The First Night (ep2 s1)

The mansion seemed to breathe around them, its old walls creaking as if alive. Brayden couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. Every so often, he caught Winter glancing back over her shoulder, and Autumn's usually calm face showed hints of anxiety. Sam, who had been quiet since they were trapped inside, finally broke the silence as they reached a fork in the hallway.

"Should we split up?" she suggested, her voice uncertain.

"No way," Brayden said quickly. "We don't know what's in here. We should stay together."

The group agreed and chose the left corridor. The farther they went, the more distorted the mansion became. Rooms led to other rooms, some looping back in impossible ways. Paintings on the walls seemed to shift when they weren't looking, and there was an ever-present ticking sound that grew louder with every step.

"Is it just me, or is this place messing with us?" Winter muttered.

"No, it's not just you," Autumn replied, eyes narrowing at a portrait of a man that seemed to watch them pass. "This house is... wrong."

They reached a large dining room, the table set as if for a banquet. Dust coated everything, and the chandelier overhead flickered ominously. A set of double doors on the far side caught their attention, and they cautiously moved toward them.

Brayden was the first to reach out and push them open. The room beyond was small, filled with clocks of all shapes and sizes. Each ticked at a different pace, some too fast, others too slow. At the center stood a large, cracked mirror, reflecting their anxious faces back at them.

"This feels like a bad idea," Sam whispered, eyeing the mirror warily.

"We're not getting anywhere if we don't keep looking," Autumn said, though their voice had lost its earlier confidence.

They moved into the room, the clocks growing louder, almost deafening. Brayden stepped in front of the mirror, staring at his reflection. For a moment, he swore he saw something different—a version of himself that wasn't quite right, as if the mirror was showing more than just his appearance.

Suddenly, the door behind them slammed shut, the clocks stopped, and the mirror cracked further. The group froze, hearts racing as the room seemed to close in around them.

"Guys," Winter said, voice trembling, "I don't think we're alone."