Episode 4: Your Choice

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

Continuation of Day 3 - 9 am

After a heated argument, Shane and Jaylen resorted to giving each other the silent treatment. Edward entered the room and informed Jay that he was allowed to attend the party at the Better Bar. Professor Peter Park then joined the class to commence his discussion. However, before that, Shane inquired about Ms. Barrera's whereabouts, only to discover that no one in the room, including the professor, had any knowledge of a teacher by that name at the university.

Following Mr. Park's class, Carl arrived in Jay and Shane's classroom, seeking to discuss the missing teacher. They realized that Ms. Barrera's entire existence seemed to have been wiped out, potentially suggesting that she was inside the 8/12 Store when it vanished. This unsettling revelation further highlighted the extent to which the supernatural phenomenon was affecting the city, unbeknownst to its residents.

Carl left the classroom, informing them that they would meet in the room after class. As the day continued with a few more classes, Jay and Ed decided to go to the party together. In contrast, Shane headed directly to the research organization room. As Jay and Ed prepared to leave, Carl called out to Jay, expressing concern about his decision to attend the party. Carl urged Jay to reconsider and prioritize the investigation of the maze, given its significance. However, Jay remained steadfast in his choice.

As the debate escalated, Shane reappeared, adding fuel to the fire of their argument. Ed stepped in and advised them to continue their discussion outside the school, as their heated exchange had attracted undue attention.

Once outside, Shane reiterated the importance of prioritizing the maze investigation, emphasizing that it directly impacted the city's residents. Jay, on the other hand, argued that a brief respite at the party wouldn't hinder their progress and that he would meet them later. The argument continued to escalate, with neither side willing to concede. Ed once again intervened, emphasizing the importance of respecting Jay's choice to take a break. He led Jay away, while Shane and Carl decided to return to school.

In the car, they engaged in light conversation as they drove to the bar. Upon their arrival, Jay noticed Joel Ashley sitting in a corner, drinking beer. After a brief conversation with Joel, Jay proceeded into the bar and took a seat next to Antonia and Ed. Ed mentioned that Mr. Hero would arrive later and that he needed to prepare to welcome the special guest at the party.

This left Jay and Antonia alone, and they shared their reasons for attending the party—to take a break from the challenges they faced in their lives. Antonia revealed that she and her father had originally planned to go out, but she had chosen not to for undisclosed reasons. They began discussing the supernatural, and Antonia requested that Jay share some of the stories his mother had told him. Their conversation continued for about half an hour before the arrival of Mr. Hero, the special guest of the evening.

Before mingling with the students, Mr. Hero invited them to participate in his vlog. Afterward, he would join the party. Antonia and Jay agreed to be part of the vlog, and they discussed YouTube and Jay's own channel. Antonia was intrigued by the concept and had numerous questions. Ed, surprised to learn of Jay's channel, introduced him to Mr. Hero.

Mr. Hero made Jay a tempting offer: he was interested in buying Jay's channel and collaborating with him, offering 1.5 million dollars. Jay hesitated, and just as he was about to make a decision, Shane called him. Their conversation took an odd turn, with Shane reminiscing about their past adventures and panting in pain. Jay couldn't comprehend what was happening, and Shane instructed him to stay put.

In a rush, Jay informed Mr. Hero that he declined the offer and left the bar. On his way to the car, he was intercepted by Joel Ashley. Joel questioned Jay about his goals and purpose but left Jay bewildered. Jay was allowed to enter his car and subsequently drove back to school. As Joel muttered to himself, he expressed disappointment in the son of his master, The Phantom Traveler, considering him a disappointing individual.

As Jay arrived at the school, he was greeted by an eerie darkness enveloping the campus. Stranger still, the school appeared to be locked and inaccessible, with its doors bolted shut. Jay, undeterred, decided to circumvent the school's front entrance, heading instead to the rear where the gate provided an alternate point of entry.

Ascending a flight of stairs within the school, Jay's senses picked up on a cacophony of sounds that seemed out of place. Echoes of footsteps and the clang of metal against hard surfaces emanated from somewhere above. It was then that he spotted Carl, shouldering the unconscious and severely injured Shane, their wounds a stark testament to recent turmoil.

