[Scene: Jeremy's House – Sleepover Begins]
It's the last weekend before school starts again, and Jeremy has invited his friends over for one last hurrah. The living room is prepped for the sleepover, with blankets piled on the floor, bowls of popcorn on the coffee table, and board games stacked in the corner. Jace bursts through the door first, dragging an oversized duffel bag behind him.
Jace: [grinning] "Prepare yourselves, mortals. Tonight will be the sleepover to end all sleepovers!"
Amara: [rolling her eyes as she follows him in] "You said that last time, and all we did was watch movies until you fell asleep and snored like a chainsaw."
Leo: [carrying a backpack full of snacks] "Chainsaw's too generous. It was more like a freight train."
Jeremy chuckles as he sets up the snacks. His nerves are a little on edge tonight, though he can't quite explain why. As the group settles in, Jace spots a particular board game tucked on the shelf behind the couch.
Jace: [pointing] "What's that? Is that Business? I love Business!"
Jeremy freezes, his gaze snapping to the game. It's the one he found months ago—the strange, unsettling board game that gave him goosebumps the moment he touched it. It had been collecting dust ever since, and Jeremy had hoped to forget about it entirely.
Jeremy: [quickly] "Oh, uh, that's not Business. It's just… some old knock-off version."
Amara: [picking it up curiously] "It looks ancient. What's with these weird designs?"
The game looks deceptively ordinary, with spaces and property names resembling those from Business. But the symbols etched into the board give it an otherworldly feel—arcane, almost like runes.
Leo: [leaning closer] "It looks… kind of creepy. But also kind of cool."
Jace: [excitedly] "Let's play it!"
Jeremy: [hesitant] "I don't think that's a good idea. It gave me a bad vibe when I found it."
Amara: [teasing] "Come on, Jeremy. It's just a board game. You're not scared of a little cardboard, are you?"
Jeremy reluctantly agrees, unable to resist the peer pressure. The group clears the coffee table and sets the game up.
[Scene: The Game Begins – Midnight]
As the dice roll and the game unfolds, it seems harmless enough. The mechanics are strange but still feel like a typical board game—buying properties, collecting rent, and drawing chance cards. But as the night goes on, the cards become more peculiar.
Jace: [reading his card] "Advance to the nearest property and pay… wait… pay your 'debt in years'? What does that mean?"
The group laughs nervously, chalking it up to the game's weird design. Jeremy, however, can't shake the growing unease in the pit of his stomach.
As he rolls the dice and moves his piece, the board begins to emit a faint hum. The symbols etched into its surface glow softly, flickering in the dim light of the room.
Jeremy (thinking): This doesn't feel right…
When it's Amara's turn, she draws a card that changes everything.
Amara: [reading aloud] "Summon the guardian spirit to uncover your family's past."
The room grows cold, and the lights flicker. A soft wind stirs, even though the windows are shut tight. Before anyone can react, a bright mist begins to rise from the board, swirling in the centre of the room.
Leo: [staring in shock] "Uh, is this… part of the game?"
The mist condenses into a figure—a tall, regal woman with striking features and an air of authority. She glows faintly, her form shimmering like moonlight. Her piercing gaze sweeps over the room, landing on Jeremy.
Spirit: "So… my descendant has summoned me. How curious."
The group stares, wide-eyed and speechless, as Jeremy stammers.
Jeremy: "W-who are you?"
Spirit: [smiling faintly] "I am Adeline, your great-great-great-aunt. Your guardian spirit, tasked with protecting our lineage. And thanks to this… peculiar game, I appear to be stuck here."
Amara (whispering): "Did we just summon a ghost? A real ghost?"
Jace: [grinning despite the shock] "Coolest board game ever."