Escape the Night + KotLC AU

= Escape the Night + KotLC Crossover AU =
=== By Keeper of the Forbidden Cities ===
Keefe has been having dreams of the same eerie house for months. But when those dreams become a reality and the house ends up in his hands, he realizes that it won't let him rest until he invites others. But a dinner party turns deadly when he and his friends learn that there is much more to the haunted house than what meets the eye. They have to work together to solve puzzles and clues to make it out of this 1920s nightmare. The question is, how many lives will be lost before they do?
--TRIGGER WARNING--
This is going to be an overall dark AU featuring things such as d//th, gore, etc. Please be careful and read at your own risk!
=== Chapter One - Keefe ===
The rain poured. Keefe was running. Running far away from who knows what.
Splash!
He was soaked to the bone, but he didn’t care. He needed to get away from the house.
Run.
Run.
Run.
There was nowhere to go. He had reached this point so many times. He was backed up against a tree, a tall figure closing in on him. Lightning flashed and lit up the figure’s face for a second. Except it wasn’t a face. It was a mask. It began creeping closer, raising its hand—
Keefe sat up abruptly, gasping. He was drenched not with rain, but with sweat. It was how he had woken up for the past month. He was getting sick and tired of this same dream. He tiptoed out of bed and into the hallway, looking to get some fresh air. He wandered into the entryway. Keefe was about to open the door when he thought he saw someone outside.
His heart pounded in his ears as he slowly opened the door and peered onto the beach.
“Hello?” He whisper-yelled.
Nobody.
He sighed. It was just him being paranoid. Keefe crept back up to his bed, crawling under the comfort of the warm covers. He laid his head down on the pillow, only to feel something on it. He sat up and used what he had learned at Exilium to adjust his eyes to the dark. He picked up the paper. It was a letter. And it definitely wasn’t there before. He unfolded it and skimmed through.
In short, the same house that had been haunting his dreams was now gifted upon him. There was a leaping crystal enclosed and everything. A blue leaping crystal, one that looked worn and cracked.
As he looked in the envelope again, he pulled out a small cloth pocket with something inside. Temporary leaping crystals, ten of them. Each attached to a small paper with a name.
Sophie Foster.
Fitz Vacker.
Biana Vacker.
Marella Redek.
Linh Song.
Tam Song.
Wylie Endal.
Maruca Chebota.
Dex Dizznee.
Stina Heks.
A chill ran down his spine as Keefe realized what he had to do.
He couldn’t rest until he invited them to the house of his nightmares.
=== Chapter Two - Sophie ===
“Show me Fitz.”
Fitz’s face appeared on Sophie’s imparter “What’s up?”
“Have you seen Keefe? I wanted to hail him to ask him a quick question, but he won’t respond,” she explained. “And I can’t seem to find him telepathically.”
“Hm, that’s weird,” Fitz mumbled. “I actually— one sec,” he looked somewhere behind him. “What?!” Pause. He sighed and turned back to Sophie. “Hold on, I’ll hail you back.” He clicked off the imparter.
Just then, there was a knock on the front door. Sophie didn’t bother getting up, because Edaline was closer to the door and was already answering it.
Edaline walked over to her after a minute, holding a small letter. “I don’t know who that was, but she wanted me to give this to you, I think.”
“You think?” Sophie raised an eyebrow.
Edaline nodded. “All she said was ‘Telegram for Miss Sophie Foster.’”
“Telegram?”
“Yes. I assumed it might have been a human thing,” Edaline handed it to her.
“Yes, but…” she trailed off as she read the beginning of the letter.
To Foster
From Lord Hunkyhair
She only knew one Lord Hunkyhair. Her heart began to race as she read the rest.
To my esteemed friends,
I have acquired an illustrious estate through the death of a distant relative, who I’ve never met.
I thought it only fitting to invite you all to attend a dinner party on its grounds. It will certainly be a night to remember, however the estate is quite peculiar and only exists in the year 1920.
To enter its grounds, you must be dressed entirely with human clothing of that era. If you are carrying anything from the modern or elvin world, the house will simply never appear for you.
And not only your clothing, but your attitude must reflect the time. I have included your unique characteristics on the back of this invitation.
My driver will pick you up and take you on a road that can only be driven by his mysterious, time traveling, automobile. Then, almost like magic, the place will appear.