Carl's exclamation upon seeing Jay was overshadowed by the urgency of their situation. Without hesitation, Jay joined Carl in aiding the injured Shane, their shared goal now focused on escape. Reaching the ground floor, they made an attempt to leave through the front entrance, only to discover it locked.

With escape thwarted, they descended to a lower level. Here, their path was blocked by a menacing hooded figure brandishing a pair of daggers. Swiftly, the figure hurled a dagger toward them, and though Jay attempted to evade, he couldn't completely avoid the projectile.

Their predicament escalated further when another hooded figure appeared, barring their exit at the gate. Now, Jay, Carl, and Shane found themselves in a tense standoff against three enigmatic foes. In desperation, Jay armed himself with a crowbar, but his efforts proved futile in the face of the adversaries' superior strength.

As one of the hooded figures moved in for a potentially fatal strike against Jay, Shane intervened, using his body as a shield. With Shane gravely injured and collapsing, Jay managed to catch him, their dire circumstances intensifying.

Carl, too, attempted to engage the enemies but was hindered by his weakened state. In a desperate plea, he urged Jay to use this moment to escape while he distracted one of the attackers. Despite their efforts, the trio could not elude their swift adversaries.

As Jay, with Shane on his shoulder, fell to the ground, it appeared as though a lethal blow was imminent. However, a hooded figure wearing a cat mask intervened, incapacitating one of their assailants with a final strike that caused their body to crumble like a fragile rock.

An unexpected revelation disrupted the confrontation: the face of one of the fallen attackers bore an unusual symbol, causing momentary hesitation among their rescuers.

With Shane safely laid down, Jay and Carl did their best to staunch the bleeding from his wounds. A hooded figure with a dog mask appeared, utilizing unknown abilities to tend to their injuries.

Shane, regaining consciousness, gripped Jay's hand and embarked on a nostalgic journey, reminiscing about the good times they had shared. He confided in Jay about his unwavering commitment to investigating the maze, a desire to recapture the sense of adventure they had found in researching the supernatural.

As Shane's last moments drew near, he expressed unwavering support for Jay, extracting a promise from his friend to continue safeguarding the city in his absence. With that solemn oath, Shane breathed his last breath, leaving both Carl and Jay in mourning. Jay, however, struggled to accept the finality, repeatedly imploring Shane to open his eyes.

Subsequently, another hooded figure, clad in red, arrived on the scene. Expressing disappointment in the results of their "experiment," this figure intended to finish the job, seizing the daggers of the fallen assailants. Mocking the situation, he reveled in the demise of one of their own, confident in his ability to deliver the killing blow.

However, a hooded figure in gray intervened, reporting a summons that compelled them to cease their pursuit. Both figures departed, leaving behind their comrades' lifeless bodies, a desolate scene observed by two disheartened friends and two enigmatic masked figures.

The figure with the dog mask surmised that someone would soon arrive to clean up the aftermath. Jay remained in silent contemplation, while Carl, lost in his grief and rage, unleashed his anger on the masked figures.

With pragmatism, the figure wearing the cat mask steered Jay towards the car, emphasizing the necessity to leave the scene immediately to avoid discovery. In silence, they departed, transporting Jay, Shane's lifeless body, and Carl to a concealed, humid apartment where they could receive medical attention.

Upon awakening, Jay found Carl sitting on the edge of the bed, his thoughts burdened by the recent events. Jay inquired about the situation, leading Carl to reveal the identities of their enigmatic saviors: Sayori and Chitose. These two women had been absent during the critical moments earlier, and Chitose expressed regret for not arriving in time to save Shane. They disclosed their roles as Undercover Hunters, assigned to covertly address supernatural threats.

This revelation prompted a flashback in Jay's mind, hearkening back to the conversations he'd shared with his mother regarding these enigmatic hunters. Following the flashback, a cloud of distrust hung between Jay and Carl as they exchanged harsh words, particularly toward Chitose. Sayori, in response, expressed her frustration and instructed the pair to leave the room. They complied, but not without a heavy burden of grief, regret, and confusion.

Returning to their dormitories, Jay and Carl grappled with the loss of their friend, ruminating on the events that had unfolded and the decisions they had made.

