Best-selling Horror Novelist - Orpheus

Storyteller

Novelist x "Educator"

Leo is an elementary teacher who is severely in debt after school and living expenses. He is currently struggling to find a school that will hire or keep him.

Orpheus is a best-selling horror novelist who is currently on break to focus on some other interests.

Their story starts before Game 0. Orpheus is currently setting up his manor games to begin experimentation but needs a few more trials before beginning.

Leo receives an invite to a mysterious manor where he meets Orpheus, who introduces himself as the Baron of the manor. It is explained to Leo that if he cooperates in some trial drugs and other experiments, he would receive money that could tremendously help with his debt. Leo reluctantly agrees and the experiments begin.

A few nights into his stay at the manor, Leo encounters the "Nightmare." Falling out of the effects of that day's hallucinogens, he is unsure if what he's seeing is real. A towering man with a plague doctor mask and talons would freak anyone out, but he stays frozen in his observation. The "Nightmare" stares at him, let's out a laugh, and swiftly turns down the hall. Leo tries to follow, but it seems this monster has disappeared. The next morning he asks Orpheus about it, who replies with a quiet hum, stating it must be the affects of the drugs making him see things.

Nights go by and Leo is slowly losing his track of time. It feels like it's been forever since he's been able to have fresh air. The drugs are taking a toll on him. One night, he decides to wander the halls to try and clear his head. He finds the "Nightmare" again when he ventures to a hall of the manor he's never seen before. "Nightmare" let's out a chuckle before beckoning Leo over. His feet move on their own and before he knows it, he's a breath away from the monster. The "Nightmare" shares a story with him, about a nightingale and a raven, and the tragedy that befolds wherever they flew. Leo does not understand but is intrigued this creature is speaking with him. They spend nights together, sharing stories and recounting things of the past. "Nightmare" never explains who he is, but Leo feels like he understand him; can trust him. He no longer feels fear towards the "Nightmare," most of it being felt towards Orpheus anyways.

A night he goes out to visit "Nightmare" again, Leo is stopped by Orpheus who questions why he's wandering about so late at night. The "Nightmare" had told him not to tell Orpheus about their encounters, but something compells him to share. Maybe it's an effect from today's drug or the need for answers. Leo explains there's a... creature... he's met at night and has befriended, expecting Orpheus to laugh in his face and say it's the drugs taking over his fragile brain. But instead his face pales, and he grips Leo's shoulders so hard it almost bruises. Orpheus grits his teeth, close to losing his composure, and gets out a quick, "Do not trust that lying bastard."

Before Leo can ask what he knows about the "Nightmare," Orpheus let's go and hurries his way back down the hallway. Leo stands there dumbfounded before slowly returning to his room. Nights will go by without seeing "Nightmare" and Orpheus has begun to act colder to him. He hopes this experiment will end soon, so he can return home and away from here.

"Nightmare" returns one night, whistling through the hallways as if he were beckoning Leo to come out and play. Hearing the familiar tune, Leo rushes out of his room in search for the bird man. "Nightmare" explains that Orpheus had kept him away so they could no longer play, but he can only handle the "Nightmare" for so long. Leo is confused by this but asks no questions since he is relieved to have someone to talk to again. The coldness from Orpheus has brought very little conversation during the day.

Days pass uneventfully, Leo's mind is hazy and can hardly remember them. But the nights are so wonderful. "Nightmare" has begun to show him around the manor; he's even taken him outside a few times to watch the stars or walk the garden. They grow closer, feeling something bloom between the two, and at a secret midnight rendezvous, Leo confesses he has fallen for this man. "Nightmare" reciprocates these feelings and they continue a secret relationship without the knowledge of Orpheus.

Orpheus begins to notice Leo's head is elsewhere during experimentation and becomes quite irritated that he is not focused on what they are doing. He questions him one afternoon after the drugs have wore off. Leo quiets and does not answer truthfully, saying he misses home. But Orpheus knows this is a lie, the research he's done on Leo knows there is no home to return to, no family to know he's been missing for quite some time. Orpheus does not push further until one morning Leo does not wake up on time for that day's experiment.

