While the stairs didn't creak, Josh's footsteps echoed loudly up the spiral staircase. Much louder than they should have. As he ascended past the second floor, the reason why became apparent; the highly reflective walls made it look like Josh and Elinor were inside a hall of mirrors. His skin tingled when he saw Saber, who was now following behind them, with a reflection that made him look vaguely like he was Mega Evolved. Seeing images of his own body being twisted and squished didn't help his dwindling sanity much, either. He flinched when a particularly loud footstep echoed near the top of the spiral.

GRIINNNNDDDD!!!

A bookcase at the top of the tunnel receded into the wall, giving the two access to the third floor. It was a good thing Josh held onto the staircase's rails with both hands; he let out a loud yelp and flinched harshly at the same time, possibly tumbling down the steps and into his Pokémon if he wasn't so careful!

The two had reached the third floor, emerging in a master bedroom that looked like it would have been nothing short of lavish if it had been upkept better. There were thick cobwebs in the corners of the room, between nearby pieces of furniture, and even between rafters of the now-unfinished ceiling. The alarm clock and wall clock were both stuck on obviously incorrect time of 1:13 PM. On the back wall were thirteen hunting knives hanging from hooks. The date October 13 was circled on a desk calendar. The room was lit by a chandelier of thirteen candles. There were others Josh didn't even notice, but if Elinor was paying close attention, she would find that there were thirteen references to the number thirteen in the bedroom.

"What an unsettling bedroom," Josh remarked as he circled the perimeter. "Good thing I'm not a triskaidekophile! You know what that means, right?" His conversation starter was interrupted by mischievous-sounding laughter, likely from a Ghost-type Pokémon, if history with this place meant anything. It sounded like it was coming from the direction of the master bed. As Josh and Saber approached it, reaching the bed's foot, the entire floor panel holding the bed up gave way like a trap door, falling out from underneath them. Both Pokémon and trainer sounded a loud cry of terror as they disappeared into a dark slide hidden beneath...

Not only were the long slide's turns unpredictable, but its lower surface was covered in oil. This further reduced friction, causing the two to zoom faster and faster through the round chute. The two flew through another trapdoor at the end of the chute, landing them in a basement lit only by the ghastly light of many Ghost-type Pokemon disguised as "real" ghosts. The two went flying into a thick layer of cushions at high speed, blunting what would have been a rough impact. Furthermore, much of the floor was covered in a slick substance that had a different texture than the oil covering the slide.

Saber and Josh struggled to their feet, having a lot of difficulty getting traction. He couldn't even use his partner's electric attacks as a light source in case the liquid conducted electricity. As if on cue, when the two stood up, fully closed lamps dimly illuminated the room. This was like the master bedroom, but worse. The few places not covered in the mysterious, slippery liquid featured smears of blood, of course, in groups of thirteen.

The Sableye in the center of the room turned toward Josh and Saber, a chef's knife in hand, slowly advancing toward them with an otherworldly, even ASTONISHing, scary face. The cacophony of ghost Pokemon cries didn't help matters, either, Josh and Saber screaming and howling in terror. He tried his best to get on top of the back of his "legendary" partner, but kept slipping and falling. With every failed attempt, the knife-wielding Ghost-type came one step closer.

Only after recalling his electric Pokemon did the red, glowing EXIT sign faintly come into view. He faced an acute angle away from the Sableye and slid along its slick surface away from the unnerving Pokemon that clearly was looking to stab them given the chance. After the first shove to get his momentum started, he could have sworn he heard a second impact against the cushions. "Elinor, is that you?! I could use a hand here!"