Static noise crackled like broken thunder on a stormy night. Muffled by buzz, a high pitched laughter echoed through a cracked, television screen.
{̷G̵A̸ME̵ ̷̸OVER̶!!!}
Light bulbs on the ceiling lit up, illuminating the circular room and the pool of scarlet on the floor. Along the wall, ten statues were spread out, each holding a platform above their heads.
However, only one platform had a person above it. It was a teenager adorned in dirty uniform, his hair disheveled and dry. His face was gaunt and pale, and his skin was riddled with scars.
"I won…" his hoarse voice was barely above a whisper.
On the ceiling, a flat television faced him, its screen riddled with web-like cracks. Electric bolts swimmed through the metallic limbs that held it high, which seemed to power the device.
{C̵ONGR̷A̶T̷ULATI̸O̵N̶S̸!} The robotic voice returned. This time, it sounded like a muffled radio rather than a cackling banshee.
The blank screen flickered to life. Inside was a silhouette.
{Y̸O̷U ̵HAVE̸ ̷COMPL̵E̵TE̷D̷ ̵A̷LL ̶THE ̸C̵HAL̶L̴E̵NGES̶ ̷S̴U̶C̴CESSF̷U̵LLY̷!}
The tiles that made up the ceiling cracked open, pouring confetti toward the blood-stained floor. Cheerful harp and piano played in the background, all whilst the boy stared blankly at the screen.
"I want to leave," he raised his voice despite feeling like his throat was being chainsawed.
The screen flickered off, and the music died with it. Confetti continued to rain, but his gaze remained on the television.
"I played all your games and now, I am the last one standing. Complete your end of the—"
{You may leave,} a quiet, calm voice replaced the madness. The confetti ceased, and the room heard no more breaths. The lights flickered, until darkness swallowed everything whole.
{The tutorial is complete.}
.
.
.
The wind carried whispers of legends as the moon watched from above. The House of Laughter was an urban legend that many young folks worshiped. It was said to bring joy to all who saw its glory, yet none claimed to have seen it.
"Is this safe?" A voice soft like cotton traveled through the evening breeze. Each step he took was hesitant, whilst dry leaves crunched below him like brittle chips. He was a high-school student, still in his uniform with his long, white hair tied to a ponytail behind his back.
The forest was dark and the air was damp, but the fireflies amongst the rigid air made the trip all the more worthwhile. If only they were here to sightsee.
Owls on tree branches looked over and whistled. Most took flight, but one remained, watching with eyes that never blinked.
In front of the soft spoken boy was another student, his face illuminated by the light of his phone. He blinked and his eyes trembled, but his mouth remained closed.
Ahead of them were eight other students, each with a flashlight or a phone in hand.
"It's so cold…" The long haired boy looked around. The empty forest gazed back, and if he stared longer, he felt like arms would crawl out behind the ancient woods.
"Creepy…" He tore his sight away and focused on their group.
Their school was built near a small forest, which was half-turned into a park. Normally, people avoided the deeper areas.
But at the peak of Halloween, young souls became daredevils to prove their courage. Thus tonight, a few moments before midnight, ten youths set out to seek the House of Laughter.
Frogs below croaked and followed as the ten walked into a clearing. A small pond lay before them. Lampyrids floated above lush bushes like paper lanterns, whilst tadpoles lurked beneath the waters.
According to the legend, to enter the House of Laughter, a ritual must be chanted. It had to be midnight during a full moon, and the pond must catch the moon's heart.
"Hold hands," a boy with purple hair gathered their attention.
"Remember the words," he whispered.
Seconds crawled. The night hushed. The moon glowed beneath the pond and the ten students encircled it with their hands held, their voices in sync.
"House of Laughter, House of Laughter," the ritual echoed between the ancient trees. Crickets fell silent, the birds held their chirps. Wind surged from above as though warning angels of the devil's hand.
"Memories.
Childhood.
Dreams.
Forgotten with age, stolen by fiends.
Give us happiness, take us home.
Rid our sadness, show us hope."
The wind howled. Leaves took flight. Trees rustled as glow worms fell.
The ten noticed nothing amiss around them.
"House that laughs,
look at our hearts.
Give life music,
cheerful like harps.
