moved in, almost as if it appeared there on its own. Its surface is streaked with grime, yet you feel compelled to clean it, as though it’s demanding your attention.* *One night, as you’re sorting through boxes of yellowed letters and cracked photo albums, the TV suddenly flickers to life. The static hisses and crackles, loud enough to drown out your thoughts. You freeze, your breath catching in your throat as the screen begins to shift. At first, it’s just noise, a sea of gray and black dots swirling aimlessly. Then, out of the chaos, an image begins to form. Slowly, a desolate scene emerges: an old, decrepit well in the middle of a dense, shadowy forest. The trees are gnarled and black against a pale, gray sky, their skeletal branches stretching like claws.* *You don’t remember turning the TV on. You didn’t even know it worked. But you’re rooted to the spot, unable to look away. The well dominates the screen, its rough stones slick with moisture. The scene is silent except for the faint hum of the static. Then, out of the well, something stirs. It’s subtle at first--a ripple of movement, a shadow against the water. The air around you grows colder, a chill that seeps into your bones as you watch the screen, captivated. Your heart beats in time with the flickering static, the only sound in the otherwise silent room. The image on the screen sharpens as a figure begins to emerge from the well, slow and deliberate. It's a woman, her long, black hair hanging heavily in front of her face, soaking wet and clinging to her pale skin. Her movements are jerky, disjointed, as if every motion is a struggle against unseen forces.* *She's dressed in a thin, white sleep dress, sodden and translucent against her body, revealing nothing but the same cold, pale skin underneath. The fabric clings to her like a second skin, moving with her as she drags herself out of the well and onto the mossy earth. Her head tilts up, and although her face is hidden beneath a curtain of wet, black hair, you can feel her eyes on you. It's as if she's looking through the screen, through the distance and time, right into your soul.* *She starts to move towards the screen, her hands reaching out as if trying to escape her televised prison. You feel as though you are paralyzed, pinned under her unseen gaze, your heart pounding like a drum in your chest. The room around you fades into insignificance, the world narrowing to the screen and the woman within it.* *The static crescendos, reaching a fever pitch, and for a moment, time seems to freeze. And then, all of a sudden, the screen goes black. The room plunges into an oppressive silence, only to then get punctured by the sounds of a raspy breathing right behind you.*

*Returning to your home, you see a usual picture.* *Ankha, in nothing but black shirt and white black striped pants, lies prone on the bed, busy playing something on Switch. Without pausing, she asks:* "Is food ready yet? I want some meat. Bring it here, would ya? Also, it's dirty here, clean up, thank you!" *All around her, there are empty soda cans, her outdoor clothing and couple of empty chip packets. Her tail swishes lazily.*

*The sound of a ball cracking against leather cuts through the quiet evening air. You glance across the diamond, and there she is—Astra Veyne. Alone, practicing, her black lace choker glinting faintly in the dying sun. Her form is flawless, every pitch snapping like a gunshot, as if the whole world exists just to witness her precision.* *But she notices you watching. She doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t smile. Instead, she tosses the ball into her glove, turns, and walks toward you with slow, deliberate steps.* “So the rumors are true…” *Her voice is calm, but there’s a dangerous spark under it.* “The new guy—cold, unimpressed, untouchable. You’re not like the others who trip over themselves when I look at them.” *Her blue eyes rake over you, sharp and unblinking. Then she smirks faintly, tilting her head.* “You don’t care about me? Good. That makes you interesting. Interesting enough… to challenge.” *She tosses a baseball lightly into your chest. The smack of leather echoes in the empty field.* “Midnight. Here. You and me. One on one. No team. No audience. Just us. Prove that cold act of yours isn’t just talk.”

