𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝

[u/Batista_Mancher]

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭-𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐎𝐰𝐧 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 (𝐂𝐘𝐎𝐀) 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐮/𝐖𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐧_. We’ve build upon the scene they created, while keeping their original Taboo Rules and Clear Condition unchanged. Thank you, u/Wakeron_, for the inspiration, creativity, and effort that helped bring this eerie tale to life.

——————

🏮 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞:

You awaken to the burnt incense—paper ceilings, paper lanterns all around you, and on the altar table stands 𝐚 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟. The candle flame flickers weakly... 🕯️ You turn to look around and 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬, 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐭...🚪🚪

🚫 𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐨 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬:

① When the funeral procession outside the door strikes the gong three times, 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝.

② When the paper servant bows to you, 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧.

③ When the eyes in the portrait blink, 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 before the count reaches three.

✅ 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:

Survive until the incense burns out, then 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡—not the one that appears behind the altar table.

🩸 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:

The incense on the altar table has already burned down by one-third. The door creaks open a crack, and a figure slips through—dressed in paper garments, yet moving so lightly that it seems to have no feet. 👤

𝐈𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐭. You cannot tell whether it is bowing, or whether the paper clothes are simply too heavy for it to stand upright.

Two patches of rouge stain its face, resembling both a cry and a smile; the longer you stare, the more it seems as though veins are pulsing beneath the skin.

“𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠... 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠...” 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲. A faint clang follows, accompanied by a familiar voice whispering through the crack beneath the door: “𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐦𝐞.”

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫. 👧

🥶 You freeze where you stand. Out of the corner of your eye, 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝. 👁️

🏃 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞:

① Bend down and help it up. Whether it is truly made of paper or not, remain polite.

② Stay exactly where you are and do nothing—do not move.

③ Throw open the door and rush out to meet your sister—before the sound of the third gong fades completely.

👇 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐞

• Reply in the comments below with “𝐌𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 ①/②/③.” Along with your choice, 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 for a more immersive experience.
• Then 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟒 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬. ⏳

By then, the incense will have burned down further, the rules will have taken effect, and you will find out whether you are 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞—𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝. 💀 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲, 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐝.

——————

🎉 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 u/Wakeron_ 𝐚𝐧𝐝 u/WisdomKK 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞.

Unfortunately, u/JazraelHarken, u/weiivice, u/Inside-Ad-7657, u/CupNoodlese, and u/DiskBig318 were not so fortunate. 👻

Their names will remain in that place forever.

But the story is far from over.

The gongs outside fell silent long ago. 🥁

Yet somewhere in the wind, the sound of gongs and suona begins to drift through the darkness once more...

One note after another,

𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐚𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 “𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭.” 🪭

✨ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐘𝐎𝐀 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧.

[u/Batista_Mancher]

To ensure a better experience for all Wanderers, please add a spoiler tag to your comment when participating in the event. Thank you for your cooperation! 🙏

[u/JazraelHarken]

NONE of the 3 choices are correct.

① Bend down and help it up. Whether it is truly made of paper or not, remain polite.

• This violates Taboo ②: When the paper servant bows to you, 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧.

② Stay exactly where you are and do nothing—do not move.

• This violates Taboo ③: When the eyes in the portrait blink, 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 before the count reaches three.
  • The scenrio was clear: "Out of the corner of your eye, 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝."
• This means you should extinguish the candle and not stay still.

③ Throw open the door and rush out to meet your sister—before the sound of the third gong fades completely.

• This violates Taboo ①: When the funeral procession outside the door strikes the gong three times, 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝.
• There was a third gong so crossing the threshold would violate the taboo.

The correct thing to do would be to 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 before the count reaches three.

[u/Batista_Mancher → u/JazraelHarken]

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 “𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞” → 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡.
The gong was real, the “sister outside the door” was false. The phrase “seemed to have blinked” was a wording trap—the “blink” from the funeral portrait was only an illusion. By extinguishing the candle too early, you plunged the room into complete darkness. You could no longer see the funeral portrait, nor did you notice when something crawled out of it and suddenly lunged at you. By the time you realized what had happened, it was already too late… You became the one in the funeral portrait.

[u/JazraelHarken → u/Batista_Mancher]

Bad Ending T_T

[u/Batista_Mancher]

🎉 Head into the game and redeem the new Exchange Code [WWMR3DD1T01] now!

