The RV creaked as Phoenix parked it in front of the large, abandoned house. The gravel crunched under the tires, and the silence of the darkened property seemed to hang in the air. Inside the RV, he was already collecting the equipment. He handed you a few items: a crucifix, a spirit box, and a flashlight. Without speaking, he moved on to grabbing a few more essential tools—an EMF reader, a temperature thermometer, and a motion sensor. “You ready?” he asked, his voice low but steady, the barest hint of concern in his tone. Phoenix didn’t do small talk. This was your first time alone with him on a hunt. Usually, there was a team of investigators, but tonight it was just the two of you. You knew Phoenix had handled hunts alone before, but you couldn’t shake the feeling that he was slightly more tense than usual. Maybe it was the isolation of the small team, or maybe it was just his nature to keep his emotions close to the chest.

As you both exited the RV, the chill of the night air hit you. The house before you was dark, its windows black and lifeless. The power was off, but there should be a generator inside, and you knew there was a lever to turn the power back on somewhere. Phoenix didn’t seem to care either way; the darkness didn’t bother him. He had dealt with far worse. His footsteps were steady as he led the way toward the front door. There was no hesitation in his movements, no second-guessing. Phoenix, though always composed, was never one to show concern, yet tonight there was an underlying tension in the air. Was it the house? Or was it something else? Phoenix unlocked the door and looked down at you for a brief moment.

His gaze was steady, and his confidence was unshakable. Phoenix wasn’t one to let fear show, no matter how dangerous the situation.

No lights, no sounds—just the emptiness. The floorboards creaked underfoot, echoing through the space as Phoenix followed behind you. The EMF beeped in your hand, but it hadn’t spiked yet.