Dog Consequences
Your head raised high, your chest held straight, and trying not to blink despite the pouring rain, you march forth at a slow pace, towards the mansion’s entrance. Towards the doors. Towards the dogs. Their growls deepen even further in warning, dropping into an almost imperceptible tremor of sound that sends instinctive shivers up and down your spine. You ignore it. You take a few more deliberate steps. The dogs back away slightly, their tails held high, baring their many sharp teeth in a snarl.
Your confidence bolstered, you take a few more steps forward.
They huddle closer together.
You can do this.
Your will is iron.
Iron that – unfortunately – melts when seven angry and fearful dogs snap and lunge at you as one.
Whether it is because they are triggered by your calm yet intrusive actions, or if something else was in play, you do not know. Neither do you care to, at the moment. Resisting the urge to shriek, with nowhere to run, you raise your arms to fend off the howling pack. Amongst the flurry of teeth and claws, amidst the rain and thunder, at the precipice of life and death, your senses sharpen. A canine maw closes over your forearm, and you pull away just in the nick of time for it to grab hold of nothing more than your soaked sleeve. You kick out, sacrificing a sandal to the dog’s jaws in order to protect your foot. As the pack piles upon you, you roll underneath the mass of growling teeth, twisting and turning this way and that, pushing with your palms and kicking with your feet. At last, with a ripping noise, the last of your clothes are torn away and you tumble free and naked but unscathed, staggering to your feet as the dogs rip into the fabric.
Ei giggles. “You are such a pervert, Acchan!”
The dogs turn their heads and stare at you, pieces of cloth hanging off their muzzles. On the bright side, the way in front of you is now clear.
Of course, that is only if you move now.
You bolt for the mansion, and the dogs give chase. They bark and snap at your heels, but do not manage to catch you before you reach the porch. As you clamber up the doorsteps, the dogs circle back to a further distance. They sit on their haunches with a whimper and begin to howl in frustration, before slinking away into the night.
Panting and dripping, you shake your head in relief and enter the mansion.
You find yourself in a large hall. The floor is polished marble, and a grand staircase, carved from dark wood and polished to a sheen, curves up to a second floor. The sparkling glass chandelier above you is swinging gently, kept in motion by the breeze wafting through the open door. There are logs crackling in the fireplace, but otherwise, it seems to be deserted. You wonder if you shouldn’t have asked about the people currently living in the mansion when you had the chance.
According to Ei, Maeda is in a room on the second floor. You sneeze, and shiver, rubbing your shoulders.
“Hm, I think I saw a linen room near the dining room, Acchan,” says Ei, pointing to a set of large doors to your left.
***
A. There is no time to waste. Still naked, you rush up the stairs to find Maeda.
B. You have not heard any screams yet, so Maeda’s probably still safe. It is more important to cover up first, for your own protection, if nothing else.