Episode 1: The Haunted House

Reference Picture (Got it from Google) (P.S not making money out of this.)

Day 1

Jaylen's day started with a flurry of unexpected phone calls, setting the stage for an unusual and thrilling adventure.

It all began when Jaylen was roused from his slumber in the university dormitory. His day kicked off with a knock on the door, courtesy of John, the Dorm's Advisor, who had a package addressed to Jaylen. Unbeknownst to him, this seemingly ordinary delivery held the key to an intriguing journey.

Soon after, his Auntie May gave him a call, inquiring about the package she had dispatched. During their conversation, she mentioned that the box contained some of his long-forgotten belongings and a notebook that once belonged to his late mother. Jaylen's emotions stirred as he uncovered the contents of this precious notebook.

In the midst of these sentimental revelations, Jaylen's best friend, Shane, rang his phone. Shane was already at school, diligently collecting information for an upcoming video project. The prospect of this new endeavor filled Jaylen with enthusiasm, and he began preparing for the day ahead.

As he readied himself to depart, another call came through, this time from his father. They exchanged pleasantries, with Jaylen's father disclosing his imminent arrival in EverChanging City by 7 PM. He also shared plans to discuss matters concerning Jaylen's mother on the following day, to which Jaylen readily agreed.

After these eventful phone conversations, Jaylen headed to the university. He wasted no time and made his way to his first classroom. Inside, he was greeted by Shane, who was already engrossed in his research. Shane excitedly relayed his latest discovery, a renowned tourist attraction hidden within the EverWood Forest—a Haunted Mansion. He believed that exploring this mysterious site could greatly enhance Jaylen's online presence and reputation.

However, their attention was soon diverted by the presence of two unfamiliar students seated in the front row. Tamara, one of Jaylen's classmates, took it upon herself to confront the newcomers. She demanded their names in an unfriendly manner, which led to a confrontational situation. One of the transfer students, a girl, physically confronted Tamara, grabbing her by the neck of her clothing and momentarily choking her. A second transfer student intervened to diffuse the situation, setting off a heated exchange of words.

Jaylen, deeply intrigued by these newcomers and the turmoil they had brought, observed from the sidelines. Once the confrontation subsided, he managed to learn their names—Sayuri Oguma and Chitose Nagase.

The classroom was soon left in disarray, with Tamara storming out, accompanied by another student. Jaylen and Shane found themselves in the midst of an animated discussion about Chitose, one of the transfer students. Their conversation was punctuated by an unexpected outburst from Sayuri, who overheard their remarks and confronted them. Jaylen managed to defuse the tension through conversation and reason, allowing Shane and Jaylen to turn their focus back to familiar faces.

Their interactions with classmates continued, with Jaylen and Shane exchanging words with fellow students from the previous year. As they conversed and shared stories, they remained blissfully unaware of a significant change that had occurred that day.

After approximately half an hour, Wesley, a fellow student, interrupted the relaxed atmosphere with unexpected news—the class schedule had been altered two hours earlier. The realization struck the room with a mixture of frustration and annoyance.

The class was collectively displeased by the abrupt schedule change, their disgruntled murmurs echoing through the room. Students settled into impatient waiting, eager for the meeting to commence.

Jaylen, feeling restless, decided to take a short break. He left the classroom, only to have a close call with an oblivious student engrossed in his paperwork, narrowly avoiding a collision. Jaylen's day was filled with such unexpected twists, foreshadowing the intrigue that lay ahead.

After this near miss, he headed to the canteen to purchase some snacks, returning with a juice box he intended to share with Shane. However, as he scanned the room, he noticed that Sayuri was conspicuously absent. Intrigued, he approached Chitose, striking up a friendly conversation.

Their dialogue flowed smoothly, allowing Jaylen to extend a friendly gesture by offering her a piece of cake. Just as the atmosphere seemed cordial, Sayuri burst back into the room, her demeanor exuding anger. She aggressively questioned Jaylen's motives, suspecting him of hitting on Chitose. In response, Chitose clarified that this was not the case, but the tension lingered. Jaylen explained that he had simply offered the cake as a gesture of goodwill, but Sayuri seized the cake and warned Jaylen that her retribution would extend beyond mere words if she caught him making advances.

Meanwhile, Tamara and Fran returned to the classroom, positioning themselves at the very front. With impeccable timing, the professor entered the room, her gaze sweeping over the unfamiliar faces. She initiated a brief round of introductions, during which Sayuri and Chitose revealed themselves as transfer students from Mythton. Following these preliminary formalities, the professor announced that, due to the absence of other educators, the students were free to depart.

In the wake of this announcement, several students dispersed, but Tamara and Fran took the opportunity to approach Sayuri and Chitose. They requested a private conversation, with Sayuri initially reluctant, although Chitose persuaded her to oblige, passing it off as a casual discussion.

