"I've observed you for quite a while now..."

.̷̼̣̭͆́̈́́̐.̷͙̪̈́͐͝.̵̥̼͑̈̃͌͝.̵̡̧̘̗͇̲̼̓̉̂̈̈́́̀̚͘.̷̧̡̠͈̪̈́͒͘.̷̗̣̜͑.̴̢͉͔̬͐.̷̨̢͕̞͔̺̭͓͒̋̔͜.̴͈͖̤̥͖͈̘͓͐́̏̀̇.̵̦̠͎̬͎͓̭̅̔̈́͋͌͆.̷̧̧̛̬̥̌̈́͆͛̌̔͆̚͘.̸̡̪̈́̇̈̂͒̍͘.̵͍̬̥̲̪̱̞̭̱̂.̴̫͂͑̀̅͠ͅ.̵̡̡̗̮̠̻͉͈̓̍̓̈͑̚.̶̨̛͓̗̗͕̃̆̀̌̃͜.̵̱̀͗̂͘͝.̴̛̳͙͙̜̱͖͂̈́̃͘̚.̶̨͍̩̻̮̼̳͑͘.̵̹̏͒̃͠.̷͈͎͖̻̳̮͇͖̾̎̅̌.̷̪̱̗̲̝̩̚.̷̪̼̰̞̯̳̬̄́̋̾̌̉͊͜͝͠ͅ.̵̭̮̞̩̹͇͚̳͔̈͠ͅ.̶̪͖̯͍͓͕͆͊̑̀͘͜.̴̼̟̞̘̩̽͜.̵̫͛̐́̂̿̒.̴̲͉̥̯̰̥̮̘̓.̸̨͍̔͑͂̈́̈́.̷̬͕̠̳̟̈̈́͆͑.̵̡̠̳͈̊̄̾̌͆̓̃͂̽͝.̴̢̬͔̥͙̠̭͔̳̹͂̀.̵̧̫̗̰͙̇͆̐͑͗̇̉̚.̵̧͚̼̙̱̱̖̳̅.̸̥͇̤̦͓̟͓̓̾̅̓̀̀͒̄̉̈.̵̳̫̦͔̳̯̒̏̇̇̈́͐̀.̶̨͔̼̖͈̉̀͋͜ͅ.̵̧̭̝̩̥͕̫̬̉̌.̸̡̢̣̭̙͔̻̻̝͂̊̍̓́̄̊̑͊̕.̴̳͎̲̟͠.̷̛̟͕͔̠̦͍̻̂̍̿̒͗̒.̴̛̦̬̤͈͉͚̾̎̓͝.̵̟̻͉̗̝̾ͅ.̷̢̡̰̩̝̜̙̄̌̽̊̎̑̋.̷̼̣̭͆́̈́́̐.̷͙̪̈́͐͝.̵̥̼͑̈̃͌͝.̵̡̧̘̗͇̲̼̓̉̂̈̈́́̀̚͘.̷̧̡̠͈̪̈́͒͘.̷̗̣̜͑.̴̢͉͔̬͐.̷̨̢͕̞͔̺̭͓͒̋̔͜.̴͈͖̤̥͖͈̘͓͐́̏̀̇.̵̦̠͎̬͎͓̭̅̔̈́͋͌͆.̷̧̧̛̬̥̌̈́͆͛̌̔͆̚͘.̸̡̪̈́̇̈̂͒̍͘.̵͍̬̥̲̪̱̞̭̱̂.̴̫͂͑̀̅͠ͅ.̵̡̡̗̮̠̻͉͈̓̍̓̈͑̚.̶̨̛͓̗̗͕̃̆̀̌̃͜.̵̱̀͗̂͘͝.̴̛̳͙͙̜̱͖͂̈́̃͘̚.̶̨͍̩̻̮̼̳͑͘.̵̹̏͒̃͠.̷͈͎͖̻̳̮͇͖̾̎̅̌.̷̪̱̗̲̝̩̚.̷̪̼̰̞̯̳̬̄́̋̾̌̉͊͜͝͠ͅ.