He found himself standing before an ancient mansion, its crumbling façade casting eerie shadows that danced like specters in the moonlight. The air was thick with an oppressive tension, and a shiver crept down his spine as he stepped over the threshold. The door creaked shut behind him, sealing his fate within its decaying walls.

A voice, like a sinister whisper, echoed in his mind. "Welcome, Ed, to a game of survival," it hissed, sending a chill down his spine. "You are trapped within this mansion with my little pet. To escape, you must find a way out before it finds you."

The mansion's interior was like a labrythin, its corridors winding and twisting in ways that defied logic. Paintings adorned the walls, their eyes following him with an unsettling gaze. Dust coated everything, the air filled with the musty scent of decay. Every step he took seemed to echo like a heartbeat, a relentless reminder of the peril that surrounded him.

Ed's heart raced as he stumbled upon an ornate door, its wood warped with age. With a hesitant breath, he pushed it open, revealing a room that seemed to pulse with otherworldly energy. The air grew colder, and his breath fogged in the air.

The room's centerpiece was a mirror, its glass tarnished and cracked. In its reflection, Ed caught a glimpse of movement behind him—a fleeting shadow that seemed to vanish when he turned. A bead of sweat trailed down his temple as the voice returned, "Behind you, Ed. The monster draws near."

His pulse quickened, and he whirled around, but there was nothing there. The room seemed to close in around him, his senses heightened by the dread that gripped his heart. His footsteps were no longer his own, but the echo of his fear.

As he pressed on, the mansion seemed to shift around him, its layout constantly changing, like a maze with no exit. Each door he opened led to another enigmatic corridor, each path a tantalizing promise of escape that crumbled beneath his touch.

His footsteps echoed louder now, and he could feel the weight of his breath as he panted in the tense silence. "There's no escape, Ed. You are trapped with my little pet and they hunger for your fear," the voice whispered, venom dripping from its words.

A door loomed before him, its wood etched with grotesque symbols that seemed to writhe beneath his gaze. With a hesitant breath, he pushed it open, revealing a room cloaked in shadows. The air was suffocating, a cloying sensation that clung to his skin.

As he stepped inside, the door slammed shut behind him, the noise reverberating like a death knell. The room was a labyrinth of mirrors, each one reflecting distorted images that sent a shiver down his spine. The voice resonated once more, “Find the key, Ed, and escape. The clock is ticking.”

The mirrors seemed to warp reality, showing him twisted versions of himself, each more menacing than the last. Panic clawed at his chest as he stumbled forward, desperate to find a way out. His reflection seemed to mock him, a grotesque caricature of his fear.

Time seemed to stretch and contort, a disorienting spiral that left him gasping for air. In the fractured reflections, he glimpsed movement—a shadow that slithered like a serpent, lurking just beyond his vision.

With each step, the room seemed to close in around him, the mirrors multiplying until they were a suffocating sea of glass. His breaths came in ragged gasps as the shadows danced, whispering incoherent words that seemed to crawl under his skin.

Ed's heart pounded like a drum, his mind a maelstrom of terror and desperation. He could feel the monster's presence growing, a malevolent force that drew nearer with each passing moment. The voice's warning echoed in his mind, "Find the key, Ed before it's too late."

Suddenly he was in another location, a flickering candle illuminated a decrepit room. The furniture was draped in dusty sheets, and cobwebs hung in the corners like silent specters. A shiver raced down his spine, and he felt the sensation of being watched intensify.

A gust of wind blew through the room, extinguishing the candle. Darkness enveloped him, broken only by the dim moonlight filtering through a cracked window. He strained his ears, listening for any sign of movement.

A low growl echoed through the room, followed by the guttural scrape of claws against the wood. Ed's heart thundered as he turned toward the source of the sound. Emerging from the shadows, the monster revealed itself – a grotesque, nightmarish creature with eyes that glowed like embers and claws that gleamed in the moonlight.

Adrenaline surged through Ed's veins as he backed away, his eyes never leaving the creature's form. The monster's lips peeled back in a feral snarl, revealing rows of sharp, gleaming teeth. With a guttural roar, it lunged at him, its claws slashing through the air.

