Whispers in the House of Shadows

The journey did not end in the canyon.

After the seal reacted and the world trembled, Sarmon and Birson led them away quickly. They moved through narrow tunnels, broken bridges, and paths that did not feel natural. Sometimes the ground felt soft, like breathing skin. Sometimes the walls whispered in a language no one understood.

Alir stayed close to Birson.

Serdihun stayed close to Sarmon.

Kemp noticed everything.

Serdihun 2 noticed too.

And neither of them liked what they were seeing.

The sky above this land was never clear. Dark clouds moved slowly, like they were watching. Strange lights floated far away, like dead stars trapped in fog.

After a long walk, they reached a place that looked… wrong.

A house stood alone on a black hill.

It was not built properly.

The walls bent inward.

The roof looked like twisted ribs.

Windows opened and closed by themselves, like blinking eyes.

The door was tall and narrow, carved with symbols that hurt to look at.

Serdihun 2 stopped walking.

Serdihun 2:
“…This is your house?”

Birson nodded calmly.

Birson:
“Yes.”

Alir swallowed.

Alir:
“It looks… scary.”

Sarmon spoke softly.

Sarmon:
“This world reshapes everything.”
(pause)
“Even homes.”

Kemp crossed his arms.

Kemp:
“This place doesn’t feel human.”

Sarmon looked at him.

For a moment—

Too long—

He did not answer.

Then he turned and opened the door.

The door did not creak.

It screamed.

A low, painful sound echoed as it opened, like the house itself was alive.

Inside—

The air was cold.

The walls moved slightly, like muscle under skin.

Dim lights floated without lamps.

Strange objects rested on shelves—masks, bones, broken weapons, and glowing stones that pulsed slowly.

Serdihun 2 felt her skin crawl.

Serdihun 2:
“…I don’t like this.”

Kemp stepped forward, protecting her slightly.

Kemp:
“Stay alert.”

Birson closed the door behind them.

The scream stopped.

Sudden silence filled the house.

Alir looked around in wonder.

Instead of fear—

She felt calm.

Safe.

She looked at Birson.

Alir:
“…You live here alone?”

Birson shook his head.

Birson:
“No.”
(pause)
“We are not alone.”

Serdihun looked at Sarmon.

Serdihun:
“You said there were survivors.”

Sarmon nodded.

Sarmon:
“Yes.”
(pause)
“One of them lives with us.”

The floor trembled.

Heavy footsteps came from another room.

Slow.

Confident.

Then—

A man stepped into the light.

He wore a long coat, dark and torn at the edges. Two guns rested at his sides, old but well cared for. His hair was silver, his face calm, and his eyes sharp like someone who had seen too many wars.

He looked at Kemp’s group.

Then smiled slightly.

George:
“So…”
(pause)
“These are the new troublemakers?”

Birson smirked.

Birson:
“George.”
(pause)
“Meet Kemp.”
(pause)
“The bridge.”

George’s eyes narrowed.

He studied Kemp carefully.

George:
“…Huh.”
(pause)
“I expected bigger.”

Kemp raised an eyebrow.

Kemp:
“Hey.”

George laughed quietly.

George:
“Relax, kid.”
(pause)
“I’m George.”
(pause)
“Legendary Gunslinger.”
(pause)
“Or what’s left of it.”

Serdihun 2 whispered.

Serdihun 2:
“…Legendary?”

George bowed slightly.

George:
“Nice to meet you too.”

Despite the joke, his presence was heavy.

Dangerous.

Experienced.

Alir barely noticed George.

Her eyes were still on Birson.

Birson noticed too.

Birson:
“…Are you alright?”

Alir nodded quickly.

Alir:
“Y-Yes.”
(pause)
“I just…”
(pause)
“This place doesn’t feel bad when you’re here.”

Birson looked surprised.

For the first time—

He looked human.

Serdihun felt something similar near Sarmon.

