The rain pattered softly on my dormitory window as I rapidly tapped on my desk in frustration.

Not a single lead.

16 hours straight trying to crack a case with no positive results. It's useless.
Three teenagers missing in one week with each personal record absent. I blame the government.

My father was relying on me to help him solve this. And I felt like I was letting him down.
The only possible link I'd found was in relation to Dorson Graywood. A filthy rich man, rumored to kidnap many youngsters in the past. But to base all my research on just a rumor would have been naïve, so I scrapped it.

I grabbed yet another page from my notebook and aggressively crumpled it up before throwing it in my waste bin, naturally, missing entirely.

Slouching back into my seat, I sighed and ran my fingers through my unkept hair. The dark circles under my eyes were now visible from a mile away. I was a mess.

I lifted my aching limbs from the chair I felt glued to and made my way to the fridge, grabbing an iced coffee, I desperately needed the caffeine.

Upon raising the can to my mouth, I heard a startlingly loud knock on my door, as if the unknown person was meaning to break it down. The shock almost caused me to drop my drink.

I peered to my digital clock: 23:47.

Unusual time for a visitor... I don't trust this.

I attempted to remain deathly still in hopes they'd believe I wasn't present.
Yet again I was acquainted with another several bangs on the door, seemingly louder than before.

Startled, I made my way to the entrance and unlocked the door. I slowly opened it to reveal perhaps the most intimidating man I laid my eyes upon.

Equipped with a black leather gown from head-to-toe, with a mask that resembled a beak. This being appeared to resemble a plaque doctor from the 14th Century.

This unknown person towered over me, and said nothing. I felt at this point my life was in severe danger.

I reached for anything to my side on the drawer next to me, be it as much as a pencil, but I felt absolutely nothing.

The man slowly raised his head, his wooden beak slightly glistening against the ceiling light in the corridor.
He spoke with a resonant, spine-chilling tone.

"Ariel Ambers?"

My breath hitched as I took a step back, but then I had no choice but to stand my ground.

"What... What exactly do you want from me?"

"I am here to deliver a letter from Graywood Manor"

The anonymous man stated as he reached for his satchel.
He pulled out a discoloured envelope, with a wax seal.

Wait... Graywood Manor? As in, Dorson Graywood Manor? It can't be... That's Impossible.

With quivering hands, I took the envelope and observed the address. It had all my details on the front.
Such a skeptical choice of ink colour...

Reddish Brown? I daren't ask what this was written with.

The leather creaked as the man lowered his arm back down to his side.

"I expect you have an answer by tomorrow night, and I shall return then"

"A-answer? But..."
"Good evening, Miss Ambers"

The man adjusted his sleeve in my direction before he strode down the corridor.

Once out of sight, I quickly shut my door and locked it tight. My heart was still pounding in my chest.

Am I dreaming? Is this a nightmare? If all that was real, and this letter is really from Dorson Graywood... could my fate end the same as those missing people? What if it's a trick?

Reluctantly, I dug my thumb into the seal and pulled the letter out.

I began to read the paper with what seemed to be written with the same ink.

Dear Miss Ariel Ambers,

You have been invited to Graywood Manor on January 26th for a social experiment. It will last exactly 7 days.

You will be expected to take residency in the manor and be accompanying 11 other residents in your age group from all across the globe for all but one month.

You will be generously rewarded for your efforts, with a grand total of £20,000.

You do have a choice, however declining would be at your own disadvantage.

I have already informed your University and all other authorities. It has been confirmed you are allowed.

My butler will be waiting in your street with his carriage at precisely 7:30 sharp. I expect you not a minute later.

I trust you will make the right decision, Miss Ambers.

Yours sincerely,

Dorson Graywood.

So it is... It really is him. I fear my fate lies with those missing people.
But... What is the meaning of this? Why is he inviting all these people? Could it be some kind of a trick? And most importantly, why me?

I had all these thoughts rushing through my head, wonders and cautions.

I paced back and forth before rushing to my bottom kitchen drawer, nervously grabbing some honey and hazelnut liquor.

Forget the caffeine, I needed something much stronger for the nerves.

I wasn't usually the type to drink, but this... was an exception.

£20,000? Just for living with others for a month? I don't believe it. It has to be some sort of a trick. But he ran all this by my university? And they accepted...?
Could he have payed them too? Goodness, this is shady. Would all the authorities really sell me like that?
This may seriously be beyond just right and wrong anymore, I'm in Grayson's grasp now.
But he said "social experiment".
That is incredibly vague
He seems to be skimming every little detail.
Could I get the police involved with this? No...
The law would be of no use. Graywood can buy his way out of any situation, doing so would be a death sentence.

£20,000 sterling, that was more than 5 years' worth of my income... I could finally invest in better supplies for my detective work.

I was an apprentice for my father, you see. As the right supplies cost over the roof, I had to purchase bare minimum quality equipment, which made the job overall harder.

But what if all this was linked to the missing cases...

...The cases! The three missing teenagers! If they truly are linked to Dorson Graywood, then I could find stacks of proof!

As long as I find it all without being caught.

Pulling this kind of procedure would surely be a risk to my life, if I were to fail, but...
To succeed in all three cases? Get Graywood arrested? Save lives? Even... perhaps find the missing people. I'd be respected and known throughout the world, I'd receive awards and medals, given a job as a professional detective, and on top of all that? I'd make my father proud.

The idea sounded all too good to be true. And If I was over-analyzing it all?

Most mediocre outcome, I'd make it out with £20,000, which would still be a great career boost.

By this point, I had almost convinced myself this could be a good idea all 'round.

Everything was prepared and ready to go and I didn't even know about any of this.

I shall have to give this some thought. I still have about 20 hours to make a decision.

And before I knew it, there I was. Standing out in the street, waiting for some anonymous man to show up and whisk me away to an unknown territory.
I was kicking my heel against the rain-dampened pavement holding an overfilled luggage carrier while I waited in the London fog.

Not long after, I overheard something which started off as barely audible at first, but began to grow ever so rapidly.
The sounds of horses galloping mixed with what sounded like old wood which was creaking.
Suddenly, through the mist emerged the man, riding a gothic styled carriage with a glossy black finish, pulled by two dark horses, as if it was set centuries behind in time.

"Good evening, Miss Ambers. So good to see you made your choice."

With this initial encounter, the man seemed much more approachable while maintaining his uptight posture. He climbed off the carriage and made his way towards me.

"I did not properly introduce myself. I am Archibald Clarke."

The man gave me his left hand to shake. I accepted it, cautiously

"I will be your personal butler for the month. I ensure you will get the treatment you deserve."

"My own personal butler...?"

"Of course. I will be responsible for the comfort of every resident in Graywood Manor this week."

He handed me a shiny hand-held bell.
"If you are in need of my service at any time, just ring this to summon me as you please."

I took the bell cryptically and placed it into my backpack.

"Ah- Here, let me get your luggage."

Archibald hastily took my bags and placed them in the back of the carriage, before opening the door and holding it for me.

Surprised by his old-fashioned mannerisms, my eyes widened a little before I walked towards him, bowed my head in appreciation and climbed inside.

The interior was showered in crimson, with patterned seats and curtains draped across the windows.
The aroma was musty and aged, as if it hasn't been used in years.
And shortly after, Archibald ordered the horses and they started the long travel.
-
Ariel's eyelids grew heavy as she watched the dozens of cars drive by.
She wasn't sure how long the journey would be, so she thought the best idea would be to sleep it out...