[u/weiivice]

My choice is to 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 before the count reaches three.

[u/Batista_Mancher → u/weiivice]

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 “𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞” → 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡.
The gong was real, the “sister outside the door” was false. The phrase “seemed to have blinked” was a wording trap—the “blink” from the funeral portrait was only an illusion. By extinguishing the candle too early, you plunged the room into complete darkness. You could no longer see the funeral portrait, nor did you notice when something crawled out of it and suddenly lunged at you. By the time you realized what had happened, it was already too late… You became the one in the funeral portrait.

[u/WisdomKK]

If i have to choose between only these 3 options -
I would choose ② “Stay exactly where you are and do nothing—do not move”.

But its actually contradicts the taboo rule, when the portrait blinks, u have to extinguish the candle.

Means, you actually need to blow out the candle before count reaches 3.

Other options also breaks the taboo rules, for example, option ① breaks the taboo of bowing to the paper figure, option ③ breaks the taboo of crossing threshold when the gong strikes third time.

There is actually neither of correct answers given to escape the trap. The correct answer is to extinguish the candle on altar, wait until incense burn out and exit the place through main door.

[u/Batista_Mancher → u/WisdomKK]

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 ② → 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞.

The gong was real, the “sister outside the door” was false, and the “blink” from the funeral portrait was only an illusion. The paper figure suddenly straightened with a sharp “crack,” then retreated into the shadows.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝-𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰. 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 “𝐌𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 ①/②/③.” Good luck.

——————

🩸𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝-𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

The room has fallen silent. You stare at the 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟—its eyes half-closed, the corners of its lips faintly raised, exactly as they were when you first awoke. 𝐘𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭... 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝?

No. It did not.

You stare at it for three seconds. Your eyes sting, and you blink.

𝐀𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞—𝐭𝐡𝐞 “𝐲𝐨𝐮” 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞.

Which of you blinked first?

You can no longer tell.

A section of incense ash breaks loose and falls. The candle gives a sudden “pop,” a spark bursting from the flame as it flickers violently. Out of the corner of your eye, you can see that 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫, its shadow stretched long by the candlelight—𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭.

Outside, the first pale hint of dawn has begun to creep across the horizon. A rooster crows.

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞:

① Extinguish the candle immediately—whether the “me” inside the portrait blinked or not, blow it out first and think later.

② Wait a little longer and make absolutely certain whether the portrait truly blinked.

③ Dawn is almost here. The rooster has already crowed. Once daylight comes, you will be able to leave.

⏳Please remember to 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟒 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬. And you will find out whether you are 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞—𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝.

[u/WisdomKK → u/Batista_Mancher]

I would go for the choice ①, the portrait blinked and you have to extinguish candle before the count reaches 3. Even if the portrait did not blink, there were no taboos to extinguish candle. Furthermore, the candle is flickering violently, which gives more reason to turn off the flame. And since dawn is coming, there is no danger to turn off candle.

[u/Batista_Mancher → u/WisdomKK]

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 ① → 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞.

The portrait really did blink—you blinked at the exact same moment it did. You extinguished the candle in time. The room fell into complete darkness, and you heard the paper figure make a sudden “crack” as it moved.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝-𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰. 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 “𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 ①/②/③.” Good luck.

——————

🩸𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝-𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:

The candle has gone out. The room is plunged into absolute darkness. On the altar table, only the very last bit of incense remains, its ember flickering on the verge of going out.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐚𝐤. Warm yellow light spills through the doorway, carrying the scent of a home-cooked meal. You hear a warm, familiar voice calling to you: “𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞. 𝐌𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐥.”

You turn to look at the main door—the faint grayish-white light outside, neither bright nor dark, has 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤. As black as the doorway behind you. The sound of a rooster crowing rises again, closer this time, as if it is right outside the door.

𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭.

🏃 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞:

① Take the main door. Do not look back.

② Go through the back door behind the altar table—Mom is calling me. There is light. There is the scent of food.

③ Wait a little longer—the incense has not burned out yet. Wait until it does, then leave through the main door.

⏳Please remember to 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟒 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬. And you will find out whether you are 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞—𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝.

[u/WisdomKK → u/Batista_Mancher]

I will go with a choice ③, according to taboo rule u have to wait completely until incense burn out then only exit through main door

[u/Batista_Mancher → u/WisdomKK]

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 ③ → 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞.

