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The floorboards of the old, long abandoned house creaked under the weight if two people. The sound of a zipper dully contrasted the otherwise quiet night, a light flicking on and point at a figure nearby.
"Don't point it at people."
"It's just a flashlight."
"It's too bright, where did you even get such a bright flashlight?"
"Oh… y'know… mail delivery perks?"
"Mail delivery perks…" Kinich sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose before moving it to Metzli's head and ruffling his hair.
Metzli gave a strained smile, "It's just that… the instructions say I need to go in. I feel like something would go wrong if I go alone. Isn't it good to be cautious?"
His words were returned with an empty stare before Kinich motioned with his chin towards the door, "I'll lead the way then, if you're extra worried I'll have A'jaw do it."
Metzli's smile could only thicken, why ask a tiger for its own skin after all? "No need."
"Then it's settled," Kinich pushed the door open, a long exaggerated creak escaping it. The two walked through the hall carefully, each step seeming louder than the last.
Kinich stopped walking for a moment, Metzli's reaction too slow so his face hit his back. Kinich glanced over his shoulder before turning and putting his hand in Metzli's pocket.
"Instruction card."
Metzli nodded his head, before glancing behind Kinich. The house was covered in dust, the furniture a ghastly white almost.
As he looked over the decoration Metzli couldn't help but wonder. Who keeps a mannequin in the hallway? He pursed his lips, Kinich's blank stare meeting his eyes.
"Something wrong?"
"Just feel like… this place is a bit creepy…" Metzli glanced back over to the human figure, "The owner had weird taste."
Kinich glanced back before taking Metzli's hand, the warmth providing a subtle comfort, "That's all it is."
Despite this, Kinich tugged Metzli closer as they passed by the stupid mannequin. The little light that had found it's way through made its eyes glassier.
It seemed to be wearing a wig of some kind, spilling over its almost featureless face. Two glassy eyes had been the only feature on it, there was no nose, no lips.
The dress that it had wore, were large flies. It was hard to tell whether the were alive, and neither of the men wanted to look at it for too long.
There was no smell from it, but the amount of flies could make one gag simply from the sight.
Metzli let out the breath he was holding, adjusting his hand to interlock with Kinich's, "Sorry."
Kinich shook his head, "It's nothing, let's just head upstairs."
Each noise they made had Metzli's heart pounding in his ears, it felt too loud. Everything about this house felt wrong, except for the sturdy person beside him.
As the reached the upper floor a shrill screech sounded in the distance, "Deep breaths, Metzli. If you need to, name things you notice from each sense."
Kinich had long looked for ways to comfort Metzli, by no mean was he good at it.
"I'm fine… just having you here makes me feel better. I don't even feel sick."
Kinich let out a small sigh and shook his head, he squeezed Metzli's hand, "That's good too."
Pushing open the first, and only, door upstairs, the two shuffled into the room. Metzli steeled himself, taking out the neatly wrapped box and setting it on the dusty desk in the center of the room.
Kinich stuck closely by his side, looking over his shoulder at what Metzli was doing. Kinich looked over the instruction card, before unzipping Metzli's bag and pulling out the small candles they were given, setting them down in formation and lighting them.
Metzli clapped his hands before hooking his arm with Kinich's, already tugging him along as his heart raced, "Let's get out quickly."
Kinich didn't make it hard, letting Metzli confidently lead the way, but as they got down the stairs the small confidence left at the sight of the fly ridden figure being gone.
Metzli took a step backward, almost crying at the sight, "It moved, it moved!"
Kinich bit the inside of his cheek, taking the lead again, as the passed by the kitchen a light came from it, forcing both to look over.
The figure slowly walked, flies buzzing around it as each heavy step fell. The cobwebs tangled along its body like a veil.
As it reached the table, it lifted a knife. The point cutting through and the rest following downward. After angling the knife, it lifted the slice of cake, standing at the table as if it was offering it.
Metzli covered his mouth, hand tightly clutching onto Kinich's jacket, trying to tug him towards the exit.
The figure stood still, after confirming it won't rush at them suddenly Kinich pulled Metzli along and out of the old house.