the truth(16)
(The memory resumes, and the cafeteria scene fades into darkness. The cold air of the evening sweeps over a quiet suburban neighborhood. The streetlights cast long shadows on the pavement as Michael, dressed in dark clothes, follows Lisa from a safe distance. His steps are light, careful, his heartbeat steady. The tension in his gut hasn't faded since the conversation in the cafeteria—if anything, it has only grown stronger.)
Michael (thinking):
"I don't know what it is, but I have to find out. Something about Lisa just isn't right. If I'm wrong, then fine—I'll just look like a paranoid idiot. But if I'm right…"
(He tightens his fist, determination flickering in his eyes.)
(Lisa walks calmly down the street, completely unaware of Michael's presence. She hums softly to herself, her blonde hair swaying slightly with each step. Michael watches from a distance, staying in the shadows. The neighborhood is peaceful, almost too peaceful, and it only adds to the unease growing in Michael's chest.)
(Eventually, Lisa reaches her house—a two-story, perfectly ordinary home with white walls and a neatly trimmed lawn. It looks like the home of a perfect family. But Michael knows better than to trust appearances.)
(Lisa opens the door and steps inside. Michael doesn't follow her in, of course. Instead, he moves silently to the side of the house, keeping to the shadows. A window is slightly open on the first floor. Carefully, he crouches beneath it and listens.)
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Scene 3: A Normal Conversation… at First
(Inside the house, Lisa greets her parents. Her mother's voice is warm, her father's tone gentle. The conversation sounds normal—too normal.)
Lisa's Mom:
"Oh, Lisa, welcome home! How was school?"
Lisa:
"It was great, Mom! Nothing too special. Just the usual."
Lisa's Dad:
"That's my girl. Always excelling."
(Michael listens closely, pressing himself against the cold wall, trying to pick up every word. His heart starts to slow down. Maybe… maybe he really was just being paranoid. Lisa sounds like a completely normal girl with a loving family.)
(Then—Lisa's mom speaks again.)
Lisa's Mom:
"Sweetie, you should go take a bath now. It's time for you to wash up."
Lisa:
"Oh, okay! Goodnight, Mom, Dad!"
(Michael hears Lisa's footsteps disappear upstairs. Everything seems normal… until—)
Lisa's Dad:
"Well, honey… do you remember the time when we killed that guy?"
(Michael's entire body goes rigid. His breath catches in his throat. Did he… did he just hear that right?)
Lisa's Mom (chuckling):
"Oh, of course I remember! How could I forget? The way he screamed… The way he begged for his life… It was so pleasurable."
(Michael's fingers dig into the windowsill. His body feels frozen in place. His mind screams at him to get away, but he can't move—he's too shocked.)
Lisa's Dad:
"Mmm… and the way his blood spilled everywhere. It was messy, but it was worth it. The way he looked at us in his final moments… Ah, unforgettable."
(Michael bites his tongue, forcing himself not to make a sound. Every fiber of his being wants to shout, to run, to do something—but he knows that if he does, he's dead. His hands are shaking. He presses himself further against the wall, trying to breathe quietly.)
Michael (thinking):
"No… No way… Lisa's parents… They're murderers? That must be what my instincts were warning me about. It wasn't Lisa—it was her parents all along! I… I almost accused the wrong person!"
(He swallows hard, forcing himself to stay calm. He needs to leave. Now.)
(Carefully, Michael inches away from the window. He moves slowly, deliberately, every step calculated to avoid making a sound. The night air is freezing against his skin, but his body feels hot with adrenaline.)
(As he turns the corner of the house, ready to break into a sprint, he freezes.)
Lisa's Dad (inside the house):
"Well, honey… it looks like Michael was spying on us."
(Michael's blood runs cold.)
Lisa's Mom:
"Oh? He was? Well, what's he going to do? Tell his little friends? They won't believe him anyway."
(Laughter. Cold, casual laughter. The kind of laughter that makes Michael's stomach churn. He clenches his fists, forcing himself to keep walking, to act as if he didn't just hear that. He doesn't know if they'll come after him—but he can't panic. Not yet.)
(With steady, controlled breaths, he makes his way down the street, his footsteps silent. Once he turns the corner, out of sight of Lisa's house, he finally breaks into a full sprint.)
(The memory fades. The dungeon shelter comes back into focus. The fire flickers, casting uneasy shadows on the rocky walls. The entire group is dead silent, staring at Dakota with wide eyes.)
Liam:
"W-Wait… Lisa's parents were murderers? Even back in your old world?"
Dakota (nodding):
"Yes. They were killers both in the past and in this world. There was nothing 'normal' about them."
Mia:
"That's insane… No wonder you was so on edge around her."
Lucas:
"But… that means Lisa wasn't the evil one, right? It was her parents!"
(Dakota chuckles, but there's no humor in it. His expression is unreadable, his eyes cold.)
Dakota:
*"Oh… oh, you really think Lisa was innocent? No. No, she wasn't. Trust me. Lisa is just as bad as her parents. Maybe even worse."
(Silence. The weight of his words settles over the group like a heavy fog. For a long moment, nobody speaks.)
(Finally, Ava swallows hard, her voice hesitant.)
Ava:
"So… what happens next?"
(Dakota smirks, but his eyes remain distant, lost in old memories.)
Dakota:
"You'll find out soon enough. But trust me… things only get worse from here."
(The fire crackles. The darkness outside the shelter seems to press in closer. And deep in their hearts, they all know—whatever comes next will change everything.)
Dakota: "well actually it does get worse, but not immediately, we're going to see some happy and Sweet memories first before we get back to the evil and terrifying part.
Henry: "oh thank god, I was getting tierd of the horror part, finally we can see some happy stuff.
Dakota thinking: and If I'm not wrong... This next memories should be when our romantic relationship blossom.