I hope to see you there,
Keefe
=== Chapter Three - Stina ===
“I’m so confused,” Stina muttered.
“Yeah, this is creepy,” Marella agreed.
After receiving Keefe’s invitation, Stina and Marella had decided to meet up and enter the “mystical time-traveling automobile” together.
“On a different note, you look nice,” Marella commented.
“Thanks. I got assigned the role of the ‘Jazz singer.’” She leaned over. “I don’t even know what that is.”
Marella laughed. “I got ‘the Hustler.’ I also don’t know what that’s supposed to mean.”
“To be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if this was a very elaborate prank,” Stina rolled her eyes.
“Remember the Great Gulon Incident?” Marella smiled.
“Do I remember it? Heck, we weren’t even in Foxfire at the time but we still heard about it. Did he ever admit that he did it?”
The rest of the long ride was filled with small talk and gazing out the window, until finally, the vehicle jerked to a stop. Marella and Stina both got out their sides. Marella whistled. “Nice.”
“Eh, a little underwhelming,” Stina shrugged. “I mean, it’s an old human house. What’s so special about it?”
They approached the door. “Do we just knock?” Marella asked.
“That’s what normal people do,” she rolled her eyes. She tapped the door twice and waited for a response.
The door creaked open. “Hey, you’re here!” Linh greeted them with a wide smile.
“Woah, nice outfit,” Marella noted.
“Thanks! I really like how it turned out,” Linh grinned and gestured inside. “Come on in! We’re just waiting on Keefe.”
“You’re waiting for Keefe?” Stina raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t this supposed to be his party?”
“Yep,” Tam walked over. “He’s probably trying to be ‘fashionably late’ or whatever.”
“That does sound like him,” Linh shrugged.
“Speak of the devil, there he is,” Marella pointed to where Keefe was walking down the grand staircase, dressed in a fancy human suit. He stopped on the landing, and the room fell silent.
Keefe smirked as he looked over the crowd. He held out his arms. “Welcome to my new house,” he grinned.
A few people applauded. Keefe cleared his throat. “You all look amazing in your 1920’s attire. And, uh, I’d like you to meet the wonderful staff, who actually came with the house.” He gestured to two people standing off to the side.
“Arthur, who is the head of staff, Sarah, the maid, and then there’s Marvin, the groundskeeper,” he pointed somewhere outside.
“That maid lady’s a little creepy,” Maruca leaned over and whispered to Stina.
“Tell me about it,” she muttered back.
“Dinner will be ready soon, but until then, let’s hang out and,” Keefe walked the rest of the way down the stairs. “Get to know our 1920 roles a little more.”
=== Chapter Four - Sophie ===
“What’s this?” Biana asked, holding up a dart.
“That’s a dart, you throw it at the circle thing there,” Sophie pointed to a dartboard on the wall. 
“Oh, okay,” she held it as if to throw it underhand like you would a ball. 
“Not like that!” Sophie said quickly, grabbing her wrist. “Let me show you.”
While she was showing Biana how to play darts, Keefe walked over. “How are you lovely ladies doing tonight?” He winked. 
“This is a really nice place,” Sophie said. “You own it, right?” 
“I mean, basically. Technically I still have to, you know, seal the deal—” 
“So it’s not yours yet?” Wylie strode over, picking up a dart and twirling it around as Biana’s dart landed on the board. 
“Well… no,” Keefe admitted. “But it’s supposed to happen soon.”
“Oh really?” Sophie smiled. 
“Yeah, like, tonight, actually,” he ran a hand through his hair. “Darts, anyone?”
After a few minutes of darts, Sophie wandered around the room a little more. Stina, Dex, Linh, and Tam were playing a card game at a small table, laughing and having fun. But honestly, Sophie wanted to explore the rest of the house.
She turned to Wylie, who was standing next to her. “Do you think we’re allowed to look around a bit?”
“Not sure,” he told her. “Maybe ask Keefe?”
“Hey, Keefe!” Sophie went back to the dartboard where he was playing with the Vackers. “Am I allowed to look around a little bit? Like around the house?”
Keefe glanced away. “Actually, I’d prefer if you’d stay down here. Dinner will be ready really soon, so, um… yeah.”
