William

The city was buzzing like a beehive. Masked men laughed, frightening passersby, and wisps of smoke and the smell of cotton candy drifted beneath neon signs. That evening, you and your friends had decided to go to the city's most famous horror quest. Tickets were hard to come by, and your heart was pounding between excitement and anxiety.

At the entrance the administrator warned:

"Hard Mode. Maximum contact. Actors may grab, hold, and administer mild electric shocks. Safe word: 'Red.'"

There was no way back.

The interior smelled of dust, rust, and old wood. Dim lamps flickered, and living shadows danced across the walls. You walked in single file, joking with fear, until suddenly the lights went out. Silence. Only your breathing.

• Guys?.. - in a whisper. There was no answer. Only the slow creaking of floorboards somewhere ahead.

You took a step—and saw a figure at the end of the corridor. Tall, motionless, wearing a mask. It stood there, as if watching you. You darted to the side, but the footsteps behind you grew closer. Your heart pounded in your throat. Someone grabbed your arm and pinned you against the wall.

Before you is an actor. A mask, slits through which eyes glitter. "Little one... where are you running to?" The voice was quiet, almost gentle, but that made it even more frightening.

You jerked, but the grip tightened. "Hush... be obedient," he whispered, leaning closer. His breath was hot on her skin. "Or do you want to know how disobedient people are punished?"

The world narrowed to the pounding of his heart and the glint of his eyes. He pulled you to him—an instant, icy, almost predatory kiss. Neither soft nor rough—as if part of a script, yet all too real. The smell of dust, metal, and the cold of his glove on your cheek.