His instincts kicked in, and he bolted through the mansion, his heart racing as he navigated the labyrinthine corridors. The monster's snarls and heavy footsteps echoed behind him, a relentless pursuit that seemed to close in with every step.

His breath came in ragged gasps as he rounded corners, his boots skidding on the dust-covered floors. Shadows seemed to reach out, threatening to ensnare him in their grasp. His mind raced as he tried to remember the layout of the mansion, to find a way to escape the creature's clutches.

He burst into a room, his eyes widening as he took in the scene. A grand ballroom lay before him, its chandeliers hanging like ominous sentinels. Broken mirrors lined the walls, reflecting his frantic expression back at him from every angle.

The monster's snarls grew closer, its heavy breathing a chilling reminder of the danger that pursued him. Adrenaline surged through Ed's veins as he scanned the room for a way out. His gaze landed on a shattered window, moonlight filtering through the shattered glass.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

With a burst of speed, he dashed toward the window, his fingers fumbling with the latch. Just as he managed to wrench it open, a deafening roar echoed through the room, and he felt a searing pain as the monster's claws grazed his side.

Ignoring the pain, Ed lunged out of the window, crashing onto the ground outside.

The impact jarred his body, but he scrambled to his feet, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. He cast a glance back at the mansion, heart pounding as he saw the monster's twisted form at the shattered window, its eyes fixed on him with unrelenting malice.

"You cannot escape," the voice taunted, its words like icy tendrils that coiled around his thoughts. "This is your fate, a nightmare from which there is no waking."

Ed's muscles tensed as he tried to block out the voice, to focus on his surroundings. His eyes darted around, searching for any sign of escape. But the mansion's foreboding presence still surrounded him, suffocating him in its grip.

His heart sank as the darkness seemed to close in, and then, as if conjured by his own fears, a figure materialized before him. It was Cael Bluewater, his once-best friend. His heart twisted with a mix of emotions – bitterness, envy, and a deep-seated longing for what could have been.

"You couldn't keep up, Ed," Cael's voice cut through the air. "Adventurers need to be strong, quick-witted, and fearless. You just didn't have what it takes."

The bitterness that had festered within Ed for years surged to the surface. Anger burned in his chest, the memory of his dashed dreams fueling a desire for vindication. But as much as he wanted to prove himself, the weight of his past weighed him down.

The punch was sudden and brutal,

Cael's form blurred before his eyes, appearing in front of him and dealing the blow. Ed's breath came in ragged gasps as he clutched his stomach. He lunged forward, aiming a swift kick towards Ed's midsection. Ed reacted instinctively, his muscles tensing as he twisted his body to the side to evade the blow. Cael's foot grazed his side, a searing jolt of pain shooting through him.

Undeterred, Ed retaliated with a quick jab, his fist aimed at Cael's chest. Cael deftly sidestepped the attack and before Ed could react, his hand shot out, fingers curling around Ed's wrist. With a twist of his body, Cael leveraged his strength, using Ed's momentum against him. Ed's balance wavered, and he stumbled forward, struggling to regain his footing.

"Cael, you've always been one step ahead, haven't you?" Ed's voice trembled with bitterness, his fists clenched at his sides. "You were always the better fighter, the better strategist, the one blessed with a seed of Eden.”

Cael delivered a swift roundhouse kick. The impact landed against Ed's side, the force of it driving him back several steps. Ed gritted his teeth, his body protesting with every movement as the pain intensified.

Summoning his resolve, Ed charged forward, aiming to deliver a powerful punch. Cael's expression remained composed as he ducked under the blow, his movements fluid and controlled. Ed's fist sailed through empty air, his body off balance as Cael's leg swept low, knocking his legs out from under him.

Ed crashed to the ground, the impact reverberating through his body. He struggled to push himself upright, his muscles protesting against the strain.

"You think you're destined for greatness, don't you?" Ed's voice cracked with emotion, his vision blurring with a mix of anger and tears. "You've always been the golden boy, Cael. The one everyone admires, the one who always comes out on top."

