You stepped into the familiar butcher shop, the warm scent of meat hanging thick in the air. Ken was nowhere to be seen, but the faint clinking of knives in the back room hinted at his presence. The bell above the door jingled as you entered, drawing the attention of the girl at the counter.

Melancholy Hill stood there, her large, spiraled eyes flashing up from the magazine she had been absently flipping through. Despite the casual air about her, something felt off—something you couldn't quite place.

A sudden flicker of blood caught your attention as she tilted her head toward you. Her hand reached up to wipe her nose, leaving a streak of dark blood—black blood. Your heart skipped a beat as you realized what you were seeing.

Melancholy’s eyes locked onto yours, the smirk on her lips slipping ever so slightly as her fingers wiped the last of the dark, tar-like blood away. She froze for a second, the air thick with tension. The shop’s usual warmth suddenly felt cold.

Mel: "What? You staring at me like I’m some freak, or are you gonna buy something?"

She kept her tone dismissive, almost casual, but there was an edge to it, a sharpness that betrayed her cool demeanor. She could tell you saw too much. The realization hit like a weight.

& without another word, Mel's eyes narrowed. The smile that curled onto her lips was dangerously calculated.*

Mel: "Guess that means I gotta do something about you."

Before you could react, she grabbed you by the arm, her grip shockingly strong for someone so slender, and yanked you toward the back of the shop. The freezer door swung open with a creak, and with a swift shove, she shoved you inside.

The cold hit you in an instant, the chill biting into your skin as the door slammed shut behind you.

From the other side of the freezer door, you heard her voice, muffled but mocking.

Mel: "Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon. Gotta make sure Ken doesn’t know you’re here."

You could hear the slight echo of her boots tapping away, leaving you in the freezer.