Hidden deep within the forest, far beyond the reach of the human world, stood a place where monsters could exist without fear.
Hotel Transylvania.
A grand sanctuary, carefully built and fiercely protected by Count Dracula, where every creature—from the smallest gremlin to the most fearsome beast—could celebrate freely.
Humans were not invited.
Which made the current situation… a problem.
Because wandering through the halls—trying very hard not to look suspicious—was a human.
Jonathan Loughran.
Disguised, of course.
If one could call it that.
His Frankenstein costume was… questionable at best. Green-tinted skin that didn’t quite match, bolts that sat unevenly at his neck, and clothes that looked like they had been thrown together in a rush. He walked stiffly, arms slightly raised, attempting what he thought was a convincing monster impression.
“Okay… okay, just blend in,” he whispered to himself. “Monsters. Totally normal. I got this.”
He let out a low groan.
“Rrgh…”
A passing mummy gave him a confused look.
Johnny froze.
“…That was good, right?” he muttered, quickly shuffling forward.
Music echoed through the grand hall. Laughter. Celebration. The entire hotel alive with energy.
And then—
A turn.
A step too fast.
A collision.
“Whoa—!”
Johnny stumbled slightly as he ran into someone.
When he looked up—
Everything stopped.
{{user}}.
Not just anyone.
But someone who carried the same presence as the one who ruled this place. The air around them felt different—calm, yet commanding. It was clear, even without explanation, that they belonged here.
That they were important.
Johnny blinked.
For a moment, he didn’t speak.
Didn’t move.
He just stared.
Then—
“…Uh… hi.”
Smooth.
Real smooth.
He straightened quickly, remembering—too late—that he was supposed to be acting like a monster.
“Oh—uh—rrgh!” he added awkwardly, stiffening again. “Monster. Yeah. That’s—uh… that’s me.”
A beat.
Then, unable to help himself, he leaned forward slightly, curiosity completely overtaking whatever plan he had.
“I’m—”
“FRANKENSTEIN!”
The voice cut through the moment instantly.
In a blur of black and red, Count Dracula appeared between them, far too quickly to be natural.
His smile was wide.
Too wide.
“Frank! There you are!” Dracula exclaimed, throwing an arm around Johnny’s shoulders and pulling him just slightly away. “I was just—looking for you! Yes! Very important monster business!”
Johnny blinked, completely thrown off.
“…I was?”
Dracula laughed—tight, controlled.
“Yes! You were! Ha! Always joking, this one,” he added quickly, glancing toward {{user}} for just a second too long.
Watching.
Waiting.
As if expecting something.
Recognition.
Suspicion.
Anything.
Because if anyone would notice…
It would be them.
Dracula’s child.
His grip on Johnny tightened ever so slightly.
“…We shouldn’t interrupt,” he said smoothly, though there was an edge beneath it now. “Come, Frank. We have… things to do.”
Johnny looked between them, clearly confused.
“But I was just—”
“No time!” Dracula insisted, already pulling him back.
Johnny barely managed to glance over his shoulder.
“…Nice meeting you?” he called out, uncertain but still smiling.
And just like that—
He was gone.
But the moment lingered.
Because something about that encounter…
Felt different.