I look up at the sky, gazing at the sun above me. It seems I’ve overslept. In the distance, the sounds of soldiers march on, patrolling the streets.


    “...Keep searching for that damned pyromancer!...”


    The red caped commander shouts as the rest hurried around the streets. Signs of exhaustion weighed on the soldiers’ shoulders. Making my way around them, I head towards… Where was I going again? A tightness tugged at my chest as I tried to recall something. Shaking off the unease, I kicked my legs forward and followed the street.


    Down a winding alley way, a lone workshop stood in the middle of the city. Why was this place so familiar? The windows were broken and the front door swung loosely against the wind. My heart tightened as I made my way through the door.


    “Hello?”


    I call out to the darkness in this sunlit workshop. Strange tinkered objects lay on the ground. In particular, a familiar looking wind-up bird, which sat in a layer of dust.


    “Where did you go?”


    An uncertain concern pushes its way out my mouth. Where did who go? Wasn’t this store always abandoned? My head ached as I tripped over an odd metal object atop miniature rails.


    “…here…”


    A familiar voice calls out in the back. A chill crawls up my spine as I cautiously take my steps. Pushing the backdoor open, I glance at the many shelves and splintered crates in the back.


    “Get out of here… get out of here… get out of here…”


    My eyes stare off at the eerie voice in the distance. Suddenly, an odd snap tugs on the floorboards. The ground crumbles beneath my feet as a howling wind envelops me; dragging me into the darkness below.


    With a rough tumble, pain radiates down my body as a groan escapes me. My hands press against the stone cold ground. Its surface was frosty to the touch. I blink twice, peering into the surrounding darkness. The weight of each breath snapped at my aching chest.


    tick* tick*


    A metronomic beat fills the air in cadence to the soft pulses of Idosa. I listen closely as footsteps echo in the distance.


    Clank* clank*


    I close my eyes and take a deep breath. The air reeked of sweet sulfur. With a confident step forward, my eyes slowly adjust to the surrounding darkness. It was a long corridor between walls that were tarnished with time. Odd markings were drawn on these walls, but none of it was comprehensible. Suddenly, my stomach twists into a knot,


    Haven’t I been here before?


    The weight of deja vu presses against my migraines. Pushing this gnawing feeling aside, I press forward. In the distance,A faint glow flickered at the end of the corridor. It glowed as dimly as a dying candle. Heading over, I take a moment to think,


    drip* drop*


    Droplets fell on my face, beyond the radiating light. Cautiously looking up, I glance into the shadows above. A grotesque grin gleams in the candlelight. Its tar-like mucus dribbles down its mouth. A disgusting chill crawls up my spine,


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    “What the heck?”


    Suddenly, the creature dives down. Move, I command my legs as they leap away. Sliding on the ground, I clench my aching elbow and get up. Within the darkness, an odd masked creature skitters into view. Its many spindly appendages tapping gently on the walls. With a deafening shriek, the creature fully extends its legs and gives chase.


    My nerves shudder as I start running away. The nauseating corridor stretched endlessly in the darkness. With a slide, I skid around the L-shaped path. Slam!*, the creature howls and shrieks, flailing its twisted appendages wildly. A soft, cool breeze brushes my face as faint moonlight catches my eyes.


    “There’s light at the end of the tunnel!”


    Hurrying my pace, my lungs burn with each breath. Thud!* Crackle*, its legs pierce into the stone walls, slingshotting forward with a sickening lunge. The jarring scratches get closer and closer. The creature screeches as its appendages reach out. With a leap of confidence, I jump out the corridor. The dimly lit wind howls in my ear as my hands grasp at the air.


    “AAAAAHHHHHHHH…”


    My lungs scream out as my eyes lock onto the darkness below.


    “What do I do… What do I do?”


    A large shadow blots out the light as the creature cries in the wind. I close my eyes as air shoves its way into my lungs.


    Envelop me, O’fleeting wind


    The shrieking wind dies down as everything holds still. My eyes blink toward the incoming ground.


    “I can see!”


    A sharp pain stabs through my chest. My throat tightens as wind gathers in my palm.


    3…2…1…


    A gust of wind blasts onto the ground, slowing down my fall. It’s not enough, I take in a shallow breath, tightening my migraine. With a push off the ground, I leap away and collapse on my weight.


    Slam!


    The creature falls face first onto the ground as a plume of dust raises into the air. Silence waits for the dust to settle, unveiling a mass beneath the light. My ankle cries out in pain as I stand up. Slowly limping away, I take cover behind a crumbled wall.


    “Is it dead?”


    Some shadows shift in my peripherals as my eyes lock in on the monstrosity’s shadow.


    Shriek!


    Suddenly, Its legs flail around aimlessly, slicing away at the dust. Thick tar pooled from beneath the mask, staining the dusty ground black. I held my breath, praying that it would go away. Its legs stretch out like an elongated centipede, tapping the dust ever so delicately. My heart beats louder and louder as the creature gets closer and closer. Suddenly, a leg pierces through the wall. I clasp my mouth shut as my breathing overwhelms me.


    tap* tap* tap*


    Slowly turning my head, my eyes look up at an enormous shadow. Its thin appendages wiggling in excitement. With a disgusting twist, its grotesque, smiling mask stares into my quivering eyes. With an ear-shattering screech, its front legs stab forward. I collapse onto the floor, barely avoiding its attack. It skitters around like a wiggling snake, as fluids dribble underneath the mask.


    Creak*


    odd humanoid figures leap out from the shadows and wrap around its limbs. Their mannequin-like bodies creak with every movement.


    “Food…”


    A cacophony of distorted voices echo above the creature''s agony. Its outer shell pops and cracks as these humanoid figures bite into its flesh like starving wolves. With frantic twists and shakes, the creature runs away, slamming into the surrounding walls.


    Screee-


    An arm stabs into its head as its body collapses onto the ground. Without hesitation, the rest of the humanoid figures gnaw at its flesh. Carefully, I make my way over, avoiding the frantic mannequins. Suddenly an object clatters in front of me. I head over to the tarnished theatre mask dyed golden brass, worn down by time. A sigh of exhaustion escapes me as my trembling fingers lift up the heavy mask, placing it into my satchel. My legs wobble with each step as I look up at the tiny entrance to the corridor,


    “How am I supposed to get out of here?”