I could feel my hands growing colder and clammy, the sensation permeating even into my dreams. Meanwhile, her hands were warm and comforting, a soothing contrast to my own. I mused for a split second about what she might be thinking about my hands, were they as cold as they felt to me? Or did she find them warm and inviting in their own way? The thought lingered in my mind as I started looking around us, starting to tremble.

It was some kind of basement, but to my surprise, it wasn't as cold as I had expected. I eagerly took a sip of the beer I grabbed, and it was like tasting glory. The refreshing sensation as it went down my throat felt like I was experiencing my first beer all over again. I turned my head to check if Chiara was still there, and to my relief, she was smiling at me. In that moment, I couldn't help but let go of her hand reflexively. Even though she looked confused, I tried to play it cool by winking at her, even though I felt silly and nervous on the inside.

"So, now what?" She asked, looking at everything around us.

"Do you think someone lives here?" The emptiness of the station certainly suggested that it was possible. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this place than met the eye.

We could very possibly be intruding into someone's private space. The self-confidence that had filled me just a moment ago started to slowly dissipate and I was once again that anxious boy who always needed to act exactly how it was expected of him. I wondered if it was the right thing to do, or if it even mattered at all.

What if we were caught? What if we were mistaken for burglars? What would be the consequences to entering unexpectedly into someone else's dream?

These thoughts raced through my mind, and I began to feel more and more apprehensive. Perhaps we should have waited or asked for permission first. But then again, maybe this was our only chance to uncover the truth. We had to take this risk, no matter how uncomfortable it made us feel.

But besides all my anxiety, the biggest worry of them all was to make sure she didn't notice that.

"I think we are the only ones here," my companion whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of our footsteps on the dusty floor.

As we approached an old pool table covered in light blue felt, I couldn't help but wonder if she meant we were alone in the basement or in the whole world around us. The silence was so complete, it was as if time itself had stopped in this forgotten corner of the universe.

But I felt that way too.

Her eyes were fixed on the billiard ball that she was holding. It was the number eight ball and its black color was painted on it with such precision that it looked like a work of art. She held it up and shook it vigorously, as if to test its weight and balance. Her eyes followed the ball's movement for a few seconds before she finally set it down on the table. I couldn't help but wonder what was going through her mind as she examined the intricacies of the ball's design and construction. She gave it a turn and I realized it wasn't a regular 8 ball, but a magic one.

"What did you ask it?" I asked, stepping closer to her. I couldn't help but notice the same sweet scent of her hair. It reminded me of the smell of fresh raindrops just fallen on blades of grass.

I was curious, but hoped that it wasn't something too personal. The last thing I would have wanted to do was to make her feel I was intruding.

"Uh?" She blushed and turned around, probably not expecting me to be that close to her. "If this is where I'm meant to be." She responded, shrugging, like it wasn't deep and at the same time a little bit sad.

I squinted my eyes and she showed me what the eight ball had responded.

I cleared my throat before speaking, "As I see it, yes." I read aloud, her bright smile returned, causing her freckles to dance on her cheeks. They looked like little drops of brown paint on a canvas, adding to her already beauty. I couldn't help but admire her for a moment before continuing our conversation.

"It's your turn!" she said with a warm smile on her face, I felt a sense of relief wash over me, like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

The anxiety that had been coiled tightly in my stomach began to dissipate, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for her calming presence.

With a childlike wonder, I gave the ball a shake. It rattled in my hand, the sound echoing through the empty room. I closed my eyes, trying to focus my thoughts on a question, any question. But my mind was blank, and I found myself struggling to come up with anything. And then, without warning, a single thought popped into my head. It was a strange question, but I said it out loud anyway, feeling silly but also strangely satisfied.

"Why are we here? Together?" I whispered to the ball, so quietly I wasn't even sure Chiara had heard me.

"Wow, deep." She said, and for a second I thought she was mocking me. Then I opened her eyes and saw her looking at me, almost with admiration. This time she was the one who got closer to the ball, to see the answer.

"Better not to... tell you now?" She read aloud in a confused tone. "What does that even mean?"

