The clap of thunder blends with the slam of the car door. Sasuke blinks back to lucidity just in time to see the taxicab drive off, red lights blurring into the rain before disappearing in the distance. He holds his umbrella tighter. The rain drops pelt pleasantly against the taut fabric, creating a somber cadence.

He turns to where the asphalt meets cobblestone, the end of the cul-de-sac and the end of the road. It's a private property. There are no other houses for miles and the endless sea of trees create an aura of isolation. The rain makes him feel stranded.

'Tch…Who hosts dumb parties at a place like this?'

In the distance ahead, beyond the tall slate walls, stood a mansion. It was golden, but unlike a Gatsby-esque dream, there was no life behind it. A hollow husk idling in the rain.

Sasuke tugged his jacket tighter and walked forward.

'Why did I even accept the invitation in the first place…"

But as he approaches the iron gate, his brain becomes shrouded in fog. He glances at the foliage glistening with dew and a mailbox overflowing with letters. A moment of dissociation brims at the mind's edge.

'…why didI accept the invitation?"

He explicitly remembers the car dropping him off, but not a moment before; not even a recollection of him ducking under the door as he opens his umbrella to get out. It's as if he had become cognizant right on the cobblestone steps.

Sasuke Uchiha is here to attend a party. He doesn't know anything else.

His footfalls are muddled as he steps closer to the gate. A monitor embedded within the wall glows with his proximity. Someone is watching.

"Hello?" He greets hesitantly.

There is no response.

Thunder crashes overhead. The crows that had been perched along the pointed fence scatter, cawing ominously.

The hinges groan deeply as the gates slide open. It's a sound that grinds Sasuke's ears. And despite every instinct yelling at him that this is a bad idea, isn't this how horror movies start, we should just call a cab home, Sasuke steps inside.

He is greeted by two, ivory statues framing the center path. They are modeled after two women, eyes rubbed blank and expressions somber as they reach for a stone bird. The rain slants over their full cheeks, like tears.

In the center, a grand fountain is on display. It was tiered with yet another statue of an ivory woman on top. Giant, cement wings sprouted from behind – angelic, yet haunting in the current weather. She held a sphere in her hands, holding it defiantly above her head. Sasuke surmised that this is ideally where the water would spout. However, its basins were overflowing with rain rather than its own mechanism. Sasuke eyes the black mold that creeps along the cracks of the cement.

'It doesn't seem like it's been used in a long time,' he thinks.

A gust of wind disrupts the damp leaves that color the weeds. The grass itself slithers past the cobblestone boundary, a blatant disregard for the manmade foundation. The neglect of the grounds makes Sasuke uneasy. If he hadn't stumbled upon an abandoned mansion on secluded grounds, was he invited by a ghost?

'Do people really still live here?'

The rustle of leaves and a small growl catches his attention. To the side, Sasuke finds a fenced off area with the gate wide open. There's something like a doghouse and a drinking pool within. The signage posted against the chain is one of pointed ears and a sharp face. It reads:

Lord Kurama
DO NOT ENTER

The thunder drowns out the low growl, but Sasuke hears it, nonetheless. He backs away.

Sasuke does a quick sweep of the mansion. He finds nothing more than an overgrown pergola and an ornamental garden conquered by ivy and weeds. The windows are dark as he scans the vicinity. No silhouettes cross the flash of the lighting.

His shoes are slicked with mud; the leather damp from the excursion. Sasuke tries to swipe as much as he could on the welcoming rug. He knocks on the double doors.

There is no answer.

Sasuke tries once more but doesn't push beyond that. He turns to leave, intending to wait out the storm underneath a pine tree.

Somewhere, a clock strikes three. The bell chimes the hour, filling the abandoned grounds with finality.

There is a click, and the double doors creak open. The iron gates clasp shut.

"Please, come in."

Sasuke hesitates for a second. A flash of lightning illuminates the sky, making the decision for him.

He sheaths the umbrella, shaking off loose droplets of water, before stepping into the foyer.

At the same time, an elusive figure illuminated by the same strike, watches from the windows.


A/N: Hello! Just a fun, little sasusaku story that's based on one of my favorite RPG games by the same name. Highly recommend Kan Gao's Imposter Factory. I've actually had this story in mind ever since I played the game because it screams sasusaku vibes, even some borusara vibes. I actually debated if I should do the other games of the To the Moon series first, so the ending to this will make sense, but I think we could make it work. Heck, this might be the first of a series.

Thank you to everyone who's been patient. I'm kinda writing this while I'm in a bit of a slump. I conjured up the motivation to write this bc I was revisiting some old hobbies/games for some serotonin.

Please comment telling me what you think! Also, go check out the game this is based on (although, you'll be spoiling yourself for what's to come hehe~)