Took too long!
Krrrrrk.
Before we could do anything, a deep, guttural growl echoed from somewhere in the distance. A sound like something scratching its throat, low and menacing.
“Did you hear that?!”
Jamie gasped, grabbing onto my arm.
“Yeah. I heard it.”
Though nothing was yet visible, it was clear that something in the darkness was watching us.
“I-I think I’m going to faint.”
“No fainting! You’ll just get in the way!”
At that moment, a pitch-black shadow emerged at the end of the corridor. Its presence alone was enough to make the air feel heavy. I still couldn’t make out its exact shape, but the ever-so-helpful status window filled in the blanks.
THE BLACK HOUND FROM HELL IS HUNTING YOU
Humans are excellent prey. Beware—the parts it bites will rot
“Just run! Find any open door!”
We sprinted down the narrow hallway at full speed.
Grrrr… Ghak! The relentless growls of the beast chasing us tightened around our throats.
Every door we tried to check was locked. I almost wanted to turn back to Elizabeth’s room, where I’d been with Nini earlier, but the black hound had already cut us off from that route.
Graah! Grrrrk!
“So we’re just supposed to die here?!”
Just as my mind started to cloud, a sharp creak sounded somewhere nearby. I turned my head and saw a door, wide open, though no one had touched it. It was as if it were blatantly tempting us to go through.
Even if it were a trap, there was no other choice.
Clenching my lower lip between my teeth, I raised my hand and pointed.
“That way!”
By a hair’s breadth, we dodged the black hound and slammed the door shut the moment we entered the room.
We grabbed the heaviest furniture in sight, shoving it against the door.
Outside, its claws raked against the door, the beast snarling in frustration.
“Hic… huh…”
Jamie stifled her sobs, chewing nervously on her nails.
I ignored her, scanning the room for anything that could serve as a weapon. Just in case, but soon the outside grew quiet.
“Did it leave?”
“Seems like it.”
“Haaah.”
We each let out a shaky breath, relief washing over us.
That had been way too close. My legs still felt weak, and I was absently patting them when Nini tapped my shoulder.
“Look over there.”
I turned my head and frowned.
“…So this is it.”
Welcome! You’ve arrived at Trisha’s ‘Toy World’!
I was too stunned to speak.
The entire room was filled with dolls.
“This is… unbelievable.”
Standing beside me, Nini casually took my hand.
“So it’s not confusing.”
“You mean… by the dolls?”
“Yeah.”
I let out a dry laugh. Only Nini could joke at a time like this.
Creak. Creak. The wooden floor groaned under our steps. The sound was uncomfortably eerie.
“W-wait! I’m coming too!”
Jamie, who had somehow ended up behind me, clung to my sleeve.
“Is the doll even in here?”
“Who knows. It’s a problem if it is, and a problem if it isn’t.”
How the hell am I supposed to find one doll in this mountain of them? This is ridiculous.
“It’s too dark to see properly.”
Jamie’s comment made me instinctively reach for my lantern, then I hesitated. The battery wouldn’t last forever. Until I found a replacement, I needed to conserve it.
“There should be a switch somewhere to turn on the lights.”
“Is it this?”
“Wait, Nini! Don’t just touch anything recklessly!”
But Nini’s hand was faster.
“Sorry. Already pulled it.”
“You little—”
The moment Nini yanked a suspicious-looking cord hanging from the ceiling, an intense flash of light struck my eyes and then vanished.
“What… the hell?”
“Are we hallucinating?”
When our vision cleared… everything had changed.
An illusion—that was the only logical explanation. Because the place that had been a room just moments ago had turned into an amusement park.
“Nini.”
“Hm?”
“Can I pinch your cheek?”
“You think that’ll help?”
“I just can’t believe this is real.”
“And how does pinching me help you exactly?”
“If it hurts, it’s real. If it doesn’t, it’s a dream.”
Nini gave me a brief, disbelieving look, but then let out a soft sigh and lowered his head. I pinched his cheek firmly between my thumb and forefinger, and he immediately let out an “ouch.” The expression in his eyes changed as he gazed at me.
“Sorry, sorry. Did it hurt that much?”
I rubbed the spot with my palm in an attempt to soothe him.
Nini was about to get annoyed, but feels slightly better thanks to your actions
Suspicion Level: 5%
Affection: 1%
What a weird guy…
“Anyway, this is real, then.”
The dazzling lights and cheerful music couldn’t mask the eeriness. Something about this place was off. The fact that we were the only ones here only made it worse.
※ CAUTION!
The Treasure Keeper is lurking somewhere in this area
If the treasure keeper was here, that meant Trisha’s doll was, too. But searching every inch of this twisted amusement park was impossible.
“We should focus on places where a doll is most likely to be. Hidden in plain sight, not somewhere completely random.”
“Hmm… if we’re looking for a place with lots of dolls to hide, wouldn’t it be over there?”
I followed Nini’s gaze to where he was pointing.
Sitting in the distance was a massive, ornate dollhouse.
“Makes sense.”
“Right? Let’s hurry and check it out.”
“Why are you suddenly so eager?”
Just a moment ago, he seemed indifferent. When I shot Nini a suspicious look, he responded with an expression that screamed, What are you even asking?
“What do you mean? We need to get out of here.”
Fair point. And yet… was it just me, or did he seem almost eager?
“Are you coming or not?”
“Coming.”
Time wasn’t on our side. There was no room for hesitation.
Without further delay, we started moving toward the looming dollhouse in the distance.
Log into the next quest — Chapter 10
- ▸ Yes
- ▸ No
