Welcome to my Dream World || (deukae)

Chapter 17: The Nightmare's Lair

They landed with grunts and curses, the breath knocked from their bodies. As they scrambled to untangle themselves, the room revealed its stark, ominous nature. Stone walls, bereft of decoration, closed in around them, the emptiness itself a testament to their captor's soulless heart.

"Careful," Dami hissed, her gaze darting around the shadows. "We're not alone."

And there it was—the Nightmare, standing at the center of this clandestine chamber. It was a grotesque tapestry of terror woven into form, where flesh and vapor intertwined. Its eyes, if they could be called such, burned with a malicious intelligence, flickering like embers in the dark.

"Welcome," it cooed, a sound that twisted the very air. "I've been expecting you."

Despite the simplicity of the surroundings, the entity before them was complexity incarnate—a being of malice so profound, it seemed to distort reality itself. The air around the Nightmare undulated with power, the atmosphere heavy with the weight of unspoken threats.

"Stay strong," Handong murmured to her comrades, her voice steady even as her heart raced with the knowledge of what lay ahead.

"Strong together," Gahyeon affirmed.

The group exchanged resolute nods, their spirit unbroken despite the dire circumstances. They had ventured into the heart of darkness, but together, they would find a way to bring forth light, or perish in the attempt.

The branches, gnarled and alive with a sinister intent, clutched at the seven companions, binding them as securely as iron chains. In the dim light of the cave, their struggle was futile, the realization that they were ensnared dawning upon them like a cold dawn.

"Silence your struggles," the Nightmare commanded, its voice resonating through the cavern, a chilling symphony of despair. "You cannot escape the inevitable."

"Handong, what do we do?" Yoohyeon's voice trembled but held an undercurrent of steel.

"Stay calm," Handong replied, her eyes never leaving the form of the Nightmare. "We're going to get out of this."

As panic threatened to take root, Siyeon's breaths came sharp and quick. "It's like it knew... It knew exactly where to catch us."

"Because it did," Minji said, her voice low, laced with anger and understanding. "This was always a trap."

The Nightmare surveyed them, its flickering gaze holding a perverse glee. "A trap? No, my dear guests, consider this an invitation—to freedom, to power. Give me your fears, and I promise you will walk from here unburdened, without the chains that your own minds have forged."

"Freedom?" Bora echoed, her words edged with skepticism. "What freedom can be had from bargaining with darkness?"

"Ah, the fears you carry are heavy indeed," the Nightmare continued, ignoring the question. "Your nightmares sustain me, give me strength. But in return, I offer you release. Imagine a life free of fear, free of doubt. All you must do is surrender those fears to me."

"Never," Dami spat, defiance blazing in her eyes despite the encroaching dread. "Our fears are our own. You can't have them."

"An interesting choice," the Nightmare mused, a tendril of shadow caressing Dami's cheek mockingly. "But consider this—your fears will either feed me willingly or be ripped from you as you fall before me. The outcome is the same."

"Your promises are as hollow as your soul," Gahyeon retorted, struggling against the branches. "There's always a catch with creatures like you."

"Of course, there's a price," the Nightmare admitted, its form swelling with dark anticipation. "But isn't freedom worth any cost?"