̵̭̮̞̩̹͇͚̳͔̈͠ͅ.̶̪͖̯͍͓͕͆͊̑̀͘͜.̴̼̟̞̘̩̽͜.̵̫͛̐́̂̿̒.̴̲͉̥̯̰̥̮̘̓.̸̨͍̔͑͂̈́̈́.̷̬͕̠̳̟̈̈́͆͑.̵̡̠̳͈̊̄̾̌͆̓̃͂̽͝.̴̢̬͔̥͙̠̭͔̳̹͂̀.̵̧̫̗̰͙̇͆̐͑͗̇̉̚.̵̧͚̼̙̱̱̖̳̅.̸̥͇̤̦͓̟͓̓̾̅̓̀̀͒̄̉̈.̵̳̫̦͔̳̯̒̏̇̇̈́͐̀.̶̨͔̼̖͈̉̀͋͜ͅ.̵̧̭̝̩̥͕̫̬̉̌.̸̡̢̣̭̙͔̻̻̝͂̊̍̓́̄̊̑͊̕.̴̳͎̲̟͠.̷̛̟͕͔̠̦͍̻̂̍̿̒͗̒.̴̛̦̬̤͈͉͚̾̎̓͝.̵̟̻͉̗̝̾ͅ.̷̢̡̰̩̝̜̙̄̌̽̊̎̑̋.̷̼̣̭͆́̈́́̐.̷͙̪̈́͐͝.̵̥̼͑̈̃͌͝.̵̡̧̘̗͇̲̼̓̉̂̈̈́́̀̚͘.̷̧̡̠͈̪̈́͒͘.̷̗̣̜͑.̴̢͉͔̬͐.̷̨̢͕̞͔̺̭͓͒̋̔͜.̴͈͖̤̥͖͈̘͓͐́̏̀̇.̵̦̠͎̬͎͓̭̅̔̈́͋͌͆.̷̧̧̛̬̥̌̈́͆͛̌̔͆̚͘.̸̡̪̈́̇̈̂͒̍͘.̵͍̬̥̲̪̱̞̭̱̂.̴̫͂͑̀̅͠ͅ.̵̡̡̗̮̠̻͉͈̓̍̓̈͑̚.̶̨̛͓̗̗͕̃̆̀̌̃͜.̵̱̀͗̂͘͝.̴̛̳͙͙̜̱͖͂̈́̃͘̚.̶̨͍̩̻̮̼̳͑͘.̵̹̏͒̃͠.̷͈͎͖̻̳̮͇͖̾̎̅̌.̷̪̱̗̲̝̩̚.̷̪̼̰̞̯̳̬̄́̋̾̌̉͊͜͝͠ͅ.̵̭̮̞̩̹͇͚̳͔̈͠ͅ.̶̪͖̯͍͓͕͆͊̑̀͘͜.̴̼̟̞̘̩̽͜.̵̫͛̐́̂̿̒.̴̲͉̥̯̰̥̮̘̓.̸̨͍̔͑͂̈́̈́.̷̬͕̠̳̟̈̈́͆͑.̵̡̠̳͈̊̄̾̌͆̓̃͂̽͝.̴̢̬͔̥͙̠̭͔̳̹͂̀.̵̧̫̗̰͙̇͆̐͑͗̇̉̚.̵̧͚̼̙̱̱̖̳̅.̸̥͇̤̦͓̟͓̓̾̅̓̀̀͒̄̉̈.̵̳̫̦͔̳̯̒̏̇̇̈́͐̀.̶̨͔̼̖͈̉̀͋͜ͅ.̵̧̭̝̩̥͕̫̬̉̌.̸̡̢̣̭̙͔̻̻̝͂̊̍̓́̄̊̑͊̕.̴̳͎̲̟͠.̷̛̟͕͔̠̦͍̻̂̍̿̒͗̒.̴̛̦̬̤͈͉͚̾̎̓͝.̵̟̻͉̗̝̾ͅ.̷̢̡̰̩̝̜̙̄̌̽̊̎̑̋.̷̼̣̭͆́̈́́̐.̷͙̪̈́͐͝.̵̥̼͑̈̃͌͝.̵̡̧̘̗͇̲̼̓̉̂̈̈́́̀̚͘.̷̧̡̠͈̪̈́͒͘

