As Carl settled onto his bed, the events of the previous night churned through his mind. 

"Her wearing the same dress and the lip balm stain on her skirt could all be just a big coincidence, right? There's no way what happened yesterday was real," he muttered to himself, feeling a sense of confusion and disbelief. 

Lost in thought, he stared up at the ceiling, searching for answers, "I guess thinking about it won't help. If yesterday did happen, then I need to wait and see if the events of last night repeat themselves tonight," he resolved. 

He closed his eyes, trying to clear his mind, but soon found himself engulfed in vivid visions of the night at the wooden cabin deep within the woods. Flames licked the air and figures in black cloaks surrounded him. A tall, slender woman stood in a red cloak held a black obsidian knife, while a girl with long black hair had a bloodied circular pattern carved on her belly. 

Carl's eyes flew open, and he felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. 

"What were those visions?" he wondered aloud, his head throbbing with pain. 

He noticed the change in his surroundings and realised he was no longer in his own bed but in the living room of Lana's house. 

It wasn't a coincidence! 

It was still dark outside and the house was dimly lit by the moonlight. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest. 

This is really happening. But the question is how did I get here? I didn't break in, right?

He walked around the living room, investigating the doors and the windows. 

All the doors and the windows seem to be closed from the inside. How did I get inside? Last I remember, I was in my bed. After dozing off, I had those weird visions, and before I knew it, I found myself here. Not much time seems to have passed since I went to bed. 

He shifted his gaze towards the stairs. 

No matter how I got here, I, absolutely at no cost, can get caught by her. 

Carl cautiously made his way upstairs and noticed that the light was still on in Lana's room, with the door slightly ajar. 

She is still awake? 

The hallway was dimly lit by the soft glow of the nightlights. He couldn't resist the urge to peek inside and caught a glimpse of Lana changing into her sleeping clothes.

As Carl watched Lana undress, a jolt of both excitement and guilt coursed through him, causing his eyes to widen in disbelief. Standing behind the door, he couldn't help but ogle at the sight of her unfastening her top with her back turned towards him. 

Is… is this really happening? 

She took off her top, revealing a bra in a vibrant shade of bubblegum pink which hugged her ample bosom, accentuating her cleavage with a tantalising allure. 

Should I really be watching her? I mean, I want to, but only with her approval. 

As she unbuttoned her jeans, revealing a glimpse of her flat abdomen and toned waist. Her slender fingers glided effortlessly over her jeans, pulling them down to reveal her shapely legs, adorned with delicate pink underwear that hugged her curves in all the right places. Her round, plump derriere was a vision of perfection. 

Her beauty has always been apparent, but now she has blossomed into womanhood. But my affection towards her has nothing to do with her appearance. No matter how she looks or what shape she takes, I will be hers. Because it is her very being that consumes my heart and soul. 

"Baby Lana, I've ironed your clothes. Is there anything else you need before I lea…" a voice broke the silence. 

He turned around and caught the sight of a middle-aged woman clad in a light blue maid's dress, standing in the dimly lit hallway. The woman's eyes widened in shock as she stared at him, having dropped the ironed clothes from her grasp. 

Carl swiftly placed his finger to his lips, gesturing for her not to scream but it was too late.

"AAAHHHH…." The maid let out a blood-curdling scream. 

"Shit!" Carl cursed under his breath. 

Lana quickly covered her breasts with her hands and spun around. 

There's no way I am getting caught today! 

Carl quickly ran down the passage. 

Without wasting any time, Carl dashed down the hallway. The maid, upon seeing Carl sprinting towards her, also took off in a run. Meanwhile, Lana hastily put on her nightclothes and flung open the door to check on the commotion. 

"Miss Clara, are you alright? What's happening?" Lana's voice shook with fear as she shouted. 

The maid bolted down the stairs, screaming and yelling.

"Get away from me!" she cried out. 

Frustrated and anxious, Carl continued to run, his mind racing with worry. 

Damn it! This old hag thinks I am chasing after her. I just need to get away from here before Lana sees me. 

"Miss Clara?" Lana called out, trying to ascertain what had happened.

At the other end of the passage, Carl's silhouette caught Lana's eye. 