She watched him as he spoke to George, calm and protective. Her heart beat faster.

Serdihun:
“…Sarmon.”

Sarmon turned.

Serdihun:
“Back there…”
(pause)
“You protected us.”
(pause)
“Even before the test ended.”

Sarmon looked away slightly.

Sarmon:
“That is my duty.”

Serdihun smiled softly.

Serdihun:
“Still.”
(pause)
“Thank you.”

Sarmon felt something shift inside him.

Something he had not felt in a very long time.

Kemp leaned toward Serdihun 2 and whispered.

Kemp:
“…Am I imagining things?”

Serdihun 2 whispered back.

Serdihun 2:
“No.”
(pause)
“This is weird.”

George noticed their whispers.

George:
“Yeah.”
(pause)
“It always starts like that.”

Kemp looked at him.

Kemp:
“Starts like what?”

George leaned against the wall.

George:
“Feelings.”
(pause)
“In a place that eats hope.”

The lights flickered.

The house groaned.

Serdihun 2 hugged herself.

Serdihun 2:
“…You said you’re not alone.”
(pause)
“But this place feels empty.”

Birson’s expression darkened.

Birson:
“This house reacts to us.”

Kemp turned sharply.

Kemp:
“What do you mean—reacts?”

Sarmon stepped forward.

Sarmon:
“It knows who we are.”

Silence.

Alir felt a chill.

Alir:
“…Who are you?”

Birson closed his eyes.

When he opened them—

They glowed faintly.

Not human.

Birson:
“We told you the truth.”
(pause)
“But not all of it.”

The walls shifted.

Shadows stretched unnaturally.

George rested his hand on his gun—not threatening, just ready.

George:
“Don’t panic.”
(pause)
“They won’t hurt you.”

Sarmon’s voice grew heavier.

Sarmon:
“This world changed us.”
(pause)
“Not fully human.”
(pause)
“Not fully monster.”

Serdihun stepped closer instead of backing away.

Serdihun:
“…But you still protect people.”

Sarmon looked at her.

Sarmon:
“Yes.”

Alir reached out and touched Birson’s arm.

Alir:
“…And you still feel.”

Birson froze.

Then slowly—

He nodded.

Birson:
“Yes.”

Kemp exhaled.

Kemp:
“So you’re like…”
(pause)
“Between.”

George chuckled.

George:
“Welcome to the prison world.”
(pause)
“Everything here is broken.”

Serdihun 2 looked between Alir and Birson.

Then Sarmon and Serdihun.

Serdihun 2:
“…Are you two serious right now?”

Alir blushed.

Serdihun looked away shyly.

Kemp groaned.

Kemp:
“Oh no.”
(pause)
“This is really happening.”

George laughed loudly.

George:
“Haha!”
(pause)
“Romance in hell.”
(pause)
“Classic.”

The house shook slightly.

As if reacting to the emotions inside.

Sarmon frowned.

Sarmon:
“…The house responds to strong feelings.”

Birson:
“That is dangerous.”

Kemp straightened.

Kemp:
“So love can trigger this place too?”

George nodded.

George:
“Everything does.”
(pause)
“Fear.”
(pause)
“Hope.”
(pause)
“Love.”
(pause)
“This world hates all of it.”

Outside—

A distant roar echoed.

Not an animal.

Not wind.

Something worse.

George’s smile vanished.

George:
“…We’re not alone tonight.”

Sarmon picked up his sword.

Birson raised his staff.

George loaded his guns.

Kemp clenched his fists.

Kemp:
“Looks like we don’t get a break.”

Serdihun stood beside Sarmon.

Serdihun:
“I won’t run.”

Alir stood beside Birson.

Alir:
“Me neither.”

Serdihun 2 took a deep breath.

Serdihun 2:
“…Guess I’ll watch your backs.”

George smirked.

George:
“That’s the spirit.”

The house creaked.

The shadows outside moved closer.

And the prison world listened—

Hungry.