Excitement filled the room as the friends agreed to the rules. They drew straws to determine who would be the first seeker, and it was Clay who drew the shortest one.  As the lights were extinguished one by one, darkness descended upon the mansion. Clay counted to ten, his heart racing, and then began his search. He roamed the hallways, his footsteps muffled by the eerie silence. Every creak and rustle made him jump, but he was determined to find the hidden person.

Meanwhile, Austin, Adeline, and Joey split up, each armed with a phone to receive hints from the person hiding. They all moved cautiously, their senses heightened by the thrill of the game. The scent of the distinctive spray filled the air, making it difficult to distinguish between friend and foe.

In an instant, Rebecca gracefully traversed the winding corridors, her senses heightened by a faint, intriguing sound wafting from the kitchen. Intrigued and cautiously curious, she ventured closer, guided by an invisible thread of curiosity. There, emerging from the shadows, stood a mysterious figure, their back shrouded in darkness. A surge of anticipation mingled with fleeting thoughts of Lucas, igniting an unexpected surge of adrenaline within her.

With unwavering resolve, Rebecca lunged forward, her body propelled by an unyielding determination, toppling the enigmatic figure to the ground. As the figure slowly turned, revealing their face, her eyes widened in astonishment—it was Lucas, the one person who occupied her thoughts. Surging emotions threatened to overwhelm her, yet before she could make sense of the bewildering encounter, he vanished into thin air, leaving her with an unanswered longing and a suspended fist.

"Guys! Lucas is here!" Rebecca's voice reverberated through the air, filled with urgency and determination, as she desperately sought to reach every ear within range, "Let's corner him and find out what he's doing here."

"Lucas? He's actually here?" Clay's voice rose above the commotion, a mix of surprise and determination fueling his words. "I'll track him down."

Joey's voice interjected, a strong sense of responsibility underlying his words. "Our priority is to ensure the safety of everyone. Let's not allow any harm to come to anyone."

Amidst the chaotic exchange, an unfamiliar voice broke through, its owner demanding answers. However, their inquiry went unanswered as the urgency of the situation took precedence, prompting the group to disregard the interruption.

 None of them could turn on the lights, otherwise, it will disrupt the game and they had to answer unnecessary questions.

 Rebecca, on the other side, could hear whispers of laughter and muffled footsteps as the other guests searched for the hidden person. In the midst of the chaos, Rebecca was determined to expose Lucas' motives. As they weaved through the labyrinthine corridors, Rebecca's spirit companion, Casper, urged her forward.

Meanwhile, Austin and Joey,'s competitive nature got the better of them, as they focused solely on outdoing each other rather than helping their friends apprehend the villain. Their arrogance blinded them to the danger Lucas posed. 

As for Addy, she had always been a dramatic soul, and her current state of exaggerated broken limbs only added to the chaos. She moaned and groaned, making no effort to join the chase. Her theatrics diverted the attention of those around her, inadvertently aiding Lucas in his escape.

Adeline had always been a loyal and dependable friend, someone who would never consider abandoning her companions. However, beneath her exterior, a profound fear lurked within her. The mere thought of becoming more involved filled her with overwhelming dread. Deep down, she dreaded the unknown consequences that might befall her if she stepped out of her comfort zone.

Presently, her apprehension was amplified due to a pressing concern—the audition she had been eagerly anticipating. The very idea of missing out on this opportunity caused her heart to sink. To make matters worse, an injury she had recently sustained made it nearly impossible for her to excel during the audition. Frustration welled up within her, fueling her anger and intensifying her longing for attention. Why did Lucas had to attack her?

Caught in the grip of these conflicting emotions, panic enveloped Adeline. She felt a profound sadness as well, as the weight of her situation pressed down upon her.

"What happened?" Rebecca exclaimed, her breath ragged and frantic.

"Rebecca, please, don't abandon me," Adeline pleaded, her voice filled with desperation.

"Addy, I just caught sight of Lucas. I have to chase after him! I'm sorry, truly, but we must uncover the secrets. Only Lucas can guide us to the truth."

Adeline clung to Rebecca's hand, her grip tight, as she spoke with a mixture of pain and fear. "I'm injured. I'm terrified, Beca. Please..."

But Rebecca's attention remained fixed solely on the fleeting silhouette of Lucas, vanishing into the abyss of the dark once again. She forcefully had Adeline leave her hand and hastened off.

Through the twists and turns of the darkened house, the chase continued. Lucas proved to be a cunning adversary, slipping through narrow passages and utilizing hidden exits. The group grew frustrated, their determination fueling their pursuit. Rebecca's senses sharpened as she closed in on Lucas. She could feel his presence lingering just around the corner. With a burst of energy, she sprinted ahead, her friends close behind.

 The flickering lightbulbs cast eerie shadows, heightening the tension in the air. Rebecca clutched her trusted knife tightly in her hand, its cold steel providing a reassuring sense of protection. Austin brandished a gleaming sword, its polished blade reflecting the dim light. Travis skillfully wielded his bow, the arrow poised and ready to strike. Joey spun her nunchucks with precision and finesse, her eyes trained on their elusive target.

