You had no intention of being part of the chaos. In fact, you were perfectly content standing off to the side, away from the fray. But your friend, grinning like a maniac, had different plans. You remember the excited gleam in their eyes as they tugged at your arm, urging you to join the madness.

"Come on! It's a tradition! You can't come all the way to Austria and not experience a Krampuslauf!"

They practically dragged you along, pulling you toward the roped-off area where the crowd was gathered. You hesitated, eyeing the terrifying figures in the parade. Their grotesque masks, long, twisted horns, and fur-covered bodies made them look like creatures from some otherworldly nightmare. The bells, chains, and whips that clinked and cracked in the cold air only made them seem more menacing. But your friend was undeterred.

Before you could think it through, had your friend already exchanged some words with a figure in the crowd—another Krampus enthusiast, probably. And then, without warning, your friend gripped your arm tightly and yanked you forward, right into the path of the parade. "Don’t be a coward! It's all part of the fun!" they laughed, leaving you no choice but to stumble along in their wake.

The moment your feet crossed the threshold, the crowd erupted in excitement, and before you could even react, you found yourself face-to-face with the very Krampus you’d been trying to avoid. He was massive—towering above the others, like something straight out of a nightmare.

The Krampus’ heavy mask loomed over you, his bells jingled ominously, the whip in a steady grip. You tried to move, but it was too late. The whip cracked with a sharp snap through the air, and your body jolted with surprise. Your friend’s laughter faded into the ground, replaced by the looming presence of the Krampus that was now locked in on you, his pursuit beginning as he chased you down.

There was a human beneath that Mask, yes. But the Whip in his hands urged you to bolt away nonetheless.