Prologue

Run!

That was the only thing I could think at that moment.

But no matter how much I forced myself forward, it felt completely useless.

My entire body felt as if it was going to fall apart with each pound of my feet against the stone floor. My lungs burned with each breath I struggled to take.

No matter how many doors I crashed through, I couldn’t find any resemblance of an escape from this literal hellhole.

I briefly looked over my shoulder and stared deep into my death approaching fast on my heels.

In a desperate attempt to live even a second longer, I strained my body beyond its limit and sped up further.

But that was all in vain, as somehow I found myself airborne. I had stumbled over something. Whether it was a loose stone or my own feet didn’t matter now, as I came crashing to the ground in the least graceful way I ever have in my life.

“Hahahaha!”

That laugh sounded too close for me to wallow in self pity. I sputtered to get to my feet, but instead, I just clawed my way forward in a crawl.

Wham!

I wasn’t paying attention to what was in front of me and crashed face first into a wall. I fell to my back and looked for an exit, but no luck.

“Dead end! Hahahaha!”

Though all of the fire before me, my blood flowed like ice in my veins. Standing before me was a literal reaper cloaked in crimson red.

Raising a hand engulfed in flames towards me, she spoke with a boastful power behind it.

“Prepare for perpetual torture for your crimes against me.”

Out of desperation, I raised my arms up to cover my face. I regret even thinking I could survive just being here, let alone slaying this beast.

I just want to go back...