Nightmare Game
Copyright© 2025 by CaffeinatedTales
Chapter 28
Ethan mulled over the words, a few ideas sparking in his mind.
It seemed like an explanation of certain castle matters, marked specifically for guests to take seriously.
The sheep and pig likely referred to Butler and the chef. The pig’s craving for wine made sense, but the sheep part hinted at something important hidden.
As for the dolls, that probably meant the herbivore and carnivore ones in the game room. The description was cryptic, calling for more investigation.
Putting that aside for now, Ethan turned the pages to learn what the little girl he still knew so little about had written.
[2038.5.15 Sunny]
[I have the happiest family ever. My dad is a scientist, my mom is a doctor. They’re super busy, but they always make time to play with me. They get me whatever I want. They’re the most caring parents, and all the other kids are so jealous.]
...
[2038.8.11 Sunny]
[Today, Mom and Dad took me to the amusement park. We rode the Ferris wheel, the pirate ship, and went through the haunted house. I screamed my head off at first, but with them each holding one of my hands, it didn’t feel so scary anymore.]
[I’m so happy. I wish days like this could last forever.]
...
[2038.10.19 Overcast]
[Dad’s been way busier lately. He doesn’t come home for a whole month sometimes, and I barely see him. Mom seems worried too; she calls him a lot, but his phone is always off.]
[Is Dad like those guys in TV shows? Cheating? That’s why he won’t come home?]
[I couldn’t help telling Mom my theory. She just smiled and shook her head. She loves Dad so much she wouldn’t doubt him, but I can tell she’s worried too.]
...
[2038.10.24 Light Rain]
[I saw Dad today. He always cares about looking good because he says he wants to be perfect for Mom. But now his beard is all grown out, not like my neat-freak dad at all. He smells weird, and his dark circles are huge.]
[I wanted him to stay home more, but he just smiled and apologized, saying he had a big project and things would get better soon.]
...
[2038.11.7 Overcast]
[Mom went to Dad’s work to find him, but she came back looking unhappy. She tried calling him a few more times, but no luck.]
...
[2038.11.12 Overcast]
[I woke up tonight to yelling. It was the first time I’d seen my loving parents argue. I almost cried.]
[I just want them to make up and for us to be a happy family again.]
...
[2038.11.22 Sunny]
[Mom’s been down these past days. Since their fight, Dad hasn’t come home. They’re not going to divorce like in the shows, are they?]
[I’m suddenly so scared. I don’t want them to split up. We have to stay together forever.]
...
[2038.12.10 Overcast]
[Dad’s been gone for ages.]
[Today Mom asked me, if I had to choose between us, who would it be?]
[I shook my head hard and yelled, “Don’t divorce! I’ll be good and won’t beg for your time anymore.”]
[Her expression was complicated; I couldn’t read it. She just held me tight.]
...
[2038.12.22 Sunny]
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