アプリをダウンロード
64.28% Deadly Delights Inn / Chapter 9: A Key to Nowhere

章 9: A Key to Nowhere

Ezra spent the next morning scrubbing the foyer floor with the enthusiasm of someone trying to erase his problems. He wasn't sure what to do about the key—or the creepy, hooded "master" who'd apparently decided Ezra was their chosen one. Chosen for what, exactly? Probably something involving death, doom, or more cryptic riddles.

"Chosen," he muttered, scowling at a particularly stubborn scuff mark. "Why couldn't I be chosen for something normal, like winning the lottery? Or free pizza for life?"

The faint creak of floorboards made him look up. Grimwald stood in the doorway, arms crossed, his expression unreadable as usual.

"Can I help you?" Ezra asked, straightening. "Or is this another ominous visit where you say five cryptic words and then vanish into the shadows?"

Grimwald's eyebrow twitched, but he ignored the jab. "You've been restless."

Ezra let out a dry laugh. "Restless? Yeah, well, having a haunted key follow me around like a needy puppy will do that."

Grimwald stepped closer, his gaze flicking to Ezra's pocket. "The key is not your enemy."

"Oh, great," Ezra said, throwing up his hands. "Now it's allies with me? Should I take it out for coffee? Maybe buy it flowers?"

"You mock what you do not understand," Grimwald said flatly. "The key chose you for a reason."

Ezra sighed, rubbing his temples. "If one more person tells me I've been chosen without explaining what that actually means, I'm going to lose it."

Grimwald's lips pressed into a thin line. "The answer lies in the west wing."

Ezra froze. "The west wing? You mean the place I'm not supposed to go? The one that nearly killed me last time?"

"You have the key now," Grimwald said simply. "The choice is yours."

Before Ezra could respond, Grimwald turned and walked away, leaving him alone with his bucket and a growing sense of dread.

---

By mid-afternoon, Ezra found himself standing in front of the west wing corridor, the key burning a hole in his pocket. He'd spent hours debating whether to go—or just chuck the key into the nearest fireplace. But his curiosity, as always, got the better of him.

"Alright," he muttered, gripping the lantern tightly as he stepped into the hallway. "If this goes south, I'm blaming Grimwald."

The corridor was darker than he remembered, the air heavy with that metallic tang he'd grown to hate. The doors lining the hall loomed like silent sentinels, their carved patterns shifting in the flickering lantern light. Ezra walked slowly, the sound of his boots echoing unnervingly.

When he reached the plain wooden door at the end of the corridor, he hesitated. The last time he'd opened this door, he'd been chased out by music, shadows, and what he was pretty sure was an actual ghost. The key in his pocket hummed softly, urging him forward.

"Yeah, yeah, I hear you," Ezra muttered, pulling the key out. "Let's get this over with."

He slid the key into the lock, and with a soft click, the door creaked open. The room beyond was just as he remembered—small, bare, and dominated by the cursed music box sitting on the table in the center. The moment he stepped inside, the door slammed shut behind him.

"Of course," he said, glancing back at the door. "Because why wouldn't it?"

---

The music box gleamed faintly in the dim light, its brass surface tarnished but still strangely alluring. Ezra approached it cautiously, half expecting the shadows to leap out and attack him again.

"Alright," he said, crossing his arms. "I'm here. What do you want from me?"

The music box didn't respond, but the air in the room grew heavier, pressing against his chest like a physical weight. The key in his hand vibrated slightly, and before he could think better of it, he placed it into the small lock on the music box.

The moment the key turned, the room went dark.

"Okay, nope," Ezra muttered, fumbling with the lantern. "Not doing this again."

The music box began to play, its haunting melody wrapping around him like a shroud. Ezra's breath hitched as the shadows in the room started to move, twisting and coiling like living things. He backed away, his heart pounding.

"Alright, cool," he said, his voice shaking. "You've got your spooky vibes. Can I go now?"

A soft, raspy whisper filled the air, and Ezra froze. The shadows gathered in the center of the room, forming a vague, humanoid shape. Its hollow eyes burned into him, and Ezra felt his knees weaken.

"You called," the figure said, its voice barely more than a breath.

"I didn't call anyone!" Ezra snapped, gripping the lantern like a weapon. "The key did all the work—I'm just here because Grimwald told me to be!"

The figure tilted its head, studying him. "You hold the key. You opened the door. The choice was yours."

"Great," Ezra muttered. "Now even the shadows are blaming me. Fantastic."

The figure stepped closer, its movements slow and deliberate. "Do you wish to know the truth?"

Ezra hesitated. "That depends. Does the truth come with free therapy?"

The shadow didn't laugh, but there was a flicker of something in its hollow gaze—amusement, perhaps. "The key unlocks more than doors. It reveals what is hidden."

"Hidden, huh?" Ezra said. "Let me guess. Another riddle?"

Before the shadow could answer, the music box's melody shifted, its haunting notes twisting into something darker. The shadows around the room surged, pressing closer.

Ezra stumbled back, his heart hammering. "Okay, nope. This is above my pay grade. I'm out."

But the door wouldn't budge. The shadow figure stepped closer, its voice low and insistent. "The key is only the beginning. What lies beyond is your choice to make."

Ezra closed his eyes, gripping the lantern tightly. "Yeah, well, I choose to survive. Thanks, but no thanks."

When he opened his eyes, the room was empty. The music box sat silent on the table, the key still in its lock.

---

Back in his room, Ezra threw the key onto the nightstand and slumped onto the cot. His hands were shaking, and his chest felt tight.

"Worst. Job. Ever," he muttered, staring at the ceiling. "Grimwald better give me a raise after this."

The whispers didn't return that night, but Ezra couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't alone. The shadows on the walls seemed darker, heavier, and the key on the nightstand gleamed faintly, like it was watching him.

He turned onto his side, pulling the blanket over his head. "I'm done," he said firmly. "No more keys. No more doors. No more creepy music boxes."

But even as he closed his eyes, the melody of the music box played softly in the back of his mind.


クリエイターの想い
furrfun furrfun

"Ezra’s bravery—or lack thereof—continues to shine as he unlocks a door he probably shouldn’t have. Would you have turned the key, or staged a dramatic runaway instead? Let me know while I reconsider the wisdom of keeping any mysterious music boxes in my house."

Load failed, please RETRY

週次パワーステータス

Rank -- 推薦 ランキング
Stone -- 推薦 チケット

バッチアンロック

目次

表示オプション

バックグラウンド

フォント

大きさ

章のコメント

レビューを書く 読み取りステータス: C9
投稿に失敗します。もう一度やり直してください
  • テキストの品質
  • アップデートの安定性
  • ストーリー展開
  • キャラクターデザイン
  • 世界の背景

合計スコア 0.0

レビューが正常に投稿されました! レビューをもっと読む
パワーストーンで投票する
Rank NO.-- パワーランキング
Stone -- 推薦チケット
不適切なコンテンツを報告する
error ヒント

不正使用を報告

段落のコメント

ログイン