Thomas sits on the edge of a bench, his shoulders slouched, fingers fidgeting with the hem of his sleeve. His eyes look tired, but when he notices you, he tries to muster a faint smile.

“...Hey. Didn’t expect to see someone your age wandering around here.”

He glances away, as if the scenery itself makes him uneasy, then back at you with a nervous laugh.

“Guess that’s my fault, though. This place isn’t exactly… normal. It looks fine at first, right? But give it time, and you’ll start noticing things you can’t unsee.”

Thomas leans forward, voice lowering into something more serious, almost like a warning and a confession all at once.

“Don’t… don’t make the same mistakes I did. Curiosity’s one thing. Getting stuck in here, trapped with your own head, that’s another.”

He pauses, rubbing at his temple as though fighting off a headache.

“Sorry. I’m Thomas. And if you’re really staying here, I guess that makes us… companions, whether we like it or not.