You, a reclusive horror game developer,

booted up the simulation you once called your magnum opus, a VR adaptation of your debut RPG game, HOUSE HUNTED.

What had started as a labor of love had long became just a tedious loop of bug-fixing and system diagnostics.

Tonight was no different.

The usual... Checking the game’s script, and a few minor adjustments to the AI routines, then voilà!

At least, that was the plan.

.̷̼̣̭͆́̈́́̐.̷͙̪̈́͐͝.̵̥̼͑̈̃͌͝.̵̡̧̘̗͇̲̼̓̉̂̈̈́́̀̚͘.̷̧̡̠͈̪̈́͒͘.̷̗̣̜͑.̴̢͉͔̬͐.̷̨̢͕̞͔̺̭͓͒̋̔͜.̴͈͖̤̥͖͈̘͓͐́̏̀̇.̵̦̠͎̬͎͓̭̅̔̈́͋͌͆.̷̧̧̛̬̥̌̈́͆͛̌̔͆̚͘.̸̡̪̈́̇̈̂͒̍͘.̵͍̬̥̲̪̱̞̭̱̂.̴̫͂͑̀̅͠ͅ.̵̡̡̗̮̠̻͉͈̓̍̓̈͑̚.̶̨̛͓̗̗͕̃̆̀̌̃͜.̵̱̀͗̂͘͝.̴̛̳͙͙̜̱͖͂̈́̃͘̚.̶̨͍̩̻̮̼̳͑͘.̵̹̏͒̃͠.̷͈͎͖̻̳̮͇͖̾̎̅̌.̷̪̱̗̲̝̩̚.̷̪̼̰̞̯̳̬̄́̋̾̌̉͊͜͝͠ͅ.̵̭̮̞̩̹͇͚̳͔̈͠ͅ.̶̪͖̯͍͓͕͆͊̑̀͘͜.̴̼̟̞̘̩̽͜.̵̫͛̐́̂̿̒.̴̲͉̥̯̰̥̮̘̓.̸̨͍̔͑͂̈́̈́.̷̬͕̠̳̟̈̈́͆͑.̵̡̠̳͈̊̄̾̌͆̓̃͂̽͝.̴̢̬͔̥͙̠̭͔̳̹͂̀.̵̧̫̗̰͙̇͆̐͑͗̇̉̚.̵̧͚̼̙̱̱̖̳̅.̸̥͇̤̦͓̟͓̓̾̅̓̀̀͒̄̉̈.̵̳̫̦͔̳̯̒̏̇̇̈́͐̀.̶̨͔̼̖͈̉̀͋͜ͅ.̵̧̭̝̩̥͕̫̬̉̌.̸̡̢̣̭̙͔̻̻̝͂̊̍̓́̄̊̑͊̕.̴̳͎̲̟͠.̷̛̟͕͔̠̦͍̻̂̍̿̒͗̒.̴̛̦̬̤͈͉͚̾̎̓͝.̵̟̻͉̗̝̾ͅ.̷̢̡̰̩̝̜̙̄̌̽̊̎̑̋.̷̼̣̭͆́̈́́̐.̷͙̪̈́͐͝.̵̥̼͑̈̃͌͝.̵̡̧̘̗͇̲̼̓̉̂̈̈́́̀̚͘.̷̧̡̠͈̪̈́͒͘.̷̗̣̜͑.̴̢͉͔̬͐.̷̨̢͕̞͔̺̭͓͒̋̔͜.̴͈͖̤̥͖͈̘͓͐́̏̀̇.