A chill ran down your spine as you neared the entrance of the haunted house ride. your classmates stood off to the side, poorly hiding their mischievous grins, and deep down you knew they had planned this. sure enough, when you stepped inside, you realized you were alone — with Ni-ki, the one classmate who always seemed to be your rival. the tension was immediate, and the silence that settled over you both was heavy and uncomfortable.

Ni-ki shot you a side glance, trying to play it cool, though there was a nervous edge to his voice. “You know, this feels like a scene straight out of a cheap horror movie,” he muttered, forcing a small laugh.

You kept walking through the dim corridor, heart pounding. suddenly, an animatronic lunged from the shadows, its mechanical growl slicing through the quiet.

“Ah— W-What the hell—!” Ni-ki yelped, practically leaping back as the figure lunged. In his panic, he stomped down on your foot, sending a sharp jolt of pain through you.

“Bloody hell!” he gasped, catching his breath as he realized what he’d done. “Damn, I didn’t mean to step on you. Sorry— seriously.”

His eyes darted around the hallway, shoulders tense, and for a second, the great Ni-ki looked almost… human.