Kapitel 187: In the Name of Halloween (6)

"In ten minutes, we start! You all ready?" Senbarisu's voice cut through the room, sharp as ever, as she jabbed a finger toward the group of students standing nearby. Each one of them was decked out in their Halloween costumes, the haunted house attraction they'd worked on buzzing in the background.

Finished props, crooked structures, and half-dismantled furniture cluttered the space. The maze they had crafted wasn't just for show — it would rattle anyone who dared step inside, especially with the different horror-themed zones waiting to catch guests off guard.

"Ready as we'll ever be, old hag!" one of the students shouted, smirking behind their mask. The smugness earned them a quick piece of chalk aimed dead-center, the snap of it hitting their mask sending a sharp crack into the air, followed by a loud ding. Laughter erupted from the surrounding students, the light-hearted moment breaking the tension.

Senbarisu barely cracked a smile as she bellowed, "Alright, positions!" The order sent them scrambling, eager to take their places before the first wave of guests arrived.

Yasushi remained by her side, Hana right next to him, calm in the midst of the rush of activity. "Everything's set on our end," Yasushi said, almost too casual given the chaos. "Water bottles and snacks are stashed in hidden corners for every group. They can keep hydrated and fueled up while they're working. The schedule for shifts looks solid too, no hiccups expected."

"We're in much better shape than last year. The schedule gives everyone at least thirty minutes of rest, spread out through the day. That should keep us going strong the whole time," Yasushi said. His eyes flicked between the two standing beside him, both nodding along as he spoke.

"I'll head off and get ready. Hana, you go outside to your spot. Seni, I trust you can cover whatever else needs handling, yeah?" His gaze shifted to the two women, expecting no resistance.

"Don't call your teacher by some bratty nickname," Senbarisu fired back, her tone cutting but with an edge of humor as she jabbed him on the shoulder. It wasn't hard, but it hit the mark enough to send a message.

"Got it. Good luck," Hana responded, already turning to leave as she went to join another student stationed to assist the guests outside.

Senbarisu moved toward the back of the setup, her steps purposeful. Yasushi made his way toward the section where Jingliu and Xinyi were waiting. They were stationed inside one of the themed zones, decked out in costumes that matched the two deities they were supposed to represent.

As Yasushi reached their area, the lights suddenly dimmed until darkness swallowed the room. Only the floor lights and a few eerie sources of glow remained, casting unsettling shadows across the entire setup, amplifying the atmosphere they had worked to create.

He popped his head into the zone where Jingliu and Xinyi stood, costumes blending into the oppressive darkness. "We've got two minutes before showtime. You two doing alright?"

The two students, now fully in their costumes, turned toward him, smiles plastered across their faces. Xinyi couldn't resist striking a ridiculous pose, her voice cutting through the dimness as she declared, "Obviously. I nailed those lines like butter on toast!" Her tone dripped with pride, her chest puffed out as if she'd just conquered a world stage.

Jingliu shot her a look, brows furrowed. "We're ready. But that's a weird comparison to make, Xinyi."

"I came up with it on the spot!" Xinyi's face lit up, her words rushing out, brimming with unfiltered enthusiasm. "Last year, I barely got noticed. But this time, I'm front and center. Goddess Xinyi, in full glory!" She struck another exaggerated pose, clearly milking her moment.

Before she could go further, Senbarisu's voice exploded from across the room, cutting through the noise like a gunshot. "Xinyi, shut it! We're about to kick this thing off!"

The outburst brought snickers from nearby. Xinyi huffed, folding her arms over her chest, but she kept her mouth shut as the room fell into deeper darkness. The mood shifted as the lights continued to dim, enveloping everything in shadows. The only remaining glow painted the room in a sinister hue, setting the stage for what was to come.

Jingliu leaned over, pressed a quick kiss to Yasushi's cheek, and whispered, "You better get out of here. You don't want to be spotted hanging around."

"Yeah, last thing we need is the staff being seen in the middle of all this." He returned the kiss with a quick peck on her lips before slipping out into the dark.

Yasushi made it to the designated staff spot just in time. He glanced around once before his attention snapped to the front. The doors creaked open, and the first group wandered in. A family — parents and two kids, both around ten — strolled forward, completely unaware of what was waiting ahead.

The first section was a joke, really. Some zombie hands jutted out from holes in the wall, waving around in a half-assed attempt to scare. The family just laughed. They moved on to the second part, where a couple of students in cheap costumes jumped out, barely managing a half-hearted "Boo!" Again, more laughter followed, the kids giggling like they'd seen it all before.

But when they crossed into the third section, everything changed. The room carried a different feel. A slight haze clung low, barely rising to their ankles, enough to add a layer of unease. The parents tensed up, sensing the change, while the kids grew quieter.