“Uh, okay,” Sophie bit her lip. Keefe was acting… weird. 
“Anyway—” he turned to Fitz. “Your turn.”
She and Wylie walked away from the game. “Did Keefe seem different to you?” She asked him as soon as they were out of earshot.
“Yeah. He’s definitely hiding something,” Wylie agreed. 
Sophie glanced back at Keefe, who was busy with darts. “Come on,” she led Wylie to the stairs. 
“What are we doing?” He asked. 
“If anyone asks, you were helping me find the restroom,” she told him. 
“Oh,” Wylie said. He followed her up the stairs, which were a little more creaky than Sophie would have liked. 
They stepped into a very old-fashioned hallway. Downstairs, a gong rang and Keefe said something about dinner being served. 
“We should—” Wylie started to say, then stopped. He grabbed her wrist, but she didn’t dare take another step anyway. 
What was that around the corner? Someone was lying there, but their feet were moving away like they were being dragged. 
The body was eventually pulled out of view. Sophie glanced up at Wylie. “Did you—”
Suddenly, the maid— Sarah, was it? —walked around the corner. “What are you doing here?” She inquired in a strange accent. There was a smudge of something on her cheek. It was dark and red, and Sophie didn’t want to think about what it could have been. 
“I- um- Where’s the bathroom?” Sophie stuttered. 
“The dinner is ready,” she gestured to the stairs. “You should be downstairs.”
“Go,” Wylie pulled her back. She started walking down the stairs, but she heard Wylie mutter to Sarah. 
“I know what you’re doing.”
A chill ran down Sophie’s spine as Wylie began following her downstairs. 
“W-what was that about?” She asked. 
“Not now,” Wylie hissed. “Let’s just get to dinner.”
=== Chapter Five - Keefe ===
“Where were you guys?” Keefe asked as Sophie and Wylie walked into the dining room.
“Wylie was helping me find the bathroom,” Sophie explained. Her emotions said otherwise.
“You could have just asked me,” he informed her. Part of him felt a little disrespected. He had told her not to go exploring. “Are you okay? You seem a little…”
“Hey, what’s this?” Wylie asked, pointing to the food on his plate.
“Wow, way to change the subject,” Keefe raised an eyebrow.
“What took you guys so long?” Linh asked Wylie.
“Like she said, I was just helping Sophie find where the restroom is,” Wylie sighed.
“For that long?” Marella said skeptically.
“Foster,” Keefe leaned in close to her. “You’re not okay, I can feel it,” he whispered.
Later, she transmitted.
“But—”
“Did you try any of this?” Sophie asked Marella, who was sitting to her right.
“I guess they’re not going to tell us,” Biana laughed. “What could be that secretive anyway?”
“That’s why Keefe calls her the Mysterious Miss F,” Fitz smiled.
Keefe looked at Sophie one more time before going back to pretending everything was fine. “We’ll have to start calling Wylie the Mysterious Mr. E,” he joked. “That doesn’t have the same ring to it, does it?”
“No, it definitely doesn’t,” Stina agreed.
“Hey, now that we’re all here, let’s introduce our roles!” Keefe suggested. “I’ll start, and we’ll go around the table. I’m Keefe, and I’m the Savant.” He gestured to Linh.
“Oh- my name’s Linh, and I’m the Gambler.”
“My name is Wylie, and they call me the Renegade.”
“My name is Stina, and I am the Jazz Singer.”
“My name is Maruca, and I’m kinda like a Fixer.”
“I’m Dex, and I am called the Professor.”
“My name is Marella, and I am a Hustler.”
“My name is Tam, I’m a Mobster.”
“I’m Biana, and I am an Heiress.”
“I’m Sophie, my character is the Journalist.”
“I’m Fitz, and I am the Big Game Hunter.”
“That’s everyone,” Keefe grinned. “How do you guys like the roles?”
“I’m not sure I want to be a hunter,” Fitz told him.
“Don’t worry, no killing will be happening tonight,” he laughed.
Now that Sophie and Wylie were back, Keefe felt like he could relax a little. Sophie began feeling more relaxed as well. But he was still going to ask her later what had happened.
“Excuse me,” Arthur said, striding into the room with a small piece of paper. He handed it to Wylie.
“Ooohh, someone wrote Wylie a letter,” Keefe smirked. “Read it aloud!”