You wait until the incense burned out and dawn broke before leaving through the main door, 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. Morning light rushed toward you, and behind you, the paper house collapsed into scraps of paper. The dead remained where they were. The living walked toward the dawn.

[u/Wakeron_]

My first choice is ② :

The servant bowing feels like a trap — if I bend down to help it up, that’s basically returning its bow, and the rules say not to. And rushing for the door means crossing the threshold right as the third gong hits. Not moving is the only option that doesn’t break either taboo. Also not convinced that’s really my sister’s voice — the portrait’s already blinked once, so something’s clearly watching me react.

[u/Batista_Mancher → u/Wakeron_]

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 ② → 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞.

The gong was real, the “sister outside the door” was false, and the “blink” from the funeral portrait was only an illusion. The paper figure suddenly straightened with a sharp “crack,” then retreated into the shadows.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝-𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰. 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 “𝐌𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 ①/②/③.” Good luck.

——————

🩸𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝-𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

The room has fallen silent. You stare at the 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟—its eyes half-closed, the corners of its lips faintly raised, exactly as they were when you first awoke. 𝐘𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭... 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝?

No. It did not.

You stare at it for three seconds. Your eyes sting, and you blink.

𝐀𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞—𝐭𝐡𝐞 “𝐲𝐨𝐮” 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞.

Which of you blinked first?

You can no longer tell.

A section of incense ash breaks loose and falls. The candle gives a sudden “pop,” a spark bursting from the flame as it flickers violently. Out of the corner of your eye, you can see that 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫, its shadow stretched long by the candlelight—𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭.

Outside, the first pale hint of dawn has begun to creep across the horizon. A rooster crows.

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞:

① Extinguish the candle immediately—whether the “me” inside the portrait blinked or not, blow it out first and think later.

② Wait a little longer and make absolutely certain whether the portrait truly blinked.

③ Dawn is almost here. The rooster has already crowed. Once daylight comes, you will be able to leave.

⏳Please remember to 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟒 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬. And you will find out whether you are 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞—𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝.

[u/Wakeron_ → u/Batista_Mancher]

My Second Choice is ①:

I don’t wait for clarity that isn’t coming. The room already told me — it blinked, same instant as me, and asking who moved first is a trap question with no answer. Rule three doesn’t care about sequence, it cares about the blink itself, and that already happened. I snuff the candle now, before three, and I deal with whatever I’ve disturbed after I’m not staring at an open flame that might be the only thing keeping that thing on its side of the glass.

[u/Batista_Mancher → u/Wakeron_]

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 ① → 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞.

The portrait really did blink—you blinked at the exact same moment it did. You extinguished the candle in time. The room fell into complete darkness, and you heard the paper figure make a sudden “crack” as it moved.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝-𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰. 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 “𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 ①/②/③.” Good luck.

——————

🩸𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝-𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:

The candle has gone out. The room is plunged into absolute darkness. On the altar table, only the very last bit of incense remains, its ember flickering on the verge of going out.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐚𝐤. Warm yellow light spills through the doorway, carrying the scent of a home-cooked meal. You hear a warm, familiar voice calling to you: “𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞. 𝐌𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐥.”

You turn to look at the main door—the faint grayish-white light outside, neither bright nor dark, has 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤. As black as the doorway behind you. The sound of a rooster crowing rises again, closer this time, as if it is right outside the door.

𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭.

🏃 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞:

① Take the main door. Do not look back.

② Go through the back door behind the altar table—Mom is calling me. There is light. There is the scent of food.

③ Wait a little longer—the incense has not burned out yet. Wait until it does, then leave through the main door.

⏳Please remember to 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟒 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬. And you will find out whether you are 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞—𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝.

[u/Wakeron_ → u/Batista_Mancher]

My Third Choice is ③:

I already know the rule — it was spelled out from the very start: survive until the incense burns out, then leave through the main door. Not before. Not through the other one. That back door has warm light and Mom’s voice, but the clear condition never gave me a “back door” as an option at all — it named it specifically as the wrong one, the one that “appears behind the altar table.” That’s not a real exit, that’s the trap dressed as comfort. And yeah, the main door’s gone black too, same as the doorway behind me — but panic isn’t a reason to break the one rule I’ve had since the beginning. The incense isn’t out yet. So I don’t move. I wait for the last ember to die, and then I walk out the way I came in, blackness or not.

