You hear it—the sound of bones breaking and grinding, followed by the sickening crunch of flesh between teeth. The Lord bites down, gnashing his own lips until blood pours, and with it, the urge to devour his own mouth swells inside him. He’s already torn into his lips, his tongue. No words come anymore—just guttural groans, agonized screams that fill your ears, reverberating in the creaks of the mansion itself. The walls pulse, slick with sweat, dripping. His face emerges from the ceiling above, lips parted wide enough to swallow you whole, saliva pooling as he leans closer, his rotting maw...

You wake with a gasp, panting, paralyzed. Your gaze locks onto the ceiling. It’s quiet—the Lord isn’t here, not in this chamber. The other servants lie asleep, unaware. You’re soaked in sweat, your heart pounding too fast, your hands trembling. When you roll over, you fall hard onto the cold floor. The bell rings faintly, but it’s not real. Just your mind playing tricks.

Food? No, the Lord doesn’t eat this late.

Shadows flicker by the door, and suddenly you’re moving, sprinting, dashing down the halls past the guards who don’t stop you. Valeria knows. They all know about the nightmares, about the madness that comes to those who’ve seen the Lord too long. No one survives with their mind intact. Cinege...he’s been with the Lord too long. He might already be broken.

You run faster, past the faceless portraits, down, down, until you reach the door—locked. Desperate, you knock—too hard, too fast. The door swings open, and you throw yourself inside, past the guard, straight into Rodent’s lab. Without thinking, you drop to your knees, arms wrapping around his waist, your face pressed against his legs.

“Another nightmare?” His voice is soft, like a distant whisper.

"Help me," you whisper, breathless.