Horror Game Developer: My games aren't that scary! novel Chapter 65

Chapter 65: Masquerade ball [4]

"..."

Her outstretched hand reached for mine.

She was close.

...Getting closer.

’She hasn’t noticed anything, right? No, that’s not possible. How could she notice a single thing?’

Her hand grasped mine.

We both lifted them at the same time.

And then—

Dong!

The music began. It was an elegant and cheerful piece. From the moment the note played, it was as if the entire room lit up.

The tune effortlessly flowed into my ears, and my steps began to move on their own.

I wasn’t the only one like this.

...I looked around to see everyone moving at the same pace.

This...

I slowly turned my gaze towards the man in the golden mask.

Was this his doing?

[Oh, what a wonderful piece! Amazing!]

The host started praising the man in the golden mask. That served as enough evidence for me to tell that he was the one responsible for my sudden movements.

"Tsk."

I heard someone click their tongue.

Turning my head, I saw Zoey staring in the direction of the man with the golden mask.

"Lucky bastard."

Rather than scared or nervous about the situation, she was...

Angry?

"If I had been the one called, I would’ve been able to do the same."

Ah.

That was when it all hit me.

’They’re all lunatics. Of course, they’re going to act like this.’

I should’ve seen it coming from miles away.

"Who are you...?"

But then, the inevitable question came.

Zoey’s emerald eyes were locked with mine.

"You very clearly don’t belong with us. I can tell you’re not some anomalous entity, and yet, you were somehow able to summon one. What is your purpose?"

Her grip over my hands tightened.

’It hurts...’

"Are you not going to answer?"

Zoey took a step forward, and I followed along.

We were both puppets now, bound by the music. It told us what we needed to do.

All we had to do was follow along.

"Are you the one responsible for the sudden increase in difficulty of the gate?"

Her questions kept coming.

Questions that I myself couldn’t answer.

Just let this end quickly...

[Increase the tempo.]

".....?"

I slowly turned to see the host staring in the direction of the pianist.

[Your music is wonderful, but the dancing is getting stale. Increase the tempo.]

Da— Dang!

And increase he did.

The shift was felt by practically everyone.

My legs moved faster, and my heartbeat sped up.

Shit...

From the sudden rise in intensity, I realized that my breathing was slowly starting to intensify.

This was starting to feel like a workout. I thought about my stamina and felt like throwing up on the spot.

If this continued, then...

’No, don’t think about it.’

I put those thoughts aside and tried my best to keep up with the dance.

But it was starting to get very hard.

Swoosh!

Zoey pulled me down, and I just followed along, our masks just barely brushing.

".....!"

My skin crawled when I saw her emerald eyes peering right into me.

That look of hers...

How many times had I seen it before?

She was analyzing me.

"Your eyes... they feel familiar."

My heart skipped as we rose again.

Swoosh!

I raised our hands; she spun beneath, then returned. I wrapped an arm around her waist.

We were even closer now.

So were her eyes.

"Yes... they certainly feel familiar. Do I know you?"

"....."

I blinked slowly.

She was as sharp as her character was designed to be.

"Your palms are sweating. Nervous?"

No, I’m just tired.

"...Am I onto something?"

Her face came closer, her mouth whispering to me.

’This is bad. ’

’How exactly can I turn this situation around?’

Hick...

Hick... Hick...

BANG!

[Like I said. Don’t mind the crying. Just focus on your dance.]

BANG! BANG!

’Get a grip!’