I’m Someone Else

“Yes, Mr. Gunnar,” the attendants replied.

“Ah! Aaaah!”

The gate of Acketts Estate was tightly closed, but terrifying screams that occasionally echoed from within could be heard even when the curtains were drawn close.

William and Sean stood at the entrance with a deep sense of unease weighing down on them. Beads of cold sweat also trickled down their foreheads.

They could hear it vividly as it was the anguished cries of Thomas.

“William, stay here and be on the lookout. I’ll venture inside to see what’s happening,” Sean declared while raising his hand as if to push open the imposing villa doors.

Thomas had been caught in a whirlwind of torment for quite some time. His agonized shouts had begun over an hour ago and gradually escalated into a crescendo of despair.

Although the villa boasted impressive soundproofing, it failed to muffle the heart-wrenching sound of Thomas’ suffering entirely. It was evident that he was enduring unimaginable pain.

Sean reached his breaking point and thus felt compelled to rush in to provide aid.

“Sean, please don’t act rashly!” William pleaded while grabbing hold of Sean’s arm. His voice was filled with patient reassurance. “We must have faith in Thomas. He’ll pull through.”

“William, don’t you hear Thomas’ cries? Can’t you sense his distress?” Sean swatted away William’s hand as his concern overrode any other considerations. He had to enter the villa and see with his own eyes, for only then he would find solace.

about Thomas’ predicament, granting him some insight into the situation. If Sean stormed in now, all of Thomas’ efforts would be

shoulder and steered him toward the courtyard. “Even if you don’t believe me, trust Thomas! You’ll only

wasn’t in immediate danger. Yet, his screams were genuine as

bathtub. His flesh had withered away, leaving only his face and intimate areas unscathed. He resembled a

the medicinal bathwater turned it into a haunting shade of scarlet and created a genuinely unsettling sight

eyes were bloodshot. He knew he had to persevere because if he gave in to the pain and succumbed to unconsciousness, there was a terrifying possibility that he would never awaken again and be forever trapped in the depths of that excruciating

toward the villa. “It’s been about two hours, hasn’t

precise, it has been two and a half hours,” William responded. While he attempted to dissuade Sean, he also bore deep concern for Thomas. He had witnessed intermittent echoes of Thomas’ agonized wails which

Thomas inside the villa? I would live in regret for the rest of my

Sean stepped forward, William intercepted him again by firmly obstructing his path. “Sean, you’ve known Thomas for so long and you don’t realize the

Thomas under any circumstances. It was not difficult to fathom the dire consequences should Sean

dear friend, Thomas, who endures unimaginable suffering within! If we don’t go and help him now,

Sean back

impasse between the two of them persisted. After another

must go inside and assess the situation. What if Thomas is unconscious?” Sean

“Sean, doesn’t Thomas have enough burdens to bear? Disturbing him now would only

Sean was taken aback and his gaze fixed on William. “What are you implying? Is Thomas

misspoken. He had heard from his grandfather about the six old monsters behind the Six Greatest Families seeking trouble with Thomas. His grandfather had repeatedly warned him not to

brow furrowed. “William, what’s going on? You