After waking him, he questions Leo if he is talking to the "Nightmare" again. Leo goes quiet and answers truthfully this time. It's been going on for weeks, sleepless nights while hanging with "Nightmare." This angers Orpheus, as he told him not to trust "Nightmare" and how his lack of sleep could be skewing his results. The sudden change in emotion frightens something within him and he quickly leaves. This is the first time Leo encounters "Nightmare" during the day.

An hour or so passes as Leo is afraid to leave his room, not wanting to anger Orpheus more. A soft knock startles him, and when he answers the door, a familiar masked figure is standing outside. Leo is dumbfounded, asking how "Nightmare" is able to be about the manor when Orpheus is awake. "Nightmare" decides it is time to tell Leo that they are one in the same. They cannot exist at the same time but reside in the same body. The sudden rush of heightened emotion towards Leo had caused the "Nightmare" to front, which is why Oprheus had to quickly leave before his gruesome transformation. "Nightmare" explains it is similar to a recent novel that had released years prior, and it sorts some confusion Leo has.

"Nightmare" also explains that due to their condition, Orpheus has trouble remembering times as "Nightmare," as they feel like blackouts to him or missing memories. But the "Nightmare" is able to remember some of Orpheus' memories and feelings due to his nature.

Leo is puzzled. There's so many unanswered questions he has, but will save them for another time. This will be the first day in months that he will go without experimentation. It gives him time to clear his head and enjoy the sunlight.

After their day together, "Nightmare" tells Leo it may be a while before they can see each other again as Orpheus will most likely continue his best to fight off the "Nightmare" from fronting. This saddens Leo, but he thinks he understands. A small kiss is given to the tip of his beak before they part ways outside Leo's room. He is terrified for his next encounter with Orpheus.

Days will pass without an encounter from Orpheus. The manor employees have no answers for Leo, always brisk and to the point when he asks. Dinners are spent alone and so are the nights.

Leo considers packing his things and leaving the manor. It would be a waste to leave without the money, and he may never see "Nightmare" again, but the loneliness is taking a toll on him. He decides that he will leave a note for both Orpheus and "Nightmare" before packing his things away in his luggage and making his way to the front door. He takes a breath before reaching for the handle when a sudden hand grabs his wrist.

There he is with the darkest eye bags Leo has ever seen on a man, holding his wrist with a horrible sadness in his eyes.

"Don't go," Orpheus pleads quietly. "We can stop the experiments, I'll give you the money, just please... don't leave."

Leo stills, his wrist still in Orpheus' grasp. They stare into each other's eyes for who knows how long before Orpheus slowly let's go on Leo's wrist. Leo softly smiles, sets his bags on the ground, and gently hugs Orpheus.

These past months have been confusing for Leo, but right now he feels like he can understand Orpheus. They are both two lonely people in search of connection.

Leo decides to stay in the manor with Orpheus. Their relationship is undefined but they find comfort in one another. Leo will still offer to help with his experiments, but he will no longer ask for the money, just companionship from Orpheus. He agrees and they start from there.

The manor becomes a new home for Leo. He is now allowed to roam about as he pleases and often spends nights in Orpheus' room.

"Nightmare" will front from time to time but it begins to feel less and less as Orpheus and Leo spend more time together. Leo still does not know what the experiments are for, but he feels content not knowing and is happy with Orpheus. Orpheus does not stop his experimentation and still plans on continuing his manor games, just now with a soon to be accomplice.

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Storyteller

Game 0

A month or so later, Orpheus informs Leo that there will be new occupants in the manor soon. He explains for this experiment, Leo must not be seen by these new residents.
Leo is confused but obeys and is given a new room to reside in, away from the normal hall. This new room can only be accessed through a hidden hallway. Leo will soon learn there are multiple secret passages and doors around the manor.

Orpheus explains that the drugs experiments will stop for Leo, and now the true experiment will begin. A group of people will come to manor is search of a reward that will better their lives.

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