"Who's there?" she demanded. 

Carl froze, realising he had been spotted. 

"Miss Clara, are you hurt?" Lana's voice echoed through the hallway. 

As if to add to the chaos, the maid started to scream out for help, calling Lana by name.

"Ahhhh… baby Lana help me." The maid wailed in distress. 

"Miss Clara, hide! I am calling the police." Lana cried out, retreating back to her room.

Ohh no no no no. Not the police! 

Carl's heart sank as he realised the gravity of the situation. He knew he had to act fast. Panic seized Carl as he raced down the stairs behind the housemaid, Clara's screams still ringing in his ears. 

"Ahhhhh!" she yelled. 

Eventually, the two made their way to the living room, tension hung heavy in the air. The maid's hands shook with fear as she picked up a rod-shaped showpiece, pointing it towards Carl in a bid to defend herself. 

"G-get a-away from me!" she stammered, her voice trembling. 

However, the maid stood between Carl and the main door, preventing him from making his escape. He tried to move towards the right, but the maid shifted in the same direction, blocking his path. 

Lana's voice rang out from the top of the stairs, breaking the tension momentarily, "Miss Clara, are you okay? The police are on their way. They should be here any moment now." 

Carl felt his anxiety spike. 

I have to get out of here before the police arrive.

With no other option, Carl charged straight at the maid in a desperate bid to escape. She swung the showpiece at him, but he managed to block the blow with his hands and push her out of the way. The maid lost her footing and fell, hitting her head against the wall. 

What!? I didn't even push her that hard? And I don't have time to care for her, when my existence itself is in danger. 

As Carl reached the main door and opened it, he saw the flashing lights of the approaching police car. 

Shit! The police are here. 

In a desperate attempt to escape, Carl immediately closed and locked the door. However, his luck had run out. The unconscious maid lay on the floor, and he could hear Lana's footsteps getting closer. 

"Miss Clara, are you alright?" Lana called out as she walked down the stairs.

KNOCK..KNOCK..KNOCK… 

"Miss Braun. It's the police!" 

As Carl heard the urgent knocking on the door and the police's voice calling out, his mind raced for an escape plan. But with nowhere left to run, he frantically searched for a way out. In his panic, he spotted a door at the far end of the open space leading to the kitchen. He rushed towards it, hoping for a way out, but found it locked. 

Meanwhile, the maid was starting to regain consciousness, groaning in pain. Lana's steps echoed down the stairs, drawing closer. She spotted Clara lying on the ground and rushed to her side. 

"Miss Clara!" Lana crouched down beside her. 

As she tended to Clara, there was another knock on the door, followed by the police announcing their presence. 

"Stay here. I am calling an ambulance." Lana said, rushing to answer the door. 

Lana promptly swung the door open for the police, while Carl's anxiety reached a fever pitch as he frantically twisted the doorknob. 

The senior officer, Officer Finn, strode into the residence and queried in his deep and commanding voice, "Miss Braun, are you unharmed?" 

Although he appeared a little young for his senior post, Officer Finn was an impressive figure with a tall, lean build that was perfectly accentuated by his well-fitted uniform.

Lana reassured him, "Yes, but Miss Clara--" 

Two officers helped Clara to her feet and called for an ambulance. 

"Are you aware of the intruder's whereabouts?" Officer Finn inquired. 

Lana shook her head. "No, officer." 

"Be at ease. We shall locate him," Officer Finn stated before gesturing to another officer, who shone a torch and began scouring the vicinity. 

As the torchlight drew closer, Carl suddenly found himself immersed in utter darkness.

Where am I? Did I enter the room? 

Disoriented, he groped around the walls, but his hands only encountered layers of dust and cobwebs. Eventually, his fingers discovered the switch, and he flicked on the light. 

But the sight that greeted him made him gasp in horror. The room was cluttered with animal skulls, antique leather-bound tomes and an array of objects scattered on the floor. 

What in the world… 

As he took in the macabre sight before him, Carl stumbled backward and fell to the ground. Looking up at the walls, he noticed they were covered in blood-red paint, with his name scrawled in different sizes all over it. On the centre of the wall was a large circular pattern with a star and indecipherable symbols inscribed within it.