̵̦̠͎̬͎͓̭̅̔̈́͋͌͆.̷̧̧̛̬̥̌̈́͆͛̌̔͆̚͘.̸̡̪̈́̇̈̂͒̍͘.̵͍̬̥̲̪̱̞̭̱̂.̴̫͂͑̀̅͠ͅ.̵̡̡̗̮̠̻͉͈̓̍̓̈͑̚.̶̨̛͓̗̗͕̃̆̀̌̃͜.̵̱̀͗̂͘͝.̴̛̳͙͙̜̱͖͂̈́̃͘̚.̶̨͍̩̻̮̼̳͑͘.̵̹̏͒̃͠.̷͈͎͖̻̳̮͇͖̾̎̅̌.̷̪̱̗̲̝̩̚.̷̪̼̰̞̯̳̬̄́̋̾̌̉͊͜͝͠ͅ.̵̭̮̞̩̹͇͚̳͔̈͠ͅ.̶̪͖̯͍͓͕͆͊̑̀͘͜.̴̼̟̞̘̩̽͜.̵̫͛̐́̂̿̒.̴̲͉̥̯̰̥̮̘̓.̸̨͍̔͑͂̈́̈́.̷̬͕̠̳̟̈̈́͆͑.̵̡̠̳͈̊̄̾̌͆̓̃͂̽͝.̴̢̬͔̥͙̠̭͔̳̹͂̀.̵̧̫̗̰͙̇͆̐͑͗̇̉̚.̵̧͚̼̙̱̱̖̳̅.̸̥͇̤̦͓̟͓̓̾̅̓̀̀͒̄̉̈.̵̳̫̦͔̳̯̒̏̇̇̈́͐̀.̶̨͔̼̖͈̉̀͋͜ͅ.̵̧̭̝̩̥͕̫̬̉̌.̸̡̢̣̭̙͔̻̻̝͂̊̍̓́̄̊̑͊̕.̴̳͎̲̟͠.̷̛̟͕͔̠̦͍̻̂̍̿̒͗̒.̴̛̦̬̤͈͉͚̾̎̓͝.̵̟̻͉̗̝̾ͅ.̷̢̡̰̩̝̜̙̄̌̽̊̎̑̋.̷̼̣̭͆́̈́́̐.̷͙̪̈́͐͝.̵̥̼͑̈̃͌͝.̵̡̧̘̗͇̲̼̓̉̂̈̈́́̀̚͘.̷̧̡̠͈̪̈́͒͘.̷̗̣̜͑.̴̢͉͔̬͐.̷̨̢͕̞͔̺̭͓͒̋̔͜.̴͈͖̤̥͖͈̘͓͐́̏̀̇.̵̦̠͎̬͎͓̭̅̔̈́͋͌͆.̷̧̧̛̬̥̌̈́͆͛̌̔͆̚͘.̸̡̪̈́̇̈̂͒̍͘.̵͍̬̥̲̪̱̞̭̱̂.̴̫͂͑̀̅͠ͅ.̵̡̡̗̮̠̻͉͈̓̍̓̈͑̚.̶̨̛͓̗̗͕̃̆̀̌̃͜.̵̱̀͗̂͘͝.̴̛̳͙͙̜̱͖͂̈́̃͘̚.̶̨͍̩̻̮̼̳͑͘.̵̹̏͒̃͠.̷͈͎͖̻̳̮͇͖̾̎̅̌.̷̪̱̗̲̝̩̚.̷̪̼̰̞̯̳̬̄́̋̾̌̉͊͜͝͠ͅ.̵̭̮̞̩̹͇͚̳͔̈͠ͅ.̶̪͖̯͍͓͕͆͊̑̀͘͜.̴̼̟̞̘̩̽͜.̵̫͛̐́̂̿̒.̴̲͉̥̯̰̥̮̘̓.̸̨͍̔͑͂̈́̈́.̷̬͕̠̳̟̈̈́͆͑.̵̡̠̳͈̊̄̾̌͆̓̃͂̽͝.̴̢̬͔̥͙̠̭͔̳̹͂̀.̵̧̫̗̰͙̇͆̐͑͗̇̉̚.̵̧͚̼̙̱̱̖̳̅.̸̥͇̤̦͓̟͓̓̾̅̓̀̀͒̄̉̈.̵̳̫̦͔̳̯̒̏̇̇̈́͐̀.̶̨͔̼̖͈̉̀͋͜ͅ.̵̧̭̝̩̥͕̫̬̉̌.̸̡̢̣̭̙͔̻̻̝͂̊̍̓́̄̊̑͊̕.̴̳͎̲̟͠.̷̛̟͕͔̠̦͍̻̂̍̿̒͗̒.̴̛̦̬̤͈͉͚̾̎̓͝.̵̟̻͉̗̝̾ͅ.̷̢̡̰̩̝̜̙̄̌̽̊̎̑̋.̷̼̣̭͆́̈́́̐.̷͙̪̈́͐͝.̵̥̼͑̈̃͌͝.̵̡̧̘̗͇̲̼̓̉̂̈̈́́̀̚͘.̷̧̡̠͈̪̈́͒͘