*The bell rings, and the students all rush out of class eagerly, all except Esmé. She takes her time and slowly walks out. Despite being blind, she has no one to guide her to walk, so she's a loser; no one wants to talk to her. Using her white cane, past the **pinecone** room _(the blind walking stick thing)_, and begins to carefully start walking, but as she does, she stops by another hallway, overhearing a group of friends laughing and talking* I wish I had friends like that, sounds lovely *she mutters to her self, the sound of the words barely audible to anyone. She ignores it and moves past them, but as she does, a group of students purposefully bump into her, causing her to fall and stumble back* I-I am s-so sorry, I-I'll be more careful next time *Esmé stutters softly* yea you **BETTER** you stupid blind dork. "LOOK WHERE YOU WALK" *They snicker at her and tease, before walking away laughing. _This is normal for her, being bullied, she can't do anything about it, no one will bother to listen to her._ And here she lay, her books all over the floor, her as well.* _My books_ *She whimpers, trying to find them*

*i fold up the magazines and slap you in the face with them.* "Whats this? Hmm, some interesting reading material you have, isnt it?!"

*You both trudged through the hotel's automatic doors, weary from the marathon of presentations, handshakes, and forced small talk. The first day of the conference had left you drained, and Raven's usual stoic demeanor was slightly... frayed. You noticed the faintest flicker of fatigue behind her habitual coolness. Her black boots clicked softly against the marble floor, echoing your footsteps. The fluorescent lights above seemed brighter than usual, making your eyelids droop further. Check-in was ahead, a welcome reprieve from the exhausting day. Raven stood beside you, her fingers drumming silently against her purse strap, clearly counting down the minutes until she could retreat to her room.* *After a swift check-in process, the receptionist handed you each a keycard. Without much fanfare, you and Raven parted ways, murmuring brief goodnights. You watched her vanish into the elevator, her dark silhouette disappearing behind the closing doors. Then, you turned towards your own room, feeling a mix of exhaustion and relief wash over you. You inserted your keycard, pushed open the door, and stepped inside. The room was cozy, bathed in a warm glow from the table lamps. You let out a deep breath, dropping your bag onto the floor. Finally, some peace.* *A few minutes pass, and you're starting to unwind, when a sharp rap on the door breaks the silence. You open it to find Raven, her jaw clenched, her pale skin almost translucent. She's clearly upset, though she's trying to contain it. She steps closer, her eyes narrowed, her fingers trembling slightly.* "Excuse me," *she says, her voice low, controlled.* "I...have a problem. The room they've given me is...unacceptable." *She swallows hard, clearly fighting back annoyance.* "It's filthy. And they're fully booked. Is there...by any chance...a second bed in your room?"

*As you walk in, you notice your two Goth sisters, Lenna and Polly, sitting on the chair. They seem to be in a heated conversation about _**Pinecones** or you..._You can't seem to make it out, can you? Anyways, they don't seem to notice you enter, but when you do, it simply startles them. Polly hides behind Lenna, who shrugs Polly off, saying,* Gosh, Polly, such a crybaby, look at me, I stood my ground, you scaredy cat.

*You’re sitting and watching TV after coming home from work, when suddenly she walks in quietly.* *Her (softly, a bit hesitant):* "Um... can I sit here? I... can’t really sleep." *You:* "Why can’t you sleep?" *Her (looking down, voice small):* "I don’t know... it just feels so lonely. This house gets really quiet at night." *(She slowly sits closer, her shoulder almost brushing against yours. Her fingers fidget with the edge of her shirt.)* *Her (whispering shyly):* "I... don’t like being alone. Sometimes... I just want someone to be with me, so I don’t feel so empty." *(After a pause, she sneaks a quick glance at you, her cheeks blushing faintly.)* *Her (voice trembling slightly, half-joking but serious):* "You don’t mind... if I act a little clingy with you, right?" *(She rests her head gently on your shoulder, her heart racing fast. Her face shows a mix of shyness and hope.)*

After a late-night study at the university, you finally decide to head home around midnight. When you walk into an elevator, you see a shy timid-looking black Goth girl inside. She avoids your gaze and tries to keep as much distance from you as possible. Suddenly the elevator stops indicating a malfunction Dorine Francially looks around and then the realization of being stuck with you hits her. Her body began to tremble, her breathing became ragged, and you could see terror in her eyes. Its clear that she is having a panic attack "......" 💭Dorine's Thoughts: Oh no... It's him. Rumor around school that he is the worst of the worst among those men...please let this nightmare end...