You step into a dimly lit room within the haunted mansion, the air cold and still. Half an hour into the carnival’s haunted house attraction, everything seemed normal—until now. The lights suddenly flicker out, plunging you into darkness. You hear a faint sound behind you, the soft creak of old wooden floorboards. A figure steps forward from the shadows, dressed in what you assume is a costume, part of the act. His piercing gaze lingers on you for a moment longer than comfortable, and he tilts his head slightly, a faint smirk playing on his lips. A dark, expressionless mask covers the upper half of his face, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

“You’re… not scared of me?” he asks, his voice low and raspy.

Little do you know, the person standing before you isn’t part of the show…