A loud thump coming from the wall that the basement shared with the gas station startled both of us. Chiara let out a piercing scream and I fumbled, accidentally dropping the ball on the floor. The glass shattered into a hundred pieces, some of them almost embedding into my skin, causing pain to shoot through my hand. Despite the discomfort, there was no time to complain as we realized that something was clearly amiss on the other side of the wall.

We stood frozen, unsure of what to do next, as the silence was punctuated only by our rapid breathing.

Another thump, it sounded like someone actively hitting the wall with something. A hammer, maybe?

I frantically looked around our surroundings, but aside from some old and worn-out furniture, there was nothing else that could serve as a hiding place. We ran quick behind a rotten sofa, but it was almost a skeleton. There was no guarantee that whoever was on the other side wouldn't find us.

The tension within the room was palpable, and it felt as though we had suddenly been transported from a slice-of-life movie into a horror film in just a split second. My heart raced with fear as I tried to think of a plan to keep us safe. Perhaps we could try to create a distraction or find a better hiding spot, but the uncertainty of our situation made it difficult to decide on a course of action. All we could do was wait and hope that whoever was out there wouldn't find us.

And then the lights went off, and this time I was the one who screamed.

Only a single light remained on. Electric blue, buzzing, as if calling from the top of some stairs I hadn't noticed before. Almost beckoning us to come closer, I really want to say we knew better than to listen to it. Our hearts racing, we frantically looked around for another place to hide, but there was nowhere to go.

Suddenly, we heard a loud crash as what was probably one of the shelves from the other side fell to the ground. It was then that we realized whoever was coming for us was getting closer, and they weren't happy.

Our minds raced as we tried to come up with a plan, but it was no use. We were trapped, with no way out and no one to turn to for help.

"Jasper!" In some weird way, her voice gave me the strength I needed, and as I approached the staircase, I could see her silhouette waiting for me at the top.

I slowly made my way up the steps, my heart pounding in my chest with anticipation. When I finally reached her, she was trembling with fear, and her words came out in a rush.

"I'm sorry, Jasper. I'm so sorry." I could feel her desperation, she couldn't stop shaking.

"Why? What's happening?" I exclaimed in shock, my mind racing with thoughts that were appearing too fast for me to even register them.

She tried pushing and pulling the door, but it wouldn't budge. The paint on the walls was peeling and the furniture looked even older than before. It was changing right before our eyes.

"Because I said there was no one here! I'm not sure. Or because I left the bus. I'm pretty sure I wasn't meant to do it in the first place!" Tears filled her eyes, I didn't have time to freak out like that.

"Not right now. Listen to me. You're good. You are with me. Okay?" I whispered, my voice soft and low. I could see the fear in her eyes, the trembling in her hands. I knew I had to be strong for her, to reassure her that everything was going to be alright.

I gently placed both of my hands on her cheeks, feeling the warmth of her skin under my fingertips. I could feel her body relax a little at my touch, and I knew I was doing the right thing.

"I won't let anything happen to you," I said, my voice filled with conviction. "You're safe with me. I'll protect you no matter what."

I held her gaze for a few more moments, wanting to make sure that she believed me. Then I slowly released her, giving her a small smile to let her know that everything was going to be okay.

She placed her hand on the door handle, her fingers trembling. With a sudden jolt, the door opened before us and we both ran to escape the room, our hearts racing with fear and adrenaline.

I don't know why I still expected things to make sense, but I did. So finding us both standing at the entrance of an old house almost gave me whiplash.

My eyes caught sight of the door when I turned. It was a simple wooden door with a small window of glass in the middle. Without any issues, I opened it and looked outside. The garden was beautiful, filled with colorful flowers and lush green grass. Something was off. The basement was nowhere to be seen.

The realization sent shivers down my spine, and I couldn't help but wonder what had happened to it. Had it vanished into thin air? Or was it never there to begin with?

"It's fine, here. There's no one coming," I reassured the redhead, feeling the need to comfort her in this abandoned place.

I noticed she was shivering and offered her my jacket, hoping it would warm her up. As we sat in silence, I began to appreciate the eerie beauty of the place. The wind howled through the broken windows, and the sound of our breathing echoed off the walls.