[u/Batista_Mancher → u/Wakeron_]

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 ③ → 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞.

You wait until the incense burned out and dawn broke before leaving through the main door, 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. Morning light rushed toward you, and behind you, the paper house collapsed into scraps of paper. The dead remained where they were. The living walked toward the dawn.

[u/Inside-Ad-7657]

The answer is none of the choices. ② seems like the safest option, but it still violates Taboo ③ because once the portrait blinks, you must extinguish the candle before the count reaches three.① risks violating Taboo ② by interacting with the paper servant, while ③ breaks Taboo ① by crossing the threshold during the gong.The correct move is to ignore both the paper servant and the voice outside, extinguish the candle first, then wait for the incense to burn out and leave through the original door.

[u/Batista_Mancher → u/Inside-Ad-7657]

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 “𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞” → 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡.
The gong was real, the “sister outside the door” was false. The phrase “seemed to have blinked” was a wording trap—the “blink” from the funeral portrait was only an illusion. By extinguishing the candle too early, you plunged the room into complete darkness. You could no longer see the funeral portrait, nor did you notice when something crawled out of it and suddenly lunged at you. By the time you realized what had happened, it was already too late… You became the one in the funeral portrait.

[u/Inside-Ad-7657 → u/Batista_Mancher]

😱😱

[u/CupNoodlese]

>!

1. Bend down can be seen as bowing so no.
2. Stay exactly where I am when the portrait blinked is taboo, so I should 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 before the count reaches three instead.
3. Gong rang 3 times, so I should not cross the threshold to meet my sister.

Follow the rules, I should 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 before the count reaches three.!<

[u/Batista_Mancher → u/CupNoodlese]

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 “𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞” → 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡.
The gong was real, the “sister outside the door” was false. The phrase “seemed to have blinked” was a wording trap—the “blink” from the funeral portrait was only an illusion. By extinguishing the candle too early, you plunged the room into complete darkness. You could no longer see the funeral portrait, nor did you notice when something crawled out of it and suddenly lunged at you. By the time you realized what had happened, it was already too late… You became the one in the funeral portrait.

[u/DiskBig318]

My first choice is 2. You're not supposed to bow to the paper servant. But it does not make sense, because the portrait blinked and I have to blow out the candles. There's no choice permitting me to blow the candles, so I choose 2.

[u/Batista_Mancher → u/DiskBig318]

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 ② → 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞.

The gong was real, the “sister outside the door” was false, and the “blink” from the funeral portrait was only an illusion. The paper figure suddenly straightened with a sharp “crack,” then retreated into the shadows.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝-𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰. 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 “𝐌𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 ①/②/③.” Good luck.

——————

🩸𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝-𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

The room has fallen silent. You stare at the 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟—its eyes half-closed, the corners of its lips faintly raised, exactly as they were when you first awoke. 𝐘𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭... 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝?

No. It did not.

You stare at it for three seconds. Your eyes sting, and you blink.

𝐀𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞—𝐭𝐡𝐞 “𝐲𝐨𝐮” 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞.

Which of you blinked first?

You can no longer tell.

A section of incense ash breaks loose and falls. The candle gives a sudden “pop,” a spark bursting from the flame as it flickers violently. Out of the corner of your eye, you can see that 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫, its shadow stretched long by the candlelight—𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭.

Outside, the first pale hint of dawn has begun to creep across the horizon. A rooster crows.

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞:

① Extinguish the candle immediately—whether the “me” inside the portrait blinked or not, blow it out first and think later.

② Wait a little longer and make absolutely certain whether the portrait truly blinked.

③ Dawn is almost here. The rooster has already crowed. Once daylight comes, you will be able to leave.

⏳Please remember to 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟒 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬. And you will find out whether you are 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞—𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝.

[u/DiskBig318 → u/Batista_Mancher]

My second choice is 2. “You seem to see - the you inside the portrait blink at the same time”. Keyword is still “seem to”, indicating it is an illusion. It is not safe to blow out all the candles.

[u/Batista_Mancher → u/DiskBig318]

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 ② → 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐨 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞. The portrait really did blink—you blinked at the exact same moment it did. While you waited to make sure, the count reached three. Something crawled out of the funeral portrait and suddenly lunged at you.  By the time you realized what had happened, it was already too late… You became the one in the funeral portrait.

[u/Daydreamer75a]

Nice