"Should we look for him?"
"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!"
"We should just all calm down. Analyze the situation, and…"
"Is this a dream? This feels like a nightmare…"
The living room was full of voices, each seeking dominance over the others.
Ruby had since attempted to call her uncle, but to no success.
Weiss, meanwhile, was attempting to make sense of the odd situation. It wasn't everyday a huntress was pulled into the fireplace by a Schnee Jack-in-the-Box.
Yang, uncharacteristically, just sat there, finger tapping the arm of the couch. Her wrists still bruised by her ordeal.
Jaune and Pyrrha had since left the living room, checking every window and door and locking them.
Blake sat with Yang, stroking her shoulder, attempting to calm her partner down, but also unsuccessfully.
"Okay, listen up!" Ruby called out, causing the group to finally fall silent, "We need to keep an eye out for anything else odd. Nobody goes near the fireplace, or any other entrance to the house. That includes windows."
Weiss, who'd just then looked out a window, shuffled away nervously.
Ruby continued, "Dad can handle himself, as can Uncle Qrow. We just need to stay safe until they get back. As for now… we should get rest while we can. And-" Ruby started, but was cut off by a loud thud above them.
The whole group jumped, staring at the ceiling.
"What the… Weiss?" Blake asked.
"Why does everyone assume it was me? It was one prank!" The heiress countered.
"Ok… Ok. Weiss, Pyrrha, can you go check that out? Jaune and Blake stay with Yang. I'm going in the kitchen… We should eat something." Ruby said.
"Actually, Ruby… I think I should go make something to eat. You aren't… the best cook." Jaune said.
"Fine. I'll stay with Blake and Yang."
"You know, I think it would have been best if we brought our weapons. Much safer." Pyrrha spoke up.
"Ugh. I didn't think we'd need them. Not in my house. Just… go…" Ruby said, getting uncharacteristically frustrated.
The Weiss sighed in equal annoyance, but moved towards the stairs, "Come on, let's just get this over with. Probably just a stack of fallen books or something."
*Jaune*
Jaune knew he wasn't a gourmet chef, but living with so many siblings taught him some culinary arts.
'Sandwiches… sandwiches… meat? Cheese?' he benignly thought to himself, clearing the counter.
'Oh, cool gingerbread house.' He moved it away, into the corner so he could set up.
*Weiss and Pyrrha*
The pair checked every room, but found nothing in each one.
"That is all of them. Should we go downstai-" Pyrrha started, but another loud bang sounded above them.
"Oh for… There's an attic?" Weiss moaned, "I hate dark spaces…"
"As you say, it's probably just a fallen stack of books." Pyrrha answered, grabbing at the dangling string.
She pulled the ladder down, and slowly ascended.
*Jaune*
"La la la…" Jaune sung to himself as he prepared several sandwiches.
"La la la… hehehehehe"
He stopped. That wasn't him…
He looked around. The voice that had copied him was high pitched, almost grating.
'Must be my imagination…' he thought, shrugging it off.
"Come at me, and you'll see"' He began.
"We're more than meets the eye…" The voice continued.
"What the-" He asked, looking around again.
This time, he saw movement out of the corner of his eye.
He slowly turned to look.
"What!?" He gasped.
*Weiss and Pyrrha*
"There's nothing up here. Let's go back down." Weiss said in a small voice.
"Weiss. Stop… The thud came from over… here…" Pyrrha answered.
"Ugh…" Weiss groaned.
Pyrrha rolled her eyes. She understood fear, but Weiss was acting weird, even by her standards.
"Wait." Weiss whispered, "Do… Do you hear that?"
Pyrrha stopped and listened.
At first, she heard nothing, but after a seconds, she heard it.
It sounded like a music box.
"It is not a big deal, Weiss… many people have a music box in their attic."
As she listened, the tune, which had started somewhat happy, began to degrade.
The twinkling tones became lower, creepier, and the rhythm became near nonexistent.
"Uh… Pyrrha?" Weiss said, now thoroughly spooked, and for once, Pyrrha agreed.
"Let's go" Pyrrha said… or at least would have, if the ladder leading up to the attic hadn't folded and closed with a bang.
*Ruby, Blake, and Yang*
"You doing okay, Yang?" Blake asked softly.
"I'm fine… just… really threw me off my game. I'm fine now." Yang said.
"That's good." Blake said.
Suddenly, a high pitched scream cut through the air, making all three girls start.
"A girls in trouble!" Yang shouted in surprise.
*Jaune*
Jaune questioned his sanity.
He questioned his life, his faith, and, most seriously, his sanity.
I mean, he liked to think he was a normal guy. Went to school, trained to fight monsters… but this?
Seriously?
He peeked from behind the counter, but hid instantly when three soft bangs echoed near his head had just been, accompanied by sinister high-pitched giggling.
"How...?" Was all he could say.
He never thought it'd end this way. Taken out by… gingerbread men.
Sure enough, three living gingerbread men had somehow acquired a nail gun, and were now attempting to skewer his face with its metal projectiles.
Just then, the pure absurdity hit him… as well as a lucky shot, and he screamed.
*Weiss and Pyrrha*
They screamed.
There was a click, and an overhead light clicked on.
Weiss's scream intensified when she looked up.
"WHAT THE HELL!?" She shrieked.
An angel. Christmas angel, stared down at her.
It looked odd, like it was moving… and promptly dropped on her face.
Pyrrha quickly caught the fallen angel, but dropped it in surprise when it wiggled.
Weiss and the angel continued to wrestle.
"BHIONOIR" Weiss screamed.
"What?" Pyrrha asked, just as panicked.
"BIEARIONASAR!" Weiss answered?
"WHAT?"
"BEAR!" Weiss bellowed, staring behind her friend.
Pyrrha spun in surprise, only for a demented stuffed animal to slam into her with force.
"Oh come on…" she gasped as she fell backwards.
*Ruby, Yang, and Blake*
"What the hell is happening?" Blake shouted.
Screams and thuds echoed from upstairs, while high-pitched giggling and softer thuds came from the kitchen.
"Blake, upstairs. Yang. Stay here!" Ruby ordered before rushing into the kitchen.
*Jaune and Ruby*
"What the-!?" Ruby shouted as she easily dodged two projectiles.
"I know right!?" Jaune shouted, nursing his bleeding hand.
"What did you do!?" Ruby asked.
"Me? That's your gingerbread men!"
"But… I can't bring them to life!"
"Oh. Really? Explain that then!" Jaune jerked his head towards the offensive pastries.
"That's it. ZWEI!" Ruby called out.
There was a flash of gray, a happy bark, high pitched screaming. Then relative silence.
"What. The. Hell. IS. HAPPENING!?"