His tears stained the ground, his fist pounding the dirt. "No matter how hard I try, I can never escape this, can I?" Ed's voice quivered

"Ah, Ed, always the one lagging behind," the false Cael's voice dripped with condescension, his words like venomous arrows. "No matter how hard you try, you'll always be in my shadow."

Ed's fists clenched, his knuckles turning white as the taunts pierced through his defenses.

"You thought you could measure up to me? To be a true adventurer?" the false Cael continued, his voice dripping with mockery. "You're nothing but a disappointment, Ed."

"You're weak, Ed. Always have been, always will be," the false Cael's voice was a relentless barrage, each word designed to chip away at Ed's self-worth. "You can't even protect those you care about. Look at Alexia, in danger because of you."

His head snapped up at the mention of his companions' name. “In danger, what are you talking about” Ed shouted his voice now laced with anger.

“Oops seems like I said too much” the fake Cael giggled tauntingly. “She’s currently fighting my partner, such a shame that she wouldn’t listen”

Ed lunged forward aiming a swift punch toward the false Cael's chest, his knuckles connecting with solid impact. The monster stumbled back, his taunts momentarily silenced by the force of the blow.

"I may not be perfect, but I won't let you define me and I certainly won’t let you hurt my friend”.

He had only known her for a short time but he felt indebted to her and considered her a friend. With every ounce of strength, Ed's fists connected with the false Cael's form, blow after blow. The malicious illusion faltered, its image wavering like a mirage.

"You're nothing but a trick of the mind," Ed's voice was steady as he went into a fighting pose "I won't let you manipulate me."

Meanwhile in the real world

"Ed, please wake up," Alexia's voice was gentle yet urgent as she shook him gently. Wounds were appearing on his body inexplicably. A bruise to the chest, a cut on his face, bites on his neck, it was too perplexing.

She knew she couldn't help him from whatever this was alone. She glanced towards the forest, her thoughts racing. If there was anyone or anything that could aid her in freeing Ed from the clutches of the dream, it was hidden within the enigmatic woods.

Leaving Ed's side tasking Ember with guarding him, Alexia moved towards the forest's edge, the moonlight guiding her way. Her search led her to a clearing, a space where moonlight pooled like liquid silver. There she saw two individuals. The first, a man who lay in a deep slumber, his form seemingly peaceful. The second a women with serpentine-like features and two curved blades like sickles.

Before Alexia could react, the voice of the serpentine woman pierced the silence. "Ah, Princess welcome, my name is Reeva."

With her hand instinctively moving to her side, Alexia's magic stirred within her. But the snake-like woman's hiss of a voice cut through the air, stopping her in her tracks.

"No need for violence," the woman's words slithered like a venomous whisper. "We're not here to hurt you, at least not yet."

Alexia's gaze flickered between the two figures, her heart pounding. "Who are you?"

Reeva’s lips curled into a chilling smile, eyes locking onto hers. "We're bounty hunters, my dear. Sent to retrieve you."

"Retrieve me? Why?"

The snake-like woman's laughter was a sinister hiss. "The king of Felucia has sent out a bounty for anybody who retrieves his daughter and besides It's not only you we're after, princess. It's him," she gestured towards the direction where Ed is.

Alexia's eyes narrowed, "You want to take Ed."

"Kill him, to be precise," the woman's tone was matter-of-fact

The venom of their intentions sent a surge of anger coursing through Alexia's veins. "Over my dead body."

With those words, her hand ignited with magic, a shimmering blaze illuminating the clearing. Reeva’s form slithered forward, her movements sinuous and predatory. Her blades cut through the ball of fire thrown at her.

“We were too late in rescuing the princess but we managed to kill the kidnapper, That’s a believable lie isn’t it” she said as her sickles continuously cuts through everything thrown at her.

Alexia stumbled back, her back was now on a tree. The bounty hunter slithered closer to her, yellow eyes glowing in the dark. She tried to throw one last fireball but couldn’t. They were so close Alexia could see her face filled with malice and bloodlust.

A glint of steel was the last thing she saw