The Contract (Opening)

The apartment is too good to be true.

Marble floors, open-concept kitchen, a wall-sized window overlooking the city skyline. Every detail oozes wealth—handcrafted furniture, a fireplace, even a chandelier in the dining area. Furnished, modern, luxurious… and affordable.

Ryan steps in first, shoulders squared, scanning the space with a skeptical glare.

RYAN
"No way this is real."

Ethan, already smirking, runs his hand along the smooth countertops, then plops onto a leather couch, sinking into the cushions.

ETHAN
"Damn. I could get used to this."

Ryan doesn’t move. His eyes flick toward the real estate agent, standing by the door.

Lily is poised and elegant, her black blazer perfectly fitted, her heels making no sound on the floor. There’s something practiced about her smile—friendly, but too polished, as if she’s done this exchange a thousand times before.

RYAN
"What’s the catch?"

Lily tilts her head slightly.

LILY
"No catch. The owner values long-term tenants over money. It’s a private listing—you won’t find this place anywhere online."

Ryan isn’t convinced. He crosses his arms, still standing near the entrance.

RYAN
"There’s gotta be more to it."

Ethan, already making himself comfortable, stretches out his legs and looks over at Ryan.

ETHAN
"Dude. This is a steal. We take the offer before someone else does."

Lily gestures toward the contract on the table—a thick stack of neatly printed pages. The text looks… dense, almost overwhelming.

LILY
"If you’re interested, we can finalize things now. This kind of opportunity doesn’t stay open for long."

Ryan looks from the contract to Lily, then back to Ethan. Something about this feels off, but they’ve been apartment hunting for weeks. And there is no way they’d find anything close to this price again.

Ethan is already reaching for the pen.

ETHAN
"Look, worst case, it’s too good to be true, and we just move out later. No big deal, right?"

Ryan sighs. His gut tells him not to sign, but his wallet tells him otherwise.

After a long pause… he picks up the pen.

The moment he presses ink to paper, his vision blurs for half a second—a brief static in his mind, like a screen glitching before returning to normal.

He blinks it away.

It’s probably nothing.

(Text fades in, formatted like a legal document.)

"By signing this agreement, the undersigned agrees to fully comply with the terms of the estate. Failure to adhere to the estate’s requirements will result in appropriate adjustments to ensure compliance."

"The mansion is now your permanent residence. Any attempt to vacate the premises will be met with immediate reassignment."

"All residents will assume their most suitable role in maintaining the harmony of the household."

"To maintain the estate’s order, all residents will form appropriate and harmonious living arrangements. Natural inclinations will be adjusted as necessary."

"Visitors to the estate automatically become residents. Their role will be determined upon entry."

(The text lingers before fading to black.)

The apartment is silent.

Moonlight filters through the massive windows, casting a soft glow over the room. Ethan shifts slightly, stirring in his sleep.

Something feels different.

The mattress is softer than he remembers. The scent of lavender and vanilla lingers in the air—strange, considering they hadn’t used any air fresheners.

Then he feels it.

A warmth pressed against his side.

His breath catches. Slowly, cautiously, he turns his head.

Ryan is right there, sleeping peacefully, curled against Ethan like a lover.

And that’s not the only thing wrong.

Ryan’s broad shoulders are gone. His jawline is softer, his hair slightly longer—but more than that, his clothes…

A silky nightdress drapes over his body, the hem resting at his mid-thighs. His nails have a faint coat of clear polish, subtle, but not something Ryan would ever wear. His lips look glossed, his cheeks lightly tinted, as if he’s been made up in his sleep.

And worst of all…

A barrette sits nestled in his hair, placed there with deliberate care.

Ethan stares, frozen, his heart pounding.

That wasn’t there before.

That wasn’t what Ryan went to sleep in.

And yet, here he is—curled up against Ethan like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

The realization hits like ice in his veins.

Something is very, very wrong.

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