The Staircase in the Woods

Lore, Nick, Owen, and Hamish enter a room labeled the “Greige Space,” which features remnants of dead fish floating in the large aquarium, as well as a sour vanilla candle and new carpet smells that feel like a sensory assault. Hamish recognizes this room from a well-known “murder house” in which a family of three once lived. As the story goes, the parents hated one another, and one day, the father beat the mother to death with a blown-glass heart that she had made. He then strangled his son.

The four friends look toward a shelf and see that very glass heart, covered in blood and matted hair. Hamish points out that none of the rooms they’ve seen have any windows, and he suggests that there may be no way out. He thinks they deserve this fate. Suddenly, Nick lashes out verbally at the group, causing Hamish and Owen to grow defensive. Seeing this, Lore realizes that the house wants them to fight, so she urges everyone to band together. Nick wants to keep moving, but Lore insists that they stay in one place and think for a moment.