The remaining students grappled with their decision to follow them, with Wesley suggesting the idea. However, they couldn't reach a consensus, with Wesley himself opposing the move. Yet, Jaylen and Shane concurred and decided to investigate further.

As they prepared to leave, a sudden encounter almost thwarted their plan. Edward tried to catch an individual off-guard, ultimately approaching him for a conversation. The stranger introduced himself as Carl, disclosing his involvement in research related to the supernatural, an intriguing revelation that stirred Jaylen's curiosity.

Jaylen then decided to explore an adjacent classroom on the same floor, while Edward ventured to the lower level. Shane, ever eager for information about the Haunted Mansion, set off after Carl.

Within the classroom, Jaylen uncovered no noteworthy discoveries, but he soon received a message from Edward, directing his attention to the lower floor. Jaylen hurried downstairs and found Edward, surreptitiously positioned against the wall. The two engaged in a silent exchange, with Jaylen gesturing for Edward to join him.

As they observed the situation, they noticed Tamara confronting Sayuri and Chitose, inquiring about their true reasons for transferring to the university. Tamara's aggression escalated, resulting in Sayuri physically attacking her, causing Tamara to tumble to the ground. Fran, overwhelmed by fear, remained paralyzed in place. Chitose, however, demonstrated kindness and assisted Tamara, even performing an inexplicable act. Sayuri and Chitose eventually decided to leave the scene.

Their departure caused panic in Jaylen and Edward, as they feared exposure. Fortunately, Jaylen received a call from Shane, which he answered away from Edward's vicinity. Shane informed Jaylen of rumors about hauntings in the EverWood Forest and proposed an immediate exploration. Jaylen agreed to meet at his car for this mysterious adventure.

Before departing, Jaylen glanced back and spotted Edward in a compromising situation, with Sayuri gripping his necktie menacingly. A wordless plea passed between them, but Jaylen ultimately chose to rush to Shane's side, leaving Edward to his own fate for the time being.

Following their decision, Jaylen took charge of the wheel and drove them towards the mysterious destination of EverWood Forest. As they arrived, the two friends immediately set out to gather information regarding the enigmatic Haunted Mansion. Jaylen delved into the history of EverChanging City, discovering that its reputation as a perfect city was upheld by the vigilant efforts of the police force in maintaining safety. The revelation came with intriguing tidbits about the Haunted House – it had existed in the forest far longer than Jaylen had anticipated, accompanied by numerous persistent rumors. The most tantalizing snippet was an explosion that had rocked the area two decades prior, its origins shrouded in mystery.

Jaylen's focus eventually shifted from the intriguing city history to his friend's whereabouts. Shane seemed to have vanished. In an attempt to reconnect with him, Jaylen opened his laptop to call Shane, only to discover that the signal had abruptly cut off, very close to the vicinity of the Haunted Mansion.

Instinct drove him to rush towards that location, and what he stumbled upon was disconcerting. Shane was under siege by a group of belligerent strangers. Jaylen's intervention was met with hostility, and the aggressors attempted to strike him as well. In an astonishing turn of events, a rock soared past Jaylen's face, connecting with one of the assailants and incapacitating him. Startled, Jaylen turned to see Sayuri and Chitose approaching. In a swift and brutal display of martial prowess, Sayuri incapacitated their adversaries.

Before long, the situation was resolved with the arrival of a police officer who detained the wrongdoers and took them away in a squad car. The four young individuals then engaged in conversation. Jaylen offered to provide them a ride, a gesture they accepted. As they walked towards the car, Shane unveiled an intriguing revelation – the Haunted House had unexpected ties to the local police.

Determined to explore this newfound connection, the group embarked on a short car trip, punctuated by light-hearted conversations and a sense of camaraderie. They reached their destination, Moist Apartment, the home of Sayuri and Chitose. Contact information was exchanged, and farewells were bid as they went their separate ways.

With his friends dropped off safely, Jaylen returned to the wheel and set course for the dormitories. Along the way, he heard Shane's frustrated scream, only to learn that his attempt to infiltrate the police database had been thwarted due to his phone running out of data. The reason for his failure? The database was saturated with fake police identities, a shocking revelation.

Upon their return to the dorms, Jaylen dropped Shane off to prepare for upcoming tasks. Jaylen then headed to the MechChange Shop to refuel the car, before returning to wait for his friend. A phone call from Shane soon followed, with plans to depart at 11:30 and a suggestion to grab some food from the 8/12 Store. Following their impromptu dinner, the duo returned to their dorms.

The events of Episode 1: The Haunted House had unfolded over the course of the day, concluding at 8 pm, leaving lingering questions and mysteries yet to be unraveled.