Two girls from the class emerged from narrow gaps on both sides of the room, slithering along the floor like broken dolls. Every time they moved, the sickening sound of their joints snapping, bones grinding together, filled the air. The noise cut through the laughter, leaving nothing but a rising discomfort. The family, so carefree before, suddenly found themselves taking a step back, instinct taking over. No one was laughing now.

Once the two girls stood up, their fake hair hung down, covering their faces, with streaks of fake blood running down their arms, pooling around their feet. Their skin, painted pale, gave off the illusion of something long dead. The croaking sound of their voices echoed through the room as they spoke. "Where...are...my...babies?" The question came out slowly, each word dragging like it hurt to say. Then, without warning, they lunged forward, their bodies jerking in an unnatural way as they closed the gap.

The family's screams tore through the room as they scrambled to get past the two girls. Hands flailed wildly, feet stumbled over each other, desperate to escape. One of the girls managed to swipe a hand close enough to brush against them, the faint touch making the screams even louder, more panicked. But the girls didn't chase.

They just stood there, grinning as the family fled, the fear they'd created lingering even after the family disappeared into the next room. A silent nod passed between them before they sank back into position, ready for the next group.

The family, breathing hard, ran down a dimly lit corridor, the sounds of their footsteps echoing off the walls. When they reached the fourth section, they slowed down. It was unlike the others. A fake tree stood in the center, its branches sagging under the weight of bloodstained cherry blossoms.

The petals floated down, falling softly, creating an eerie contrast. Around the tree, students in fairy costumes danced, laughing, twirling in mock joy. Their laughter rang out, but something about it didn't feel right.

Two figures stood apart from the rest — a Jiangshi, stiff and lifeless, its movements jerky and cold, and a Nekomata, its feline eyes glowing, body slinking with a quiet menace. The fairies' laughter stopped the second the family entered. Every set of eyes locked onto them, and the once carefree scene twisted into something darker.

The Jiangshi and Nekomata moved first, growling low, their bodies tensing, ready to pounce. The fairies followed, their movements losing any trace of joy, now resembling predators stalking prey. The growling grew louder, filling the space, and the family, still shaken, could feel their fear rising again. It worked.

They all bolted at once, sprinting toward the family, wild shrieks filling the air as they moved. Growls broke through the screams, spit dripping from their open mouths, and the sight alone had the family losing what little composure they had left.

The daughter's scream cracked, turning into sobs, her eyes filling up as tears ran down her cheeks. She didn't hold back. The father, trying to keep himself steady, lifted her off the ground, grabbed his son by the arm, and broke into a full sprint.

The mother followed right behind, their feet hammering against the floor as they pushed past the lunging figures, the bloody tree, and out through another door.

"I'm starting to regret coming here. I didn't even want to be here!" the wife managed between breaths, her voice cracking under the weight of it. She wiped her eyes, fighting to stay calm. "I never liked horror. I only came because you did!"

The husband, panting hard, shot her a look, wide-eyed. "I thought you liked this stuff! I was just going along with it!" His voice carried that edge of disbelief, like he had just realized how messed up this whole situation was. "I hate horror! I'm no good at this!"

Both of them paused for a moment, the ridiculousness of their mutual misunderstanding sinking in. They looked at each other, stunned, while their kids tugged at their arms. Their son, beaming, broke the tension with a grin. "This is fun! I want more!"

The family stumbled into the next section, still catching their breath. But when they looked ahead, confusion set in. The scene was nothing like before.

Students stood before them, dressed in strange costumes, some with fish heads, others with pumpkins for heads. They seemed to lack any of the menace from the previous rooms.

There was no looming threat, no growling, no eerie presence. Instead, the students jumped around, laughing and leaping, moving from side to side in exaggerated hops. Their arms flailed wildly, as if putting on a clumsy, chaotic show. The strange sight left the family frozen, uncertain, their screams replaced by dumbfounded stares.

The moment dragged on, tension building. A slow, eerie melody crept into the air, sounding like something pulled from a twisted music box. The rhythm started steady, but it warped, the notes becoming wrong.

The sound curled around them, settling into their nerves, twisting everything into unease. Before they could process it, the students in costumes began to bleed. Thin streams of blood slid down their skin, soaking into their clothing. Then they stopped moving altogether. The laughter and frolicking ended abruptly, replaced by an eerie stillness. They just stared at the family.

A voice broke through the silence, thick and unsettling. "Humans… stepping into our space wasn't smart." It felt like it came from everywhere at once, bouncing off walls that didn't seem to hold sound before, pressing in on them. The source was impossible to pin down.

The lights overhead flickered, quick flashes that threw the room into bursts of dark and light. The effect was dizzying, disorienting. It played with their perception, drawing them into the moment, unsettling in its rhythm until a shadow loomed behind them.

"And… you should leave," came a whisper, soft but clear, right in the mother's ear. Her breath caught. The woman jumped, spinning around, her heart hammering. Standing behind her was a woman — no, something less than whole.

