Into the Unknown

She took a step out of the door into a small corridor. 

The small corridor stretched out before Lily was like a forgotten passage through time, its narrow confines hemmed in by walls of rusted metal that seemed to close in around her with every step. The air was thick with the scent of decay, a tangible reminder of the passage of years and the neglect that had left the corridor frozen in time.

To her right, a drop gate was shut, its metal bars warped and twisted with age. It loomed like a silent sentinel, a barrier between Lily and whatever lay beyond—a grim reminder of the dangers that lurked in the shadows.

To her left, a solitary door stood sentinel, its surface pitted and scarred by the ravages of time. It beckoned to her like a beacon of hope in the darkness, a tantalizing promise of escape from the suffocating confines of the corridor.

As Lily stood at the crossroads between gate and door, a sense of unease washed over her like a tide. Each option seemed to hold its own perils and pitfalls, each path fraught with uncertainty and danger. But with a steeling of her resolve, Lily took a step forward, her footsteps echoing hollowly against the metal floor. With every breath, she could feel the weight of the corridor pressing down upon her, a tangible reminder of the darkness that lurked at the edges of her vision. And as she moved closer to the door on her left, she knew that whatever lay beyond, she would face it with a courage born of desperation—a determination to overcome the obstacles that stood in her way and emerge victorious from the depths of the mansion's twisted labyrinth.

As Lily stood in the narrow corridor, the tolling of a distant bell reverberated through the air like a haunting melody, sending shivers down her spine and stirring memories long buried beneath the surface of her consciousness.

In an instant, she was transported back to a time of innocence and joy, a time before the darkness had descended and swallowed her whole.

She found herself standing in a sunlit meadow, the scent of wildflowers lingering in the air as a gentle breeze rustled through the tall grass. Beside her stood a figure bathed in golden light, their features blurred by the passage of time but their presence filling her with a sense of warmth and security. And then, as if from a dream, the scene shifted, and Lily found herself standing before a crumbling church, its ancient bell tower reaching towards the heavens like a silent sentinel. The tolling of the bell echoed through the air, its mournful tones a harbinger of the tragedy that was about to unfold.

She watched in horror as the figure beside her stepped forward, their hand reaching out to grasp the cold iron chain that hung from the bell tower's massive bell. With a single, decisive pull, they set the bell tolling, its mournful sound echoing through the air like a funeral dirge. And then, with a deafening crash, the world around her seemed to crumble, the meadow fading into darkness as the tolling of the bell grew louder and louder, until it filled her ears with its deafening roar.

With a gasp, Lily was jolted back to the present, her heart pounding in her chest as she struggled to shake off the memories that had threatened to consume her whole. The tolling of the bell continued to echo through the corridor, a relentless reminder of the darkness that lurked at the edges of her mind.

As she realised where she was she noticed the door that she came out of was not only closed but also gone, as it vanished, or maybe it never even existed. Maybe this place was only a trick of her own mind. But then again, who could think of something horrific like this? Behind her at the dropped gate she now saw green glowing eyes as she heard a growl. The eyes stared directly into her soul. Trapping her for a mere minute before she could snap out and focus again. The gate slowly started to open, whatever was behind there would shortly be released. 

As Lily's heart starting to pound, her adrenaline rushing, she looked back to the safety of the door in front of her. "Surely there can't be danger at both sides?" she thought to herself. She stumbled to the door, slowly stepping forward, still in agony from the withdrawals of her drug addiction. The gate behind her was now halfway open and the beast was almost released. As her adrenaline now took over she ran as fast as she could. But she could hear the growl getting closer to her, it's breath almost in her neck. As she was close to the door it leapt at her, but it only managed to graze her calf. As it grazed her with it's claws she screamed out in agony, it was like acid going through her skin. She fell into the next room and kicked the door hard with her feet. The beast still pushing on the other side, trying to get through. As she kept kicking the door she saw a glimpse of the beast, it's fur was thick and coarse, with a deep charcoal and mottled grey, blending with patches of sickly green where the acidic residue clings to its claws. Its eyes gleaming with a predatory intelligence, glowing a vibrant green hue that hints at the corrosive power within. 

As Lily finally managed to close the door on the beast she sat up, with her back against the door, waiting for the pounding on the door the stop. As she sat there the bell tolled again, this time only once. As the bell stopped so did the pounding on the door, she looked back but the door was gone, it also vanished. Strangely enough the pain on her calf also vanished, there only remained scars. What was this place? 

The room she found herself in was dimly lit, with flickering torches casting eerie shadows across the walls. The air was heavy with the scent of damp stone, and the sound of dripping water echoed faintly in the distance. It was clear that she was deep within the bowels of the mansion, far from any hope of rescue.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Lily began to explore the room. She found little of interest—a few rusted chains hanging from the walls, an old wooden crate in one corner—but nothing that could help her escape the labyrinthine depths of the mansion.

As she searched, her mind raced with questions. What was that beast that had pursued her? Where had it come from, and why was it hunting her? And most importantly, how was she going to get out of this place alive?

As Lily's eyes fell upon a grate leading into the sewers, a mix of relief and apprehension washed over her. On one hand, it offered a potential means of escape from the dark and foreboding depths of the mansion. On the other hand, venturing into the sewers was hardly an inviting prospect.

With a steadying breath, Lily approached the grate, her hands reaching out to grasp the cold metal bars. She gave them a tentative shake, and they creaked ominously in response, but seemed sturdy enough to support her weight. Grimacing at the thought of what she might encounter in the dank tunnels below, Lily steeled herself and lifted the grate with a grunt of effort. It scraped against the stone floor, the sound echoing eerily in the chamber, before she set it aside with a clang.

Peering into the darkness below, Lily could make out the faint glimmer of water reflecting the dim light from her torch. The stench of sewage wafted up to greet her, thick and oppressive, but she pushed aside her revulsion and focused on the task at hand.

With a final glance back at the chamber she was leaving behind, Lily took a deep breath and lowered herself into the opening, her feet finding purchase on the rungs of the ladder below. With each downward step, the darkness seemed to close in around her, until she was enveloped in its suffocating embrace.