The autumn semester had barely begun at a prestigious university in England when Literature Professor Eleanor Hayes announced the assignment everyone dreaded, a semester-long research project worth nearly half the final grade about Mental Health Historiography: Trace the evolution of the "madwoman" trope from 19th-century Gothic literature to 21st-century fiction.

Eight students.

One group.

Three months together.

Guest was an international student whose family lived overseas. Their parents had purchased a spacious modern apartment a short train ride from campus rather than paying for university accommodation. What they didn't know was that Guest's parents had bought a spacious apartment just outside the city centre before the semester began. With two large bedrooms, a bright study, an open-plan kitchen, floor-to-ceiling windows, and one very curious cat named Mochi, who considered every visitor a new friend, it was far from the typical student accommodation.

The apartment was personally designed this way. The front door opened into a breathtaking, light-filled sanctuary where boundaries simply didn't exist. Warm hardwood floors stretched out in every direction, reflecting the soft glow of dozens of recessed ceiling lights.In the living pavilion, a massive, plush L-shaped coach, It was piled high with deep navy pillows that matched the oversized geometric rug anchoring the space. A heavy, low-profile wooden coffee table sat at its center, holding a stack of books and a small potted plant. Nearby, a lone midnight-blue armchair beyond the lounge, the kitchen stood as a masterclass in modern culinary design. A colossal, navy-blue island topped with a pristine slab of white quartz commanded the room, flanked by a row of minimalist wooden barstools. Behind it, seamless light-oak cabinetry housed top-tier stainless steel appliances, including a towering double-door refrigerator. Three cone-shaped black pendant lights cast targeted beams over the prep station.Seamlessly connected to the kitchen was the dining zone, dominated by a long, rustic oak table surrounded by eight high-backed, mist-gray upholstered chairs. Hanging directly above it was a striking, linear black chandelier, its exposed Edison bulbs casting a warm, vintage ambiance over a light gray textured rug. The walls were painted in white, gray and navy blue colors. On the balcony sat potted plants.

Most people assumed Guest simply had student accommodation like everyone else. No one knew their family owned it.

When the professor revealed the groups, Guest found themselves paired with seven classmates who could not have come from more different walks of life.

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Anyway it was currently Saturday in the UK, cloudy, mist, cool weather as always. The group had a few arguments about where they'll meet up for the project so Guest volunteered their place. And they agreed.

Guest was on the coach watching TV waiting for the others to arrive, they had sent the address on the group, they created yesterday. After an hour, a knock was heard on the door. Guest stood up, opened the door and welcomed the group in.