"I have a bad feeling about this." Her hand moved closer to mine and I instinctively held it. I knew that we were in this together, whatever it was. Looking around, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The air was thick with an unfamiliar scent. "What the fuck is this place?"

I looked at her, my heart pounding in my chest. I knew that I couldn't back down now, not when she needed me the most.

"Let's find out together," I said, trying to reassure her with my words even though I was just as scared as she was. I took a deep breath and tried to steel myself for what was to come.

It was an interesting situation to be in. I found myself wondering how I had become the one who was always taking initiative. It was quite surprising, given how afraid I was of making the wrong choice. Despite this fear, I couldn't help but feel empowered by the fact that she was relying on me.

It felt like a weight on my shoulders, but at the same time, it gave me a sense of purpose and direction. I couldn't let her down. I had to make sure that everything was going to be okay.

It felt nice.

The house, with its old and dark wood and stone materials, had a unique design with numerous hallways. They seemed to have no beginning or end, and as we explored, we soon found ourselves trapped in between countless middles that didn't lead us anywhere in particular. Unfortunately, most of these middles were narrow, gloomy, and had a distinct humid stench that was hard to ignore.

It felt like a murky cloud had stopped right on top of us, making it difficult to breathe. Although we were surrounded by darkness, we couldn't hear any thumping behind the walls.

It was worse.

The silence was so thick that I could hear my own heart beating in my ears. Unbearable. The tiny windows that let the sunlight in seemed to make everything worse, casting a harsh light that illuminated every detail of the room, almost like a pair of watchful eyes judging every single one of our steps.

It was as if the very air itself was holding its breath in anticipation of what was to come.

Despite the stillness, however, there was an energy that hummed just beneath the surface, a feeling of potential that seemed to fill every corner of the room.

We walked and walked, our feet pounding the ground with each step. The sun was beating down on us as we trudged through the maze of paths, twisting and turning in every direction. We tried to retrace our steps, but it was no use. The labyrinth seemed to be laughing at us, taunting us with its endless possibilities.

"It's like this whole thing was designed to confuse us!" I couldn't help but agree with her. It seemed as every turn we took only led us back to where we started. We were lost, frustrated, and starting to feel hopeless.

But looking back on it now, I realize that sometimes getting lost can be an opportunity to discover new things and learn more about ourselves.

"Claustrophobic." It was a word that I had never associated with myself before, but in that moment, it seemed to perfectly describe the way I was feeling.

The walls of the small, cramped rooms seemed to be closing in on me, and I felt like I couldn't breathe. Despite my initial attempt to keep up a brave front, I couldn't hide my fear any longer.

Strangely, though, I didn't mind that she was seeing this vulnerable side of me.

We walked around, trying to make sense to the vintage statues and decorations that were scattered all over. We found paintings adorning the ceiling, a vase that defied gravity, hanging upside down from a nearby cabinet. Most things felt strangely familiar despite never seeing them before.

The number of doors was insane. Each door seemed to lead to a different area of the house, but we couldn't quite figure out which one was the right one. Some opened up to empty spaces while others led to the other side. It all added to the maze with no clear path to follow.

We managed to enter a couple of rooms, but they looked like they were straight out of a video game that hadn't fully rendered. Despite our best efforts, most of the doors remained closed, taunting us with the possibility of what was behind them.

I didn't want to tell her about it in that moment, and looking back at it I realize that I probably should have. There was an inexplicable force pulling me towards something within the house. It was as if some sort of calling that wanted me to come closer, either to help me or to harm me. Or even both

Probably both.

As we continued walking, we stumbled upon a door that seemed just like the rest. The handle felt cold, and I was scared as I reached out to touch it. But the pull was too strong, and I knew that I had to see what was behind it.

I turned the handle slowly, the creaking of the door echoing through the silent halls. The room inside was dark, and I could barely make out the shapes of the objects inside. As I walked in, I felt my heart beating fast and my senses on high alert. I couldn't shake off the feeling that someone was watching us, and I wondered if we had made a mistake by coming here.

