Jigsaw pedaled his tiny bike down the dimly lit road, the eerie creak of the wheels filling the silence. He glanced back at Yuqi, head tilting in that signature, unsettling way.

Yuqi smirked. “Oh? What juicy gossip you got for me this time?”

Jigsaw just shrugged.

Yuqi rolled her eyes. “Let me guess—same old ‘Yuqi, maybe tone down the freakiness’ talk? Ugh, Ghosty already gave me the lecture last night.” She shrugged dramatically. “Look, I get it, but what am I supposed to do? Be normal? Ew.”

Jigsaw nodded solemnly.

Yuqi sighed, running over a loose rock down the street. “I know they’re still warming up to me, but hey, Brie seems open to it, right? That’s something. We’ve all been labeled freaks before, but honestly? Being a freak ain’t all bad. I mean… okay, it’s mostly bad. But if I hadn’t been a weirdo my whole life, I wouldn’t have met you guys.”

Jigsaw gave her a tiny, gloved thumbs-up.

Yuqi grinned. “Hey, both hands on the wheel, buddy! I don’t need you wiping out on me.” She let out a laugh, then added, softer this time, “But yeah… love you too, dude.”

Jigsaw and Yuqi coasted to a stop at the top of the hill, the wind settling around them as they plopped onto the grass. For once, Yuqi didn’t fill the air with her usual chatter.

Jigsaw just stared at her.

Yuqi sighed, her arms stretching above her head as she lay back on the grass. “I know, I know. I’m not usually this quiet, but—” she paused dramatically, “—hanging out with new people is work.” She flopped down with a groan, throwing her arms wide. “Why does it feel like I’m carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders? I’m supposed to be fun, but my brain’s, like, ‘Nah, let’s be emotional for once.’”

Jigsaw nodded like he got it, though his expression remained unreadable.

Yuqi gave him a sideways glance before rubbing her eyes. “I’m not crying, okay? Don’t get all worried. I’m just…ugh, shut up… you know, grateful. You guys—freaks like me. And that’s something I never thought I’d find. I mean, I might’ve made a mistake bringing those three here. Maybe they’re not ready for this.” She glanced at Jigsaw for his reaction.

Jigsaw patted her shoulder twice, gentle but firm.

She laughed bitterly, rolling her eyes. “It’s not like they hate me. They’re just freaked out. And that’s fine. I’m used to it. Honestly, I’m not mad about it. I’ll just keep being me, and if they can’t handle it… whatever. I’m not gonna change.”

Jigsaw gave an encouraging nod, like he was all for Yuqi being Yuqi.

Yuqi grinned. “Good. And now, let’s just hope Lilith and Lillian haven’t traumatized them too much.”

Jigsaw shot her a pointed look, even though his eyes were hidden beneath his mask, a silent reminder that he knew exactly what she was hiding beneath that smile.

Yuqi groaned and sat up, rolling her eyes. “Fine, fine. I know, I know. You think I’m pretending I’m fine. But guess what? I am. Mostly.”

She gave him a tight, awkward hug—more for her own comfort than his.

“Okay, enough emotional stuff. Let’s head back now. I’m ready to mess with them some more.”

Once they returned home, the scent of fried chicken wafted through the air. Lilith and Lillian had already taken the liberty of making dinner—leftover fried chicken.

Yuqi walked into the kitchen and burst out laughing at the sight of everyone sitting at the table. Their faces were all a shade paler than usual, including Ju On, who almost looked... unsettled—which was saying something.

“What on earth did you do?” Yuqi asked, raising an eyebrow as she grabbed a piece of chicken from the counter.

Lilith and Lillian, as synchronized as ever, nodded in perfect unison, their eerie expressions unreadable. “Yes.”

Yuqi plopped down on the nearest chair, grinning wide. “Cool! Even Ghostface looks freaked out!” she said, motioning toward Ju On. He didn’t even blink, but something about his stillness was unnerving in this context.

Brie’s voice quivered as she spoke. “They locked us in a closet for an hour. It was—terrifying.”

Yuqi burst into laughter. “No way! I guess we’re keeping up with the tradition, huh?” She took a big bite of the fried chicken, savoring the crispy skin. “You guys really thought you could handle the twins without a little chaos?”

Hannah shook her head in disbelief. “You seriously let them do that? We’re not doing it again.”

Lilith and Lillian, still nodding in unison, didn’t say a word—just let the atmosphere thicken with their unsettling presence.

Yuqi leaned back in her chair, still grinning. “Guess we’ll just have to see what other traditions we’ve got, huh?”

Everyone exchanged nervous glances, the tension thick in the air. But Yuqi was having the time of her life, completely unfazed.

Niki groaned, dragging a hand down her face. “Can I admit something?”

Yuqi, lounging on the couch like she had all the time in the world, waved a hand. “Go ahead, darling. This is a safe space. Well, for me.”

“This is way too freaky!” Niki burst out, standing up so fast her chair scraped against the floor. “I don’t know what we were thinking coming here, but if no one’s going back with me, I’m going alone.”

“I guess so,” Hannah mumbled, arms crossed. “I mean… this just isn’t for us.”

Yuqi sighed dramatically, grabbing a piece of fried chicken and taking a loud, obnoxious bite. Crunch. “Shame. And here I thought you’d be my little horror apprentices.”

Niki exhaled sharply, looking like she was so close to losing it. “Yuqi, we get it. You love your creepy little friends, but maybe it’s time to, I don’t know… change? You can’t live like this forever. And honestly? We don’t appreciate it.”

Silence.

A thick, suffocating silence that hung over the room like a guillotine.

Every freaky creature in the house slowly turned toward Niki and Hannah, their expressions unreadable—but dangerously unreadable. Like they were running through a list of ways to make them disappear.

Even Ju On looked personally offended.

Yuqi, completely unfazed, licked her fingers clean of fried chicken grease and wiped them on her pants. She let the quiet drag out just long enough to make everyone uncomfortable, then finally closed her eyes. “It’s alright. I get it.”

Niki hesitated, suddenly thrown off. “Wait… so you’re not offended?”

Yuqi opened one eye, grinning wide. But not in a normal, friendly way. In a freaky, unsettling, horror-movie-close-up kind of way. “Offended? Oh, sweetheart. How could I be offended when this has happened to me my whole life?” She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. “Without the offense, I never would’ve found this place. Never would’ve met my people.” Her eyes flickered toward her horror crew. “Certified freaks. Just like me.”

Hannah shifted uncomfortably. “Yeah… okay. But we’re seriously thinking about going home.”

Brie, who had been suspiciously quiet up until now, finally lost it. “Guys! We don’t have a home! Remember? This is our home now. Temporarily. Can you at least give it a chance? You’ve been here for three days!”

Niki rolled her eyes. “It feels a lot longer.”

Brie shook her head, planting her hands on the table. “Well, I’m staying. Whether you like it or not.” She turned to Yuqi, eyes sharp. “She might be a freak, but she’s certified. And that’s exactly how you should let her be.”

Yuqi froze.

No one had ever said that to her before—except her freaky friends.

For once, she was speechless.

Then, out of nowhere, Jigsaw gave her a slow, approving thumbs up.

Ghostface followed, giving her a little knife twirl for dramatic effect.

Then Ju On nodded.

Then the twins, who moved at the exact same time, like mirror images.

The room hummed with an eerie energy.

For a long, agonizing moment, no one spoke.