Kai slowed the motorcycle as the cracked welcome sign of Kuller Town came into view. The engine's hum, once comforting, now sounded too loud against the suffocating silence that seemed to swallow the entire area.
They had arrived.
The sky above was still bright, but something felt… wrong. The sunlight didn't feel warm—it felt distant, like it didn't belong there.
Kiera tightened her grip on Kai's jacket.
"Why does it feel like this place doesn't want us here?" she muttered.
Kai didn't answer immediately. His eyes were fixed on the empty streets ahead.
"Let's just get this over with," he said quietly.
As they crossed into town proper, a police officer stepped into the road, raising a hand. Kai slowed to a stop.
The officer approached them slowly, his expression stern—but beneath it, there was something else. Fear.
"Hey, kid… have you heard about the news?" the officer asked.
Kai nodded. "Yeah, we have. But my friend needs help. We're just here for him. We'll leave right after."
The officer studied them both, his gaze lingering on Kiera for a second longer than normal.
"Be careful, son," he said, voice lowering. "This town… it's not right anymore. People change when night comes."
Kiera swallowed. "We'll be careful, sir."
The officer stepped back, but before letting them pass, he added,
"Not everyone who comes here… gets out."
A chill ran down both their spines.
Kai forced a small nod. "We'll be quick."
The officer didn't reply. He just watched them go.
The deeper they drove into Kuller Town, the worse it felt.
The streets were nearly empty. Shops stood open but unattended, their doors creaking softly as if something had just passed through. Curtains inside houses twitched ever so slightly—though there was no wind.
A narrow alley passed on their right.
Kiera instinctively turned her head.
For a split second, she thought she saw something move in the darkness.
Then it was gone.
"…Kai," she whispered, "did you see that?"
"No," he replied, though his grip on the handlebars tightened. "And don't look."
The air grew colder.
Not naturally cold—but heavy. Thick. Like breathing through something unseen.
"Here," Kai said, stopping briefly. He took off his jacket and handed it to her.
Kiera hesitated. "What about you?"
"I'm fine."
She accepted it slowly. "Thanks…"
Even with the jacket, the cold didn't leave.
By the time they reached Kenneth's street, the sun had begun its slow descent. Shadows stretched longer than they should, crawling unnaturally across the ground.
Then they saw him.
A child stood in the middle of the road.
Completely still.
Watching them.
Kiera forced a small smile. "Hey… are you lost?"
The child didn't respond.
He just stared.
Not at Kai.
Not at Kiera.
But through them.
Then suddenly—
He ran.
Disappearing into a narrow path between two houses.
"…Okay," Kiera whispered, "that was creepy."
Before Kai could respond, a door creaked open nearby.
Kenneth stepped out.
"Kai!"
Kai's expression lit up in relief. "Man… long time no see!"
They met halfway, exchanging a tight hug.
"It's been too long," Kenneth said.
Then his gaze shifted to Kiera.
"Oh—you must be…?"
Kiera froze slightly. "I—I thought you already knew me…"
Kenneth blinked. "Uh… no? Are you his girlfriend?" he teased.
Both Kai and Kiera spoke at the exact same time.
"Nah—just friends."
They paused, then awkwardly looked away.
Kenneth laughed. "Relax, I'm joking."
But something about his laugh felt… off.
Too forced.
"Come inside," he said.
The moment they stepped into the house, the smell hit them.
Rotten.
Heavy.
Sickening.
Kiera covered her nose instinctively. "What is that smell…?"
Kenneth scratched the back of his head. "Sorry about that. I've been busy trying to find help… haven't had time to clean."
Kai forced a smile. "It's fine. We'll help you out."
"You don't have to—"
"I insist," Kai interrupted.
Kiera nodded, though uneasily. "Yeah… we'll help."
Kenneth smiled. "Thanks. I'll prepare some food first."
As he walked away, Kiera leaned closer to Kai, lowering her voice.
"…That smells like something died in here."
"I know," Kai whispered back. "Try not to think about it."
But she couldn't stop thinking about it.
The house felt wrong.
Medicine bottles scattered across the floor.
Curtains drawn tight.
A faint buzzing sound in the air.
Kiera's eyes slowly drifted to a closed door down the hallway.
"…That's his dad's room, right?"
"Yeah," Kai said quietly.
A sudden thud came from inside.
Kiera flinched.
Then another.
Bang.
"Is… he okay?" she whispered.
"I don't know…"
Another sound followed.
Scratching.
Slow.
Dragging.
Kiera stepped closer to Kai. "I don't like this…"
"Stay close," he said, gently taking her hand.
Behind them—
Something moved.
Fast.
Silent.
But neither of them noticed.
Kai slowly approached the door.
The sounds grew louder.
Bang.
Scratch.
Thud.
He reached for the handle—
"Hey."
Both of them jumped.
Kenneth stood behind them.
"When did you get there?" Kai asked, trying to steady his voice.
"What were you doing outside my father's room?" Kenneth asked calmly.
"We heard noises," Kai said. "Thought he might need help."
Kenneth shook his head. "No need. He does that… randomly."
Kiera frowned. "Randomly?"
Kenneth smiled faintly. "Yeah."
There was something unsettling about how casually he said it.
"The food's almost ready," he added. "Let's clean first."
Cleaning helped distract them—but not completely.
Kiera couldn't stop glancing at the door.
Every time she did, she felt like something on the other side… was aware of her.
Watching.
Waiting.
Eventually, Kenneth left for the kitchen.
Kiera exhaled. "It's getting dark…"
Kai nodded. "Stay here. I'll talk to him for a bit."
"Please come back fast."
"I will."
As soon as Kai left, the house fell into a deeper silence.
Then—
BANG.
The door.
Kiera froze.
BANG.
Louder.
Her breathing quickened.
She stepped closer.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Pressing her ear against the door.
At first—
Nothing.
Then—
Whispering.
Faint.
Broken.
And crying.
Her eyes widened.
"Oh no…"
Her hand trembled as she reached for the lock.
Click.
She slowly opened the door.
The smell hit first.
Stronger than before.
Rotten.
Overwhelming.
Then she saw it.
Kenneth's father.
Lying on the bed.
His body… crawling.
Maggots.
Everywhere.
His skin discolored. Sunken.
Barely human.
Kiera staggered back—
And vomited.
She slammed the door shut.
"K-Kai…!"
Meanwhile—
Kai stepped into the kitchen.
"Kenny?"
No response.
"Kenneth?"
He saw him.
Standing in the corner.
Facing the wall.
Not moving.
"Kenny…?"
No response.
Kai reached for the light switch.
Click.
The light flickered on—
Kenneth was gone.
The corner was empty.
Kai's heart dropped.
"Oh no…"
Back in the living room—
Kiera stumbled backward.
Her vision blurred.
Then—
She saw it.
A figure.
In the corner.
Watching her.
Tall.
Still.
Wrong.
She blinked—
It vanished.
Her body froze completely.
"K-Kai…!"
Kai rushed back.
He saw her—pale, shaking, unable to move.
"Get out of here!" he shouted.
The air felt heavier.
Like something was closing in.
Kiera didn't move.
She couldn't.
Her mind was locked in fear.
Kai grabbed her hand tightly.
"Move!"
That snapped her out of it.
They ran.
The door burst open as they stumbled outside.
Neither of them looked back.
But behind them—
Something watched from the darkness inside the house.
And it did not follow.
Because it didn't need to.