As the night progresses, the chill in the air deepens, enveloping the surroundings like the icy sea in winter. A frosty mist lingers, casting a bluish hue that permeates the environment. The atmosphere takes on a lighter tint, yet the surroundings remain shrouded in darkness and obscurity, offering mere glimpses of nearby objects.

     Passing clouds gradually veil the stars in the sky, diminishing their radiance as the moonlight becomes obscured. The mingling of the moon's glow with the cloud cover imbues the air with a thicker, bluish colour. The opaque clouds intermittently reveal glimpses of the moon and stars, casting a gentle bluish tint upon the land. Every corner, however, remains draped in ink-like darkness as the night sky hums with unseen energy.

     A light, gentle breeze caresses the night, its touch initially smooth. Yet, due to the frigidity of the air, it carries a stinging sensation when it brushes against the skin. Each exhaled breath forms a freezing cloud, adding to the wintry atmosphere.

     Oliver and his companions trudge along a neverending street, their weary steps echoing the passage of time. Hours have passed, and their ankles ache with fatigue. But, fueled by an undaunted determination to rescue, they push themselves to their limits.

     Strutting on the unforgiving concrete sidewalk, Oliver and his companions cast wary glances in every direction. They observe the absence of houses or establishments, a desolate landscape without human presence. Only skeletal remains of once-lush trees line the lonely street, their withered, fallen leaves painting a scene of desiccation. The branches, devoid of greenery, twist and contort like thorny appendages—as if ready to attack at any moment.

     The road stretches ahead, holding only Oliver, Sophia, Gregory, Edgar, Sarrah, and Bethany, with no other soul in sight. Not even the faintest bird takes flight above the empty streets. Their footsteps resound, magnified by the deep silence that consumes the air, punctuated only by the rhythm of their racing hearts. The isolation weighs upon them—as if the world has withdrawn, leaving them adrift in a realm secluded from life.

     Before long, Oliver and his companions catch sight of a towering structure looming ahead in their path. A majestic arch rises from the street, its height surpassing their line of vision. They tilt their heads upward, filled with awe, yet unable to discern the archway's pinnacle. They press onward, carrying themselves along the endless road—as if they have been walking for years.

     As Oliver walks alongside his companions, he digs his hand in his pocket. Retrieving a crumpled sheet of paper, he unfolds it carefully; it is the same letter from earlier. Oliver's eyes glide across the written words, his pace unbroken, as he reads its contents without pause.

Oliver's brows furrowed as he spoke. "I think we're near..." he stated. "The first house we come across on the right should be my destination."

     Lowering the letter from his face, Oliver casts a hesitant gaze back at his companions. Doubt permeates his thoughts, causing his palms to grow clammy despite the cold breeze. Oliver furrows his brows, accentuating the frown on his face. Uncertainty and denial creep within him as he ponders whether it is the right choice to bring his spouse and friends along, causing him to tighten his hold around the paper, feeling a rumbling sensation in his stomach.

"...This place seems oddly familiar..." Gregory whispered as his gaze wandered around.

"...I couldn't help but agree," Edgar said, raising an eyebrow.

"What do you mean...?" Oliver asked the men as they strode forward.

"I don't know," Gregory replied as he caught up with Oliver's pace. "But, it feels like I've been here before... a long time ago."

"Me, too," Edgar added. "It's like... uh. I feel like I know this place. I've seen this road before."

"And those eerie trees," Gregory pointed at the leafless trees as they continued down the road.

"What are you guys talking about?" Sarrah murmured, glancing at the men.

"I'm saying that this place looks familiar..." Gregory hurriedly spoke as his voice quickened with his racing thoughts. "I can't quite explain it. But I'm sure I've been here before. The trees, the road... I certainly recognize them—as if I am reminiscing about something from the past."

     While the group continues down the street, the trees lining the right side of the road gradually thin out. A clearing comes into a seemingly abrupt view, revealing a mansion that materializes out of nowhere. Gregory glances to the right as he speaks, and his eyes immediately lock on the estate. A surge of emotions causes him to stop, his heart punching through his chest as memories flood his racing thoughts.

"Ow—" Gregory gasped.

     Startled, Gregory extends his arms to the sides, creating a barrier between himself and the others. His knees tremble uncontrollably as his gaze remains fixed on the imposing mansion. Despite his efforts to force himself forward, he finds himself immobilized, unable to take a single step.

"What's wrong...?" Oliver asked, with concern carved across his face.

"No... no..." Gregory's voice quivered with fear. "This can't be happening..." His head shook violently, denial consuming his thoughts. "This can't be real!"

"Hm...?" Oliver placed a comforting palm on Gregory's back.

Gregory swiftly turned to face Oliver. "I knew it. You can't go there alone!" Gregory said.

"Why? What's going on??" Oliver's confusion deepened.

"Not this again," Sarrah scoffed as she crossed her arms.

     Edgar stares at the mansion as the others talk behind him, examining every detail, from the rooftop to the foundation. Standing a few yards away, he scans the deteriorating walls, carefully taking in the ravages of time. Seeing the mansion immediately ignites a spark of recognition in his mind.

     The mansion's grandeur is undeniable, but now it motionlessly stands as a decaying corpse. Its once-vibrant paint has faded, leaving behind a lifeless, greyish cement. Dust coats every window, boarded up with weathered planks and wood. And the dead, jagged trees surrounding it only heighten the cold atmosphere that saturates the air.

"Isn't this..." Edgar tapped on Gregory's arm.

"Our former residence?" Gregory ventured, meeting Edgar's gaze. "Yes."

"Oh..." Edgar gawked at the mansion, a sense of proximity engulfing him despite being merely a few yards away. "No wonder everything around us feels so familiar..."

"...Your former residence?" Oliver repeated.

"Yes. Cal, Edgar, and I used to live here until we moved to the Alcadee Residence with you a decade ago," Gregory explained.

"Oh..."

"Oli. That mansion is as large as a field. Traps may be everywhere, and you might get lost," Gregory warned urgently. "You have to take me with you."

"But we've already agreed that you're staying out of this," Oliver replied, crossing his arms.

"But... guys..." Gregory glanced at his friends.

Sophia, Edgar, Sarrah, and Bethany exchanged a collective glance, their eyes lacking reassurance.

Oliver gently laid a palm on Gregory's cheek, guiding his gaze. "Greg, look at me. I can do this."

Gregory's breathing quickened, and he started to hyperventilate. "...Alright... alright..."

     Oliver walks around Gregory. He then halts in the centre of the street, pausing for a fleeting yet significant moment. Taking a deep breath, his eyes absorb the head-tilting size of the mansion before him. Summoning his resolve, Oliver takes a single determined step forward. With each subsequent stride, he pushes himself to advance towards the household.

     The weight of the atmosphere seems to drag Oliver's body, attempting to pull him back towards his companions. Yet, he refuses to yield or turn around, compelled to press on. Meanwhile, Gregory hopelessly watches Oliver walk away. The urge to follow becomes overwhelming, causing his breath to hasten and his lips to tense.

"Greg... Greg," Sophia gently grasped Gregory's shoulders, seeking to ground him. She then drew a deep breath through her mouth, preparing to say something. However, instead of speaking, she sighed, and her gaze fell onto her shoes.