The woman's face was split, half of it missing, skin hanging in ragged edges, bone exposed underneath. The exposed side remained bare, skeletal, but the other half smiled wide, crooked.

The woman leaned in, her hand extending, her smile growing. She poked the daughter lightly, and that broke the fragile control. The girl's scream pierced the air, her crying louder than before, uncontrollable. The mother barely had time to react before the rest of the family broke into full flight, tearing out of the room, their fear reaching new heights.

The family barely registered the next few rooms in front of them. Their legs moved faster than their thoughts. Before any of the students in costume could react, they shot past, their panic too strong to pause. Some of the actors stood stunned, while others couldn't help but laugh at the sight of their terror, but it didn't slow the family down. They barreled through the halls, reaching what looked like the final room.

It was much bigger than the rest. In front of them, several students were standing, all dressed in what looked like armor, the shimmering blue hue giving an almost otherworldly feel to it.

The center of attention, however, was Furuya, who was suspended in the middle of the room, held by chains that clinked and rattled whenever he moved. His voice echoed as soon as he saw the family enter, his enthusiasm spilling over into every word.

"Welcome, mortals! You've arrived at the throne room of the goddesses. Prepare yourselves—you're here for their amusement until they appear!" His booming voice filled the space, clearly loving his role.

As he spoke, music filled the air, low and menacing. The haze that had been creeping in earlier now thickened, rolling across the floor in waves that swallowed the ground.

The rest of the students in the room started marching in place, their synchronized steps pounding rhythmically against the floor. Another group hummed softly, their low, steady notes adding to the growing tension.

Without warning, the marching stopped, and the students began to close in, their footsteps slow, deliberate. They moved toward the family in a circle, tightening their path until the family found themselves trapped, no way out. A full minute of this dragged on, the tension suffocating as the students' movements seemed mechanical.

Then they froze, every one of them, not a single motion. The family stood there, confusion written on their faces, unsure of what to expect next.

"Welcome, dear guest, to our world," Xinyi announced, mimicking the voice of Tengliu, a figure from Chinese myths. She stood tall, holding her fan high. Beside her, Jingliu echoed the sentiment.

"For what purpose have you come here?" Jingliu's tone was more questioning, the kind meant to unsettle.

Both girls stood on a stage that had been hastily put together but managed to create an effect with the fake snow, icy decorations, and cardboard props that lined the edges. They gave off an eerie feeling that felt off-kilter.

The family could see Furuya and his classmates stepping aside, almost like a ritual, clearing a path toward the stage. The hesitation was clear on their faces, but they walked forward, their steps uncertain.

In the background, the distant shrieks and shouts from other groups echoed through the house, growing louder, feeding the anxious energy. Every scream added weight to their nervousness, as if someone might grab them next, drag them into a nightmare they couldn't escape.

When they reached the front of the stage, Xinyi, still playing the part, lifted her fan, pointing it directly at the father and his son. "What will you offer in sacrifice?" Her voice carried a seriousness that the props couldn't.

The father blinked in confusion, caught off guard. "S-sacrifice?" His words faltered as his son cut in, too young to care.

"My Twix bar!" the boy shouted, pulling out a crumpled candy, unbothered by the tension in the room.

Xinyi's mouth twitched as she tried to hold it together. Her composure nearly cracked, the corner of her lips betraying a smirk. With visible effort, she drew a breath, managing to keep it together, then nodded.

"You have shown courage by offering something to me without fear," she finally responded, reaching out to take the candy. Her voice regained that authoritative tone, though just barely. Jingliu nodded in approval beside her, playing along without breaking her role.

"Very well. You may leave," Xinyi continued. She kept the candy in hand, like it had sealed their fate.

A new path lit up, guiding the family towards the exit of the haunted house. They moved quickly, eager to leave behind the twisted scenes they'd just passed through. The experience seemed to have left its mark, though one voice refused to let it go.

"Again!" the boy's voice rang out, defiant and filled with excitement.

A stern, resounding "No!" from the family followed, echoing through the air. Laughter spilled from a few of them, though the tension still lingered.

"Alright, back to positions. Another group's on its way," Jingliu commanded, already moving into place. Her tone held the authority of someone who'd done this more times than she cared to count. Around her, everyone scrambled to reset, getting ready for the next wave.

Furuya, always ready to push the game further, couldn't help himself. "I hope someone refuses this time," he muttered, his grin widening as he spoke. "I want to chase them down to that creepy music we picked." His laugh cut through the air, loud enough for the others to join in. The idea of another run had the same effect on them as it did on him — something to look forward to.

His classmates, decked out in their "troops" costumes, all nodded. It was part of the game they played, the twist that made it fun. The rules were simple: if the visitors offered anything, even the most ridiculous thing imaginable, they'd be allowed to walk away untouched.

But if they refused, that's when Furuya and his so-called army would spring into action. They'd rush forward, waving their fake weapons, creating one last burst of panic before driving them from the room, leaving their victims with a final scare.