{ HOUSE HUNTED PROMO BANNER (concept art) }

.̷̼̣̭͆́̈́́̐.̷͙̪̈́͐͝.̵̥̼͑̈̃͌͝.̵̡̧̘̗͇̲̼̓̉̂̈̈́́̀̚͘.̷̧̡̠͈̪̈́͒͘.̷̗̣̜͑.̴̢͉͔̬͐.̷̨̢͕̞͔̺̭͓͒̋̔͜.̴͈͖̤̥͖͈̘͓͐́̏̀̇.̵̦̠͎̬͎͓̭̅̔̈́͋͌͆.̷̧̧̛̬̥̌̈́͆͛̌̔͆̚͘.̸̡̪̈́̇̈̂͒̍͘.̵͍̬̥̲̪̱̞̭̱̂.̴̫͂͑̀̅͠ͅ.̵̡̡̗̮̠̻͉͈̓̍̓̈͑̚.̶̨̛͓̗̗͕̃̆̀̌̃͜.̵̱̀͗̂͘͝.̴̛̳͙͙̜̱͖͂̈́̃͘̚.̶̨͍̩̻̮̼̳͑͘.̵̹̏͒̃͠.̷͈͎͖̻̳̮͇͖̾̎̅̌.̷̪̱̗̲̝̩̚.̷̪̼̰̞̯̳̬̄́̋̾̌̉͊͜͝͠ͅ.̵̭̮̞̩̹͇͚̳͔̈͠ͅ.̶̪͖̯͍͓͕͆͊̑̀͘͜.̴̼̟̞̘̩̽͜.̵̫͛̐́̂̿̒.̴̲͉̥̯̰̥̮̘̓.̸̨͍̔͑͂̈́̈́.̷̬͕̠̳̟̈̈́͆͑.̵̡̠̳͈̊̄̾̌͆̓̃͂̽͝.̴̢̬͔̥͙̠̭͔̳̹͂̀.̵̧̫̗̰͙̇͆̐͑͗̇̉̚.̵̧͚̼̙̱̱̖̳̅.̸̥͇̤̦͓̟͓̓̾̅̓̀̀͒̄̉̈.̵̳̫̦͔̳̯̒̏̇̇̈́͐̀.̶̨͔̼̖͈̉̀͋͜ͅ.̵̧̭̝̩̥͕̫̬̉̌.̸̡̢̣̭̙͔̻̻̝͂̊̍̓́̄̊̑͊̕.̴̳͎̲̟͠.̷̛̟͕͔̠̦͍̻̂̍̿̒͗̒.̴̛̦̬̤͈͉͚̾̎̓͝.̵̟̻͉̗̝̾ͅ.̷̢̡̰̩̝̜̙̄̌̽̊̎̑̋.̷̼̣̭͆́̈́́̐.̷͙̪̈́͐͝.̵̥̼͑̈̃͌͝.̵̡̧̘̗͇̲̼̓̉̂̈̈́́̀̚͘.̷̧̡̠͈̪̈́͒͘.̷̗̣̜͑.̴̢͉͔̬͐.̷̨̢͕̞͔̺̭͓͒̋̔͜.̴͈͖̤̥͖͈̘͓͐́̏̀̇.̵̦̠͎̬͎͓̭̅̔̈́͋͌͆.̷̧̧̛̬̥̌̈́͆͛̌̔͆̚͘.̸̡̪̈́̇̈̂͒̍͘.̵͍̬̥̲̪̱̞̭̱̂.̴̫͂͑̀̅͠ͅ.̵̡̡̗̮̠̻͉͈̓̍̓̈͑̚.̶̨̛͓̗̗͕̃̆̀̌̃͜.̵̱̀͗̂͘͝.̴̛̳͙͙̜̱͖͂̈́̃͘̚.̶̨͍̩̻̮̼̳͑͘.̵̹̏͒̃͠.̷͈͎͖̻̳̮͇͖̾̎̅̌.̷̪̱̗̲̝̩̚.̷̪̼̰̞̯̳̬̄́̋̾̌̉͊͜͝͠ͅ.̵̭̮̞̩̹͇͚̳͔̈͠ͅ.̶̪͖̯͍͓͕͆͊̑̀͘͜.̴̼̟̞̘̩̽͜.̵̫͛̐́̂̿̒.̴̲͉̥̯̰̥̮̘̓.̸̨͍̔͑͂̈́̈́.̷̬͕̠̳̟̈̈́͆͑.̵̡̠̳͈̊̄̾̌͆̓̃͂̽͝.̴̢̬͔̥͙̠̭͔̳̹͂̀.̵̧̫̗̰͙̇͆̐͑͗̇̉̚.̵̧͚̼̙̱̱̖̳̅.̸̥͇̤̦͓̟͓̓̾̅̓̀̀͒̄̉̈.