In his dorm room, Jay found himself unable to sleep, opting to record his thoughts as he often did for his vlog. Words, however, failed to find their way from his heart to his lips. Amid this internal struggle, a peculiar object tumbled from a nearby box – his mother's supernatural notebook.

Curiosity piqued, Jay opened the notebook and discovered an envelope securely taped to the first page. Inside was a letter from his mother, bearing words of wisdom about his father's choices, her own passion for the supernatural, and the promise they had made together.

Overwhelmed by emotion, Jay found himself in tears. Half an hour later, he returned to the notebook, reading further. His reading was abruptly interrupted by a voice inside his mind, inquiring if he had seen what he desired. Jay confirmed this, triggering the pendant around his neck to glow, transforming into a radiant golden eye.

The voice continued to question him, asking if he wished to witness the unseen. Again, Jay assented, and his eyes seared with agonizing pain, their color shifting to a haunting shade of yellow. Composing himself, he observed a radiant light emanating from his room, converging around his mother's notebook.

Upon grasping the notebook, Jay witnessed a symbol forming on its front cover. Turning the pages, he came upon the same runic inscriptions he had previously encountered in the maze, interspersed with peculiar notes written by his mother.

With his camera recording, Jay recited the contents of the notebook, addressing his revelations as if he were conversing with Shane.

Day 3 Ends

Day 4 Start

8 am

Exhaustion weighed heavily on Jay as he dozed off, his head resting on his table. In the midst of his impromptu nap, he was jolted awake by the chime of a text message. The words from Carl's message delivered a disturbing revelation: Shane's body had inexplicably disappeared, leaving no trace behind. Puzzled and concerned, Carl suggested they meet at school, perhaps seeking solace in each other's company amidst the bewildering situation.

Jay promptly made his way to school, a sense of unease gnawing at him. He collected Carl, and together, they decided to grab some takeout from the café situated in the moist apartment before heading to the observatory for a change of scenery. The journey was punctuated by their subdued conversation, the weight of their grief ever-present.

Upon reaching the observatory, they settled down and continued to mourn the loss of their dear friend, Shane. As they grappled with their sorrow, Carl found the courage to open up about the pain he had endured, revealing the story of another friend he had lost.

Carl's life had been entwined with the pursuit of knowledge since he was just five years old, not out of choice but as a consequence of his family's lineage. During his formative years, he had a close friend named Kurt, a stark contrast to himself, someone who reveled in the pursuit of knowledge for the sheer joy of it. However, the course of their friendship was altered when Kurt stumbled upon something inexplicable in his research. This discovery set him on a different path, leading to a harsh rejection not only by his family but also by Carl.

In an attempt to stop Kurt from leaving, an accident occurred that tragically claimed Kurt's life, leaving Carl haunted by the guilt of his role in the tragedy. He found himself questioning the relentless pursuit of knowledge, wondering why people were so desperate to unearth secrets that might be better left buried.

In the days that followed, their research lab was infiltrated by an unstoppable force, an enigmatic figure who identified themselves as The Phantom Traveler. Carl sought answers to his troubles from this mysterious interloper, who, in turn, imparted an enigmatic perspective. The Phantom Traveler declared that knowledge-seeking was not an end in itself but merely a step in a grander journey. When asked about his own purpose, Carl found himself without a clear answer, prompting The Phantom Traveler to encourage him, reassuring that time was on his side.

As Carl concluded his painful narrative, the weight of another friend lost bore down on him. Jay, still reeling from the recent tragedy, acknowledged the need to move forward, to ensure that Shane's sacrifice wasn't in vain. Together, they contemplated the final steps required to navigate the perplexing maze, realizing that they needed two more individuals for the altar. Reluctantly, the names that came to mind were Chitose and Sayuri.

Carl expressed his reservations, unable to trust the undercover hunters, but Jay reminded him that they had little choice. Their only option was to devise a plan to verify Chitose and Sayuri's trustworthiness.

As they brainstormed the way forward, Carl's gaze settled on Jay's pendant. A sudden realization washed over him, and he was struck by the familiarity of the pendant. A connection was made; the pendant was identical to the one worn by The Phantom Traveler.

Intrigued by the thought, Jay posed a question that would rock the foundation of their understanding: Could his mother be The Phantom Traveler?

Episode 4: Your Choice end at 9 am