(Seth can no longer tell what is real. The nightmares have begun bleeding into his waking life, distorting his perception of reality. The beast inside him, now fully aware, starts whispering offers of power in exchange for something unknown. Meanwhile, Nyxara notices his instability, but is her intervention truly to help him… or to keep him under control?)
This chapter contains psychological horror, dissociation, hallucinations, and deep mental instability. Themes of power manipulation, paranoia, and reality distortion are heavily present. Reader discretion is advised.
?? SYSTEM ERROR: ? Host Perception Severely Distorted. ? Time Discrepancies Detected. ? WARNING: Identity Fragmentation Approaching Critical Levels.
Seth sat up with a gasp, his hands trembling.
The room was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of something decayed. His breath came in short, uneven bursts as his eyes darted around.
Had he just woken up?
No—he had already woken up. Hadn’t he?
His hands clenched into fists, his nails digging into his palms.
Something felt wrong.
The shadows in the corners of the room moved.
Not from the flicker of candlelight.
Not from a trick of the eyes.
They crawled.
They watched.
His heart thudded against his ribs.
How many days had it been since he had last truly slept?
How long had it been since he had last felt… normal?
Was this even his room?
Was this even real?
He turned his gaze toward the wall.
A scarlet eye opened in the darkness.
And grinned.
?? SYSTEM WARNING: ? Unstable Entity Attempting Communication. ? Foreign Presence Strengthening. ? WARNING: Host At Risk of Losing Control.
"You seem… unwell."
The voice crawled into his ears like worms burrowing into his skull.
Seth clenched his jaw.
He refused to look at the shadow.
He refused to acknowledge it.
"You can feel it, can’t you?" "This world is slipping through your fingers." "Your mind is already splitting apart."
The thing in the darkness stretched, its form shifting unnaturally.
It was not bound by flesh.
It was not bound by rules.
"How many times have you woken up?"
"How many times have you died?"
Seth’s breath hitched.
"Oh, you don’t remember? That’s a shame."
The shadows rippled.
"But I do."
And suddenly, Seth was no longer in his room.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
?? SYSTEM ERROR: ? Reality Reintegration Failure. ? Memories Are No Longer Sequential. ? WARNING: Host Cannot Trust His Own Perception.
He was burning.
Fire crawled up his arms, devouring his skin.
The sky above him was red, cracked, and bleeding.
Bodies piled around him, their empty eyes fixed on him.
A voice laughed in the distance.
He tried to scream, but his throat was filled with blood.
And then—
He was standing in a field of flowers.
Soft wind brushed against his skin.
The scent of rain filled his lungs.
Warmth. Peace. A memory that did not belong to him.
But then—
A hand burst through his chest, gripping his heart.
A cold, familiar voice whispered in his ear.
"Wake up."
And then—
He was drowning.
The water was thick—not water, but ink, suffocating, pulling him deeper into a chasm with no end.
The whispers became laughter.
And then—
He was in his bed again.
Sweating. Gasping. Heart racing.
But this time, someone was watching him.
?? SYSTEM NOTICE: ? External Presence Attempting Mental Stabilization. ? [Nyxara, the Star of Devotion] Has Intervened. ? Unknown Outcome Pending.
She was closer than before.
Her crimson eyes glowed softly in the dim room.
Seth barely had time to react before her hands reached for his face, cupping it gently.
Cold.
Her touch was cold.
Her fingers traced his jawline, her expression unreadable.
"Seth."
Her voice was calm. Too calm.
His breath was ragged.
His body still trembled.
The nightmare had not ended.
He was not awake.
But Nyxara was here.
"You're getting worse."
His fingers twitched.
His skin felt too tight, his bones too heavy.
Was this real?
Or was she just another illusion?
Nyxara’s lips curled into something almost gentle, almost possessive.
"I can fix it, you know."
Seth’s breath caught.
Her thumb brushed over his lower lip, her eyes lidded with something dark, something dangerous.
"But only if you let me."
The shadows coiled.
The beast in the darkness grinned.
And Seth realized—
He was caught between two monsters.
One inside him. And one right in front of him.
?? SYSTEM WARNING: ? Host is Being Pulled in Two Directions. ? Unknown Outcome Based on Decision. ? A Single Choice May Alter Everything.
The beast inside him whispered.
"She is lying to you." "She does not want to save you." "She wants to own you."
Nyxara leaned closer, her fingers tightening around his chin.
"You don’t have to listen to them."
Seth’s heart thundered in his chest.
His head ached.
The air grew too thick.
Nyxara’s presence felt inescapable.
The beast’s voice was burrowing into his skull.
And he—
He didn’t know what was real anymore.
?? SYSTEM NOTICE: ? The Balance is Breaking. ? The Host Cannot Sustain Both Forces. ? A Decision Must Be Made.
Seth’s fingers twitched.
He had to choose.
He had to—
But then,
the world collapsed around him.
?? Author's Note: This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and settings are purely imaginary. This novel contains dark themes meant to enhance the story and character development. Reader discretion is advised.