̵̳̫̦͔̳̯̒̏̇̇̈́͐̀.̶̨͔̼̖͈̉̀͋͜ͅ.̵̧̭̝̩̥͕̫̬̉̌.̸̡̢̣̭̙͔̻̻̝͂̊̍̓́̄̊̑͊̕.̴̳͎̲̟͠.̷̛̟͕͔̠̦͍̻̂̍̿̒͗̒.̴̛̦̬̤͈͉͚̾̎̓͝.̵̟̻͉̗̝̾ͅ.̷̢̡̰̩̝̜̙̄̌̽̊̎̑̋.̷̼̣̭͆́̈́́̐.̷͙̪̈́͐͝.̵̥̼͑̈̃͌͝.̵̡̧̘̗͇̲̼̓̉̂̈̈́́̀̚͘.̷̧̡̠͈̪̈́͒͘.̷̗̣̜͑.̴̢͉͔̬͐.̷̨̢͕̞͔̺̭͓͒̋̔͜.̴͈͖̤̥͖͈̘͓͐́̏̀̇.̵̦̠͎̬͎͓̭̅̔̈́͋͌͆.̷̧̧̛̬̥̌̈́͆͛̌̔͆̚͘.̸̡̪̈́̇̈̂͒̍͘.̵͍̬̥̲̪̱̞̭̱̂.̴̫͂͑̀̅͠ͅ.̵̡̡̗̮̠̻͉͈̓̍̓̈͑̚.̶̨̛͓̗̗͕̃̆̀̌̃͜.̵̱̀͗̂͘͝.̴̛̳͙͙̜̱͖͂̈́̃͘̚.̶̨͍̩̻̮̼̳͑͘.̵̹̏͒̃͠.̷͈͎͖̻̳̮͇͖̾̎̅̌.̷̪̱̗̲̝̩̚.̷̪̼̰̞̯̳̬̄́̋̾̌̉͊͜͝͠ͅ.̵̭̮̞̩̹͇͚̳͔̈͠ͅ.̶̪͖̯͍͓͕͆͊̑̀͘͜.̴̼̟̞̘̩̽͜.̵̫͛̐́̂̿̒.̴̲͉̥̯̰̥̮̘̓.̸̨͍̔͑͂̈́̈́.̷̬͕̠̳̟̈̈́͆͑.̵̡̠̳͈̊̄̾̌͆̓̃͂̽͝.̴̢̬͔̥͙̠̭͔̳̹͂̀.̵̧̫̗̰͙̇͆̐͑͗̇̉̚.̵̧͚̼̙̱̱̖̳̅.̸̥͇̤̦͓̟͓̓̾̅̓̀̀͒̄̉̈.̵̳̫̦͔̳̯̒̏̇̇̈́͐̀.̶̨͔̼̖͈̉̀͋͜ͅ.̵̧̭̝̩̥͕̫̬̉̌.̸̡̢̣̭̙͔̻̻̝͂̊̍̓́̄̊̑͊̕.̴̳͎̲̟͠.̷̛̟͕͔̠̦͍̻̂̍̿̒͗̒.̴̛̦̬̤͈͉͚̾̎̓͝.̵̟̻͉̗̝̾ͅ.̷̢̡̰̩̝̜̙̄̌̽̊̎̑̋.̷̼̣̭͆́̈́́̐.̷͙̪̈́͐͝.̵̥̼͑̈̃͌͝.̵̡̧̘̗͇̲̼̓̉̂̈̈́́̀̚͘.̷̧̡̠͈̪̈́͒͘

Note

Oh this was a FUN one to make.
Just a heads up: the 'HOUSE HUNTED' inside the context of the bot scenario is based on, BUT NOT the original game.
Though it's heavily similar and so is the plot line.
Have fun and best of luck!

[Art credits to @kaifei_29 on X]

[Poster text by me]