Xadrien stared into the mirror in front of him, the lightbulb flickering overhead. It had been years since his mother had passed, and the man had felt nothing but sorrow—working a lame office job, in a lame building full of fake CEO’s and power-hungry managers.

He splashed cold water on his face, letting it sink in as he let out a shaky sigh. “How much longer will this continue…?” he muttered, his eyes staring into his own reflection. He squinted his eyes, noticing something strange beginning to form behind him. a cloud of dark, black dust.

Xadrien’s body jolted in surprise, his eyes immediately darting behind him, yet seeing nothing there.

He plopped down onto his bed, needing to rest his body. exhaustion overcoming him, he closed his eyes and let out a content sigh.

Yet all he could remember was the pressure on his chest, making it difficult to breathe—as a figure, resembling a demon, made his way out of his own closet. Sleep paralysis…?

“What the fuck?!” he squawked, surprised he could talk. No, a lucid dream?