AN: A really strange combo, I know, but one I thought I would give a try. I had finished this chapter, and a second chapter (since I plan to make each one fairly short to match the Gregory Horror Show) already, but I wanted to try and get the latest chapter of LLATNSRW finished first before I posted this. As I said in the summary, this is a NSL story (though it won't really fully come into play until later). I know it's over done. I know a lot of people are probably sick of such stories. I understand that. However, I cannot deny that a lot of my favorite stories are NSL stories. Plus, I don't think I'll be taking it the same direction as most (I cannot say for certain, as I haven't read every NSL story, but I can hope). Just give it a chance and let me know what you what you think of the idea. Would you like to see where it goes, or should this story go back on the shelf?

A Loud's Arrival

Thunder roared throughout the dark, foggy woods, lightning flashing and torrential rain pouring into the face of a white haired boy as he struggled to fight through the storm. He had no idea how he got there, nor what he was doing there. However, he also didn't have an opportunity to think about it. His first priority was to get out of the storm. He ducked behind a tree to keep the wind and rain out of his face long enough to get a quick look around. For the most part, all he saw was eerie woods all around. However, a little further ahead, he could see a path through an old graveyard, leading to an old, yet well kept old house. He couldn't really make out very many details about it from that distance in the rain. However, he wasn't in a position to complain: he needed shelter. He braced himself and started to struggle through the storm and rain toward the building. The closer he got, he realized the old building was...pretty well maintained all things considered. The name over the door said 'Gregory House', over old wooden doors with oddly mouse shaped door knockers on each door. The candles set to either side of the door were blown out by the storm. There seemed to be a light in a few of the windows, telling the young man someone was home. Hopefully they were hospitable people, he thought to himself as he tested the door. To his surprise, it was unlocked. While he thought it would be more polite to knock first, he decided he needed to get out of this cursed rain. He jumped right in and closed the door. He was sopping wet, his orange polo shirt and jeans dripping on the front mat. He sighed as he looked down at himself. "Well now...look at you…" came a sly soft voice from nearby. The white haired boy looked up to see an elderly mouse man with scraggy white hair in a salmon colored jacket over a red and green striped shirt and khaki pants came slowly walking toward him, a candle in hand.

"Um...hello…"

"Hello yourself. Where did you come from, young man? And what brings you out here in such horrid weather?"

"I came from…" He started to say, but he was forced to pause. He thought it over, but he couldn't really remember where he had come from. "...I...can't really remember...and I have no idea why I was out in that storm…"

"Really now? Tsk tsk tsk. Do you perhaps remember your name?"

"...yeah. My name is Lincoln Loud."

"Well, that is something at least. Hm hmm hmm…" The aged mouse said as he turned around and motioned Lincoln to follow him. "I'm Gregory, the owner of this fine establishment." The young man glanced around the lobby area for a moment. To call this place a 'fine establishment' would be something of a stretch in his eyes. To be fair, the room looked like it was well kept. The green and yellow papered walls looked clean, same with the hardwood floors, and the reception desk was dust free and polished nicely. However, something about the place was giving the eleven year old boy the creeps something fierce.

"...I'm sorry for just barging in like that…"

"Oh, no need to apologize, Mr Loud." Gregory replied, waving off his apology with a throaty chuckle. "Any old port in the storm, am I right?" The elderly rodent made his way over to a trio of wall hooks set into the wall by the desk, taking a ring of old brass keys. "I am sure you must be exhausted, and will want to get out of those soaking wet clothes. Come with me. I will show you to your room…"

"Er...I don't really have much in the way of money…" Lincoln said nervously. "Also, don't I need to sign a registry or something?"

"We can worry about all that in the morning. Now, come along, before you catch your...death of cold. Hm hm hm hm hm…" Something about how he said that, and even more with his laugh, sent a chill down the human boy's spine worse than the rain.

'Not sure if this guy or this house is creepier…' Lincoln thought to himself as he followed Gregory through the candle lit halls. 'I mean, I'm grateful to be out of the storm, but this place seems more like something Lucy would appreciate more than me…' He came to a stop after that thought crossed his mind. 'Wait...Lucy? How do I know a Lucy?'

"Something the matter, young man?" Gregory asked, turning to look at his new guest.

"I...no. It's nothing, sir. Just...had a thought." Lincoln replied.

"Ah. I see. Well, come along, and bring your case with you."

"Case?" The white haired boy looked down and noticed he had a suitcase in his right hand. 'Was that there this whole time? How did I not notice?' He shook off this latest question. It really wasn't important right now. He had more vital questions on his mind; so many that it was starting to hurt. He needed to rest.

"Are you all by yourself out here, young man?"

"...I think so."

"Really now? What are you, ten? Such neglect...your parents should be ashamed."

"Eleven, actually." The young boy responded, though he couldn't really deny what he said. He had no idea why, but he was very upset with his parents, even if he could hardly remember them. After travelling up a set of stairs and another couple seconds of walking, they finally arrived at room 203.

"Here we go, my friend." The snickering old rodent said as he unlocked the door and gently pushed the door open. Inside was a simple, small room with only a bed, a desk with a candle on it, and a wardrobe in the corner. Over the bed was a little framed picture of a cat. "What do you think?"

"It's...quite nice." Lincoln commented, and he meant it. The room was rather nice, compared to the rest of what he had seen so far.

"Thank you. I'm sure you want to get some sleep, so I will just leave you to it." Gregory said, allowing Lincoln into the room. "If you need anything further, my friend, please don't hesitate to ask."

"Er...thank you, sir…"

"Oh, no need to be so formal. Please, call me Gregory. Sleep well, Mr Loud." He said as he closed the door to Lincoln's room. As soon as he was alone, the young man changed into his pajamas, which he had in his suitcase.

"Well...I'm not sure how I got here...or even where here is…" Lincoln said, speaking to the fourth wall. "...but it's like Gregory said...any old port in the storm. I guess it was really lucky I found-" The moment he said the word lucky, he found himself overcome with a sense of intense nausea. "Ugh...that was strange. I wonder what brought that on." He pondered out loud. "Ah, nevermind...too many questions and I'm too tired to consider them right now." He finally grumbled. He climbed into bed and started to close his eyes...only to open them wide as one last thought occurred to him. He sprang out of bed and rushed to the door, turning the lock on it. He breathed a sigh of relief before he went back to his bed. He may be grateful to Gregory for the hospitality, but something about that mouse felt off to him. He didn't trust him any further than he could throw him. Feeling a little bit safer, he climbed back into bed and prepared himself for a hopefully good night's sleep.