House of Laughter…
House of Laughter…"
They met each other's gaze. Suddenly, an army of blushing phantoms assaulted their view, making the world vanish around them.
"...House of Laughter."
The wind ceased its howls. Moths chased the butterflies in the sky, whilst fireflies remained in the moonless pond. Perched atop a tree branch, an owl stared at the empty body of water. Confused, or maybe… something else.
.
.
.
The Grand Stage was a circular room with ten statues placed along the wall. Each one held a platform above their heads, with a student atop them. They stood with their shoulders slouched, their eyes closed and their bodies loose.
The white marble floor sparkled like quartz, and the pale, blue walls resembled the muted dusk sky. At the very middle of the room, a television was held high with mechanical limbs attached to the ceiling.
The screen buzzed, and each student awoke with a jolt. They tried to turn their heads, only to find that their bodies were frozen in place. They could only stand straight with their eyes glued to the television, unable to turn or look around.
Static filled the screen, before a blurry figure appeared. It was a clown doll with an overly large smile painted on its mask. It sat on a blue bed, surrounded by black and white balloons.Its limbs twitched with every moment that passed, and dim behind its smile was a pink glow.
When it spoke, its voice was like a sparrow in a sugar rush.
{They say you seek fate, you know what you hate~
A feeling of laughter, played by an actor~
WELCOME~ to the HOUSE OF LAUGHTER~!} Painfully slow, the clown waved with one hand.
{I am the circus clown~ And I shall greet you NOW~!}
Gun barrels poked through the ceiling and showered confetti of pink and scarlet.
{Let the games~ BEGIN!!!} The clown violently spasmed and outstretched all its limbs, while a string wrapped around its neck lifted it from the floor.
"WAIT!" A shout ended the rain of colors. The clown was gently placed back on the ground as it waited for the person to continue.
Not just it, the other nine perked their ears for the boy who spoke. A boy with purple hair and caramel skin. His face was twisted in a frown, his eyes blurry behind his round eyeglasses.
"Who are you?! Where did you take us?!"
The clown doll tilted its head. The glow behind its smile disappeared, and its body began to rise. This time, it lay limp like a man sentenced to death by hanging.
{You are in my house,} a deep, icy voice froze their thoughts. {I am the Overseer of the Executioner Trials #3.}
Suddenly, the clown's smile shone brilliantly in vibrant pink that threatened to engulf the screen.
{N̴OW ̴T̸HE ̷F̶IRS̴T̷–F̶IRST̶ ̷G̷A̴M̸E̴ ̴S̷H̵A̸L̷L̶ ̶B̸E–E̷~~}
The statues and platforms beneath each student split in half. Gravity dragged them under, their screams unable to slow their fall.
{H̸I̸D̸E̵.}
{̷A̶N̸D̷.}
{S̵E̴E̸K̸.}
{K̸Y̸A̴H̶A̴H̸A̶H̸A̵H̶A̸—}
The screen turned black.
.
.
.
Several hours ago.
"You fucking, shameless, worthless bastard," a girl spat with venom as she glared at the boy before her. Both of them were in a classroom, and all the lights were out. At this hour, every student and teacher had gone home.
Even the janitor was finished with his job.
"Come on, hot stuff~" A light, yet gruff voice spilled from the boy's mouth. He was a head taller than the girl, and like her, he was a student from this school.
"Just this~ once," He licked his lips.
However, unlike the fully dressed girl, his uniform was nowhere to be seen. His torso was laid bare, and on his chest was a large tattoo of a skull.
The girl stared at it with disgust.
"...fine. I'll go," the girl scowled and grabbed her bag. "But first, give me the phone."
The boy grinned and fished for something inside his pocket. He took out an old mobile phone, then handed it over.
"Don't think about reneging on our deal, babe~" He chuckled and approached the girl, who grabbed a nearby chair and placed it between them.
He smirked and stood in place.
"You can delete the pictures, but I still know the person," his cold blue eyes pierced through the girl's amber orbs.
He snickered. "You don't want him to be bruised and bloody tomorrow, now do you?"
"Tch," the girl scoffed and stormed toward the door. She kicked it open, and as she stepped into the pitch black hallway, she glanced back.
She raised her middle finger. "Go fuck yourself."