Chapter 7

Another twist? Jack Avery thought the game's premise was simple: choose left or right. So, why introduce a new character now?

The plot was becoming increasingly porous. Just when Jack believed he had managed to dispatch two significant threats, it turned out another, a master of disguise, had been hiding in plain sight all along.

Worried about tempting fate with the game's apparent binary choices, Jack desperately hoped his thoughts wouldn't conjure up yet another curveball.

Gail, who had previously been cautious and deferential around the butler, now shed his masquerade. The façade of gentleness was gone, revealing eyes that were narrow and profound, the slight droop at their corners speaking volumes of repressed intensity.

He professed, "Sir, my affection for you rivals that of anyone. May I have the honor of serving you?"

Jack's reaction was a mix of apprehension and skepticism, contemplating whether rejection would spell his doom in some novel manner. Yet, consenting might just set the stage for the butler and the vampire to orchestrate a disastrous triple kill.

When did Jack Avery, a model of virtue albeit a tad reticent, find himself mulling over whether it was preferable to be undone by one adversary or three? The logical choice seemed to be the former, banking on the slim hope that the game would not venture beyond its established dichotomy.

"Gail, you should go," Jack finally mustered the courage to say.

Struck by the rejection, the youth in the maid's outfit turned deathly pale. "Even in Lucas's absence, do you not require my service?"

"I'm sorry," Jack uttered, a line seemingly straight out of a playboy's handbook.

"Why?" The question came as Gail's eyes darkened, his pale face and faded lips marking a stark contrast. "With Lucas gone, what stands in our way... or have you ceased to love me? Have you forsaken me for my cowardice and my penchant for evasion?"

They had ventured into the realm of love. Jack's straightforward apology seemed to be the prudent choice.

Yet, unwilling to kindle false hopes and equally afraid of exacerbating matters, Jack opted for a tactful silence.

Gail's expression turned increasingly distressed, his eyes clouded with sorrow and despair. "So, you've given up on me," he stated, a hollow echo to his voice.

Jack remained mute.

Gail's fists clenched, a visible sign of his turmoil.

Jack covertly observed, bracing himself for the inevitable—ready to navigate through the "options" and, if need be, initiate a reset.

"You've given up on me," Gail echoed his earlier sentiment, his voice laden with grief so potent it might have moved Jack to compassion, had he not been hardened by multiple deaths.

A bitter laugh escaped Gail, a sound tinged with self-derision and despair. "Indeed, I am unworthy and feeble, far below the love you offer. You rescued me from despair, breathed new life into my existence, even vowed to bestow upon me your sacred love. Yet, my inherent cowardice, my utter unworthiness, made me skulk and flee, fearing I'd tarnish your love..."

"I am the architect of this ruin," Gail continued, his voice a lamentation of ultimate sorrow, "I've disappointed you, failed your expectations."

Jack pondered over this turn of events—was the story veering towards self-harm rather than murder?

As Gail's hands dropped listlessly to his sides, his figure seemed to lose all vitality. He turned and ambled away, leaving Jack in a state of disbelief.

The doors closed behind Gail, leaving Jack alone, reflecting on the unexpected departure.

And, astonishingly, no one perished.

Jack Avery was dubious yet held back from pursuing Gail. The thought of Gail questioning his intentions if he followed was too complicated to consider. How would Jack explain? He couldn't just say he wanted to ensure Gail wasn't off somewhere contemplating harm.

So, Jack stood firm, deciding against action and remaining in front of the dressing mirror.

Time passed, and nothing unusual occurred. Gail had truly gone...

A part of Jack suspected things weren't as straightforward, yet another side of him hoped maybe this was all just a minor challenge. The game was about making choices between left and right, not about dealing with unexpected third options, surely?

After getting dressed and spending half an hour in bed in anticipation, nothing happened... No one came back, and he remained alive... Had he managed to navigate through this bizarre trial?

Waking up the next day to see the mission progress beyond half was a relief. Maybe completion was indeed possible?

Jack prepared himself for what lay ahead, breathing a sigh of relief.

With no news from the butler, Jack took it as a good sign. Gail's absence, though his fate was uncertain, meant one less thing to worry about.

Now alone, Jack faced the daunting task of dressing without assistance in the complex outfits demanded by the estate. He lamented the absence of simpler clothing options like a pullover T-shirt.

Nevertheless, determined not to stir up any more trouble, Jack dressed himself, a task that took much longer without Lucas's guidance.

Hunger struck after he dressed, reminding him of the mornings Lucas would bring breakfast. Now, Jack had to fend for himself.

The castle's halls, adorned with portraits and animal bones, felt oppressively empty. Once symbols of the family's status, they now added to the eerie silence that enveloped the mansion.

Used to the dark and not afraid of ghosts, Jack found the emptiness unsettling. The absence of Lucas and Gail made the mansion feel deserted, amplifying the silence.

Jack's search for breakfast led him to the kitchen, where he was met with a horrifying sight.

The kitchen was filled with bodies.

For Jack, no stranger to the eerie and the macabre, the scene was still deeply unsettling.

Investigating further, he discovered the victims were the mansion's staff. The recent deaths of the maids, gardeners, and stable hands painted a gruesome picture.

Closing the door behind him, Jack had to admit this situation was far from normal. This was madness.

Who could have done this? Gail? But why? Was it rage, a loss of control, or a mere accident?

Unable to grasp the reasoning behind such madness, Jack abandoned any thought of breakfast. The garden offered a brief respite.

There, in the garden's tea pavilion, he found pastries still warm...

Was this some twisted form of concern for his well-being?

Jack wasn't hungry. Alone with his thoughts, he contemplated his next steps.

Whatever Gail's motives, Jack was now in grave danger. Past threats on his life had come after Lucas's disappearance. Lucas's warning not to leave the mansion now seemed prescient. With everyone dead, Jack was truly alone.

Surviving the days ahead was his only concern.

Alone in the desolate mansion, Jack faced the solitude with a mix of resolve and caution.

He survived another day without incident.

That evening, the sound of a skirmish outside jolted him awake. Jack leaped out of bed, on high alert.

The door flew open to reveal a formidable man accusing, "Why do you protect that demon?"

Gail, with his striking blue eyes, responded softly, "He is my master."

"Are you insane? He's made you into a monster!"

"I chose this," Gail insisted, his twisted smile betraying his obsession. "Only this power allows me to remain by his side."

"You're mad, Gail Reed!"

"My love for him is all that matters." Gail's melancholic smile faded as he pleaded, "Please, leave us be."

In a flash, Gail ended the intruder's life. The body fell, blood merging with the carpet in a chilling pattern.

Turning to Jack, Gail's menacing gaze softened to a sorrowful blue. "My lord..."

"Look, I am capable. Whatever Lucas could do, I too can accomplish." Gail knelt, his plea filled with humility and devotion, "With Ekstrom's power and Lucas's dedication, I ask to stay by your side, even if just as your loyal servant."