“Yeah, hold on,” Wylie smiled, but it faded when he unfolded the note and read it.
“Woah, I felt that mood shift,” Stina commented from next to him.
At that moment, Sarah came in with a covered-up platter of something. Everyone turned to her as she placed it on the table.
The next few moments happened fast and slow at the same time. Everyone was focused on the mystery dish, until Linh screamed.
Keefe turned to see Wylie choking. Coughing up blood. “Wylie?” He asked frantically. “Oh my God-”
Wylie stood up and stumbled away from the table. Panic and confusion filled the room. Keefe didn’t know what to do. Wylie fell onto the ground.
“He said something!” Linh said, bending down. “He- he said he’s been poisoned!”
“What?!” Fitz gasped.
“By who?” Marella yelled.
“It was her, obviously!” Maruca pointed to Sarah. “She’s the one serving the food!”
“Wait, let’s read the note,” Dex picked up the paper from the table.
“What does it say?” Biana asked.
“It says he’s been poisoned!” Dex exclaimed.
“What?” Keefe leaned over and grabbed it out of Dex’s hand, reading it aloud. “‘In fifteen minutes, you’ll be dead, your lungs filled with blood. However, you know I love games. There is an antidote hidden on the first floor of the house. If you and your friends are wise enough, they’ll be able to solve the clues and save you. The symbol of your cult marks the clues leading to the antidote. It all begins with your last dish of the night. May you die in a horrible pain, my cursed enemy.’” Keefe looked up. “What the heck?!”
“What’s the symbol?” Sophie leaned over his shoulder.
“This, I think,” Keefe pointed to a circular symbol on the corner of the paper.
“The last dish of the night… That’s what your maid brought out, right?” Fitz clarified.
“Yes,” Keefe nodded. “Sarah, what’s under there?”
Without a word, Sarah walked over and lifted the covering off of the tray, revealing a head.
An actual head.
Multiple people screamed.
“Why?!” Stina shouted. “Please tell me this is fake,” she turned to Keefe. But he couldn’t move. He was just as shocked as everyone else.
“It better be!” Maruca agreed.
“Wait- there’s… something in its mouth,” Tam pointed out.
“Oh, heck no!” Marella’s eyes widened. Tam hesitantly approached the head.
“Tam, you’re not going to…” Linh bit her lip.
“We have to save Wylie,” Tam explained. He swallowed and he put his fingers in its mouth.
“Is there anything in there?” Fitz asked as everyone expressed how disgusting this was.
“Yeah, there’s…” Tam pulled out a bloodstained piece of paper. “A note.”
“Read it!” Sophie urged.
Tam cleared his throat. “‘Something is not okay with this room. I like it in a perfect order, but certain things wander around the table instead of finding their perfect fit. Can you figure it out?’”
“Is that all it says?” Linh asked.
Tam nodded.
“How are we supposed to know where this person likes to put things?” Keefe exclaimed.
“Why don’t we look for the symbol?” Fitz suggested. “Didn’t it say that the clues would be marked?”
“Guys, we only have fifteen minutes to save Wylie!” Maruca reminded them.
“Right! Everyone, look for this symbol!” Keefe instructed.
Everyone looked frantically around the room. Keefe checked all the dishes, behind curtains, everywhere he could think of. Nothing.
“Wait, Keefe, what was the symbol again?” Dex asked from the side of the room.
“This?” He walked over and showed him the symbol.
“Yes! I found something!” Dex said excitedly. He pointed to a wooden board with three circular indents, one of which had a glass on top that fit into the circle.
“So do we just find the glasses that go in here?” Marella asked.
“I think so,” Dex said.
It was a frantic scramble to find the glasses that fit. Eventually they got all three glasses. As soon as Biana set the last cup in the circle, a box that was sitting right behind Stina opened, by itself.
“Holy— that scared the crap out of me,” Stina sighed, putting a hand on her chest.
The box had three locked sections. “The antidotes are in here!” Biana observed. She furrowed her brow. “But… how do we get to them?”
=== Chapter Six - Maruca ===
=== Story Reviews ===
(A.N. this is mostly a joke lmho)"This is amazing. Also seriously creepy."-BlitzenberryMuffin"Oh my gosh, what a cliffhanger! You've got me hooked!"-Nilanaibhay