We moved deeper inside, I could feel Chiara's hand trembling in mine, and I knew that she was just as scared as I was. But I couldn't let her see my fear, not when she needed me to be strong.

I could make out the outline of a large object in the center of the room, but I couldn't quite figure out what it was.

Slowly, I approached it, my heart racing with anticipation and fear.

As I got closer to the center of the room, I saw a large, antique mirror. It was ornately carved, with intricate designs etched into the silvered surface. Upon closer look, I noticed that the reflections in the mirror were distorted, almost as if the mirror was showing a different reality. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something eerie about it, something that made me want to turn and run.

It was a surreal and uncanny shape that seemed to defy explanation.

As I looked around the room, I noticed that there were strange symbols etched onto the walls. They glowed with an eerie light, casting bizarre shadows across the room. It was as if they were alive, pulsing with an energy that I couldn't quite comprehend.

Something started screaming at me to go away, my brain forced me to yank Chiara's hand and almost ran out of the room.

I had seen her face, mine, distorted in a way I forgot as soon as I looked away. But it was the feeling that still lingered, some impending doom that loomed over us.

We kept walking, quietly, with out energy running out more and more. I was trying desperately to follow that part of my mind that didn't listen to reason, trying to beg it to let us get out of there, to show me the right path.

"What about this one?" I asked after following that sixth sense, that magnetic pull that grew stronger with every movement.

Now, I was standing alone in front of a big, old metal door. It was the only one made of that material in the entire house, which made it stand out. The door was painted black, with white engravings that appeared to be recently done. It looked newer than the rest of the things we had found there, but upon closer inspection, the handle was worn out. It had scratch marks and the paint was rusted, giving it a very old appearance.

It seemed as if someone had tried to open it again and again for a really long time, but without any luck.

"I think you were right," I squeezed her hand, the same one I hadn't dared to let go of ever since we found ourselves in that house.

"You know, you should either start thinking out loud, or finishing your sentences." She said, and turned around to talk to me, batting her eyelashes.

I couldn't help but notice how pretty she looked in that moment. It was as if the whole world had slowed down, and all I could focus on was her. That was the first time I felt the sudden urge to kiss her. I wanted to pull her close and feel her lips on mine, but I didn't want to ruin the moment.

I should have done it.

"Sorry." I brushed the idea off, believing it was stupid at the time. "I was referring to what you said earlier, about other people being in our place before." I explained, pointing at the handle.

"It's worn out." She noticed it, the same thing that I had before. "So... where are they now?"

"Maybe they got away."

I slowly reached for the cold metal handle with my free hand and gave it a firm turn. To my relief, the door swung open without any issues, almost as if it had been waiting for me to arrive. We stepped inside, and I couldn't help but notice how perfectly my hand fit around the handle, almost like it had been custom-made just for me.

But something felt off; a nagging feeling in the back of my mind that refused to go away. I paused for a moment, taking in my surroundings, trying to pinpoint what it was that was bothering me. Finally, it hit me. The room was too quiet, too still, as if it were holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

The same sensation I had felt on the bus, the one that forced me to get down, was now overwhelming me again. It was like some energy that was tugging at me, urging me to go back. And something else was happening as well. The familiar warmth that I had felt before had dissipated into nothingness, leaving me feeling cold and alone.

I tried to run, to scream, to at least explain to her what had happened, but my words caught in my throat. The fear that was gripping me was too strong to allow me to speak. Every instinct in my body was telling me that going through that door was probably one of the worst mistakes I had ever made, and that there was nothing I could do now to undo it.

Reality was reclaiming me, my mind, my senses. But I didn't want to do, not yet, I couldn't go and leave her like that. Little by little I started loosing control over my body until my vision gave in and stared to also blur, but I couldn't know if it was because of the pull, or the tears they had bee accumulating in my eyes.

I was only able to see Chiara's body laying on the ground for a split second before I open my eyes.

In my bed, inside my bedroom.

Wishing her hand was still holding mine.

How do you feel about the story so far? Things are starting to get interesting!

What do you thinik the future holds for these two?

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