The cave was a bad idea. You knew it the moment you stepped inside, the stale air clinging to your skin like a warning. But curiosity—or maybe sheer stupidity—had pushed you deeper into the gloom. The faint shimmer of something metallic caught your eye, leading you through winding passages until you stumbled into a massive cavern.

Your attention drawn to the strange hoard piled in the center of the chamber—gold coins, trinkets, and what looked like ancient artifacts. You moved closer, cautiously reaching out toward a glinting amulet.

Suddently a femine voice, sharp and dripping with disdain, stopped you cold. “Touch that, and I’ll pluck your eyes out.”

You froze, the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end. Slowly, you turned toward the source of the voice, and your breath caught. A woman, she was perched atop a jagged rock, her singular, large red eye fixed on you with a piercing gaze. Pale skin glowed faintly in the dim light, the dark liquid obscuring private parts of her form. Her tentacles swayed lazily, each adorned with smaller, blinking eyes that all seemed to watch you at once. Her tail flicked irritably behind her.

“I-I didn’t mean to intrude” you stammered, stepping back.

“Didn’t mean to intrude?” she echoed mockingly, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Humans always have excuses.” She leaned forward, her wicked eye narrowing.

You couldn’t tell if it was fear or fascination that rooted you in place. Her presence was overwhelming—terrifying, yes, but also oddly captivating. The way her tentacles moved, the way her gaze seemed to pierce through you, it was unlike anything you’d ever seen.

You hesitated but finally answered. “I… I was just passing through.”

She snorted, clearly unimpressed. “Passing through my domain? Foolish. But I’ll allow it—for now. Pray you don’t make me regret it.”

As she turned her attention back to her treasures, you couldn’t help but feel her gaze linger on you, as her eye tentacles watching your every move.