As they entered the narrow passageway, the air grew stagnant and oppressive. Suddenly, a figure lunged out from the shadows, aiming a blow at Travis. The archer expertly sidestepped the attack, swiftly retaliating with an arrow aimed at Lucas. But Lucas was nimble, evading the projectile with a calculated dance of agility.

Rebecca lunged forward, her knife glinting menacingly. She aimed a swift strike at Lucas, but he effortlessly sidestepped her attack, disappearing into the darkness once more. The chase continued, the group weaving through the maze-like corridors, their weapons poised and ready.

In a moment of respite, they found themselves in a wider space, an open atrium bathed in moonlight. Lucas stood at the edge, a sinister grin on his face. Before anyone could react, he leaped over the railing, disappearing into the darkness below.

Without hesitation, Rebecca and her friends rushed to the edge, peering down into the abyss. They caught a glimpse of Lucas' retreating figure, his silhouette vanishing into the night.

"No!" Rebecca shouted in frustration. "We can't let him escape!"

But the chase had taken its toll. Their bodies ached from the relentless pursuit, and the exhaustion threatened to overtake them. With heavy hearts, they realized that Lucas had slipped through their fingers once again.

Regrouping at the edge of the atrium, the group caught their breath. Clay's brow furrowed in determination as he surveyed the area. "We may have lost him for now, but we won't give up. We'll find him and put an end to his plans."

Rebecca nodded, a fire burning in her eyes. "You're right, Clay. This isn't over."

As they made their way back through the darkened corridors, their resolve solidified. The fight with Lucas only strengthened their determination to protect the world from his malevolent intentions. Lucas emerged from the shadows, his eyes glowing with a malevolent light. He unleashed a barrage of supernatural energy, sending the group scattering for cover. Rebecca expertly deflected his attacks with her knife, parrying each strike with precision.

Austin lunged forward, his sword slashing through the air with graceful yet deadly elegance. He aimed for Lucas, but the villain swiftly dodged the blade, retaliating with a powerful blast of dark energy. Austin managed to evade the attack, rolling to the side and regaining his footing.

Meanwhile, Travis stood his ground, his bowstring taut. He unleashed a volley of arrows, each one finding its mark with unerring accuracy. Lucas twisted and turned, attempting to evade the onslaught, but Travis persisted, keeping him on the defensive.

Joey's nunchucks whirled through the air, striking with incredible speed. He spun, twisted, and flipped, his acrobatic maneuvers disorienting Lucas. Joey's attacks came from unexpected angles, leaving the villain struggling to defend himself.

"Clay! Go away from here! You're practically defenseless. Go to Adeline!"Austin's urgent voice echoed through the chaos of the battle, his concern for Clay's safety evident.

Adeline? Does he mean she has more power than me? How dare he underestimate my strength? Clay thought furiously.

He had forgotten his hammer and helplessly search around for a weapon. His eyes lit with hope as he saw a small tree. He broke out one tough branch and swung the branch with surprising strength and agility, using the element of surprise to catch Lucas off guard.

"Is that all you've got?" Joey sneered from the other side. "I thought you'd put up more of a fight. Guess you're no match for my nunchuck skills!"

Lucas, seething with anger, mustered a burst of dark energy and launched a retaliatory attack. But Joey caught up in her own bravado, failed to notice the incoming danger. The blast of energy struck her with full force, sending her sprawling backward.

The impact knocked Joey off balance, her nunchucks slipping from her grasp and clattering to the ground. Stunned and disoriented, she struggled to regain her footing, her ego shattered in an instant.

Rebecca's heart pounded as she saw Lucas seize the opportunity to escape. She called out desperately, "No, Joey, focus! We can't let him get away!"

Austin, witnessing the dangerous situation Joey had put herself in, leaped to her defense, momentarily abandoning the group's unified front. He swung his sword wildly, attempting to deflect Lucas's attacks and provide cover for Joey's recovery. Meanwhile, Clay, misinterpreting Austin's actions, believed that Austin was intentionally disregarding their plan to claim all the glory for himself.

Interrupting their clash, Clay confronted Austin with frustration in his voice, "I thought better of you, Austin! I thought we were evolving beyond this!"

Austin, taken aback by Clay's accusations, retorted, "What are you doing, Clay? Move!"

Shaking off the misunderstanding, Clay's voice brimmed with determination, "So you can take all the credit? Just because I don't have my weapon doesn't mean I'm weak!"

"I never said you were weak! What are you talking about? Is this really the time to argue about this?" Austin's exasperation mingled with concern as they failed to notice Lucas closing in on Clay, poised to strike.

In that crucial moment, Charlotte, Clay's loyal spirit companion, sprang forward, placing herself in harm's way to shield Clay from the imminent blow. Charlotte materialized as a powerful force, her spectral form swirling with an otherworldly glow. She launched a relentless assault on Lucas, causing him to fall to the ground. However, the impact sent Charlotte spiraling, and Clay's heart sank as he rushed to her side, momentarily forgetting the ongoing fight and the escaping Lucas.

"Clay, catch Lucas! He's just beside you and weakened!" Rebecca yelled as she herself was approaching them. Yet Clay was more into looking out for fallen Charlotte.