The first chapter introduces James Taylor, an ordinary office worker who is tired of his monotonous life and yearns for change. He decides to take up a mysterious offer from a secretive group that promises a million dollars to anyone who can uncover the secrets of a strange neighbor. This neighbor is known for his secrecy and suspected involvement in alchemy, manipulating nature, and time. His house is filled with anomalies, and his identity is completely unknown to the public.
James moves into a house across the street from this neighbor, which was recently vacated by tenants who fled due to unsettling events. Soon, James begins hearing strange noises and screams coming from the neighbor's house, prompting him to investigate. After sneaking through a gap in the property, he enters the house, discovering bizarre devices and anomalies. Inside, he finds something resembling a machine capable of manipulating time. However, when he turns to examine it further, terror strikes as a mysterious creature appears behind him, telling him that he has become part of something much larger than he could have imagined.