In a dimly lit underground basement, the light flickered for a moment then–died completely. Only the thunder from outside filled the silence.
Nine teenagers sat on a wooden table, all wearing black cloaks. Everything devoured by darkness. A girl placed a candle in the center of the table. The flames rose slowly and cut through the darkness. Everyone's shadows stretched to the walls.
Then–
Ahhh…
A scream.
Everyone flinched violently. Chairs scraped. Hearts jumped.
"WHAT THE— do you want us to die, Jenny?!" A red–haired boy snapped, clenching his chest. "I almost died before that illness killed me…"
Jenny smirked. "Relax, Zack. At least you will die looking at a beautiful face."
Zack glared at her.
"Quite down." said a sharp–eyed girl holding a thick book. "At least don't do it in front of new member."
She turned around the newcomer.
"So introduce yourself."
A boy with brown hair and hazel eyes stood slowly. Hesitation lingering in his posture.
A girl slightly older than the others spoke to him gently. "It's fine, just say whatever you want."
He swallowed. "Hello everyone… I am Roy. Seventeen." He paused. "And I have Huntington's disease."
The room doesn't react strongly.
It was normal here.
Jenny leaned back. "Why was he so scared to say that? Should I pity him?"
She waved her hand casually.
"Everyone here is dying anyway. Look."
She pointed around the table.
"Zack—bone cancer."
Zack clicked his tongue.
"That girl—ALS."
Miraa didn't react.
"That one—cystic fibrosis."
A weak boy barely lifted his head.
"She—brain tumor."
A younger girl blinked slowly.
"And him—liver failure."
The boy beside her groaned in sleep.
"Wake up, bastard."
He jolted up. "Is it starting?"
Jenny raised his fist as if to hit him, but Miraa stopped him.
"Enough…" Miraa said calmly. "He had brain cancer too…"
Jenny clicked her tongue.
"And me?" she pointed at herself. "Amnesia. Or whatever you want to call it."
All eyes slowly shifted to the girl with the book. Ninna.
"The 'throne lady' has blood cancer," Jenny added quickly, then turned away as if pretending to cry.
Ninna's expression darkened. "…Did you finish?" she asked.
Jenny froze. "Yes, my lady."
Ninna's eyes narrowed. "Sit down before one of us dies."
Jenny immediately straightened up. "Yes–NInna dii."
Ninna exhaled slowly, then looked at the group.
"I hope the warden doesn't come here."
Her gaze stopped on Roy.
"Everyone's glass has filled. Juice for younger ones. Wherever we can manage for the rest."
A pause. "Welcome Roy in the club."
Cheers…
The mood was set again, the flames flickered.
Ninna spoke to everyone. "So, as a new member, today Roy is going to tell us a story."
Roy looked at everyone. Their faces were expectant and waiting for him to speak.
Jenny said, "Stop looking around and start the story."
Roy was an orphan living alone, but a year ago he found out that he had Huntington's disease, a disease that will slowly damage his brain cells and, over time, worsen and start to paralyze his body. With a friend's help, he was selected for this hostel that helps people with rare diseases. And now he joined their club that was secret from everyone except us.
Night Club.
Roy said in excitement. "It's a story about a man named Vic who is stuck on a journey."
The light reflected on his face.
—
On the dark road, a man was driving a car with his wife Rekha and his daughter Diya sleeping in the back seat. The car tires screeched against the road's concrete. Their surroundings were covered with forest trees.
Rekha kept nagging him, "I said that we should go back quickly, but you never listen."
Vic gripped the wheel harder. "Stop it now, for God's sake… I understand it's already late."
Rekha pointed at him, "If you understand, then why haven't we gone home already?"
The car passed through a signboard: "Dangerous zone," but they didn't notice it in the heat of the argument.
The car sped faster, the trees were left behind. The usual signboard started to appear less and less.
The car crossed the nearest village.
Then after a long drive, the man noticed the weirdest thing. This forest road was just a few kilometres on the map, but he had been driving for an hour or more and still couldn't see the end of it.
"What's this? I clearly checked the distance. It wasn't that much, but it's already an hour or so…"
His wife and daughter were sleeping now. He didn't want to make them worry over something small. He looked outside from his side mirror but saw nothing.
After a hundred metres or so, he saw a house built on the edge of the forest. The tree branches were spread around it.
He ignored it. Maybe some old people still don't want to move.
The car sped up again. After ten minutes, he noticed the house again. His expression froze.
"No… this must be another house."
He sped up. The house was there again, and a man was standing in the doorway, smiling at him in a creepy way.