In the sprawling mansion that cast a foreboding shadow over the town's outskirts, nestled near the dense forest's edge, a chamber steeped in darkness lay concealed.
Within its confines, the air was heavy with tension, punctuated by the agonizing sounds that echoed off its cold, stone walls.
— Whop-eesh!
-AArrg..
The chilling reverberations of grunts and groans intertwined with the sharp crack of a whip slicing through the oppressive silence.
Standing over a girl who was held in a crucifixion in a cross, a tall, imposing figure cast a menacing silhouette against the dim light.
"This isn't enough! I can't believe Mother will let you off this easy! If Father was here..."
Gasping for air amid pained grunts, the girl's defiance seemed to evoke a sense of dark amusement.
"Aria! Bring me the gasoline and a lit torch," commanded the towering figure, sending shivers down the girl's spine.
"Cough... hah... cough..hahahaha"
Amidst fits of coughing, a twisted laughter escaped the girl's lips, defying the gravity of her predicament.
"You're laughing?"
Disgust etched upon her features, the tall woman's voice dripped with contempt as she confronted the girl's apparent recklessness.
"After putting our entire family in danger!"
— Whop-eesh!
— Crack!
"Aaaah...cough..hahahaha.."
Despite the imminent threat of danger, the girl's laughter persisted, drawing a mixture of anger and frustration from her captor.
"Have you gone mad? Do you truly seek death?" the woman's voice seethed with fury as she doused the girl's naked body with gasoline.
Bringing the torch dangerously close, she issued a chilling threat as flames danced in her eyes.
"When he comes here, I'll end him..."
"Haha, that's not possible, sister... AAaah!"
Before the girl could utter another word, the torch was hurled at her, igniting her body in a blaze of fiery torment.
* * *
— Creak
Pushing the half-opened door all the way, my senses were assailed by a putrid stench—a sickening cocktail of decaying flesh, blood, and other unidentifiable odors that turned my stomach.
Entering cautiously, I scanned the room, my gaze drawn to a humanoid figure hunched over in the darkness.
Even through my night vision goggles, its pallid skin stood out against the shadows as it gnawed and grunted, feasting on its gruesome meal.
With silent steps, I approached, my eyes fixated on the scene before me.
The victim, an elderly man, lay sprawled on the floor, his face mangled beyond recognition by savage claws.
Taking a moment to assess the situation, I gripped the knife I had retrieved earlier, its edge gleaming faintly in the dim light.
Not the sharpest blade, but it would have to do.
As I prepared to confront the creature, a sudden squeak behind me shattered the silence.
Whirling around, I glimpsed a fleeting shadow, but when I turned back, the ghoul had sensed my presence and risen to face me.
Its eyes, milky white and filled with malice, locked onto mine as it towered over me, its gruesome feast forgotten.
With a growl that chilled me to the bone, it lunged forward, claws slashing through the air.
"Damn it," I muttered under my breath, my adrenaline surging as I dodged its frenzied attacks. With lightning reflexes, I darted and weaved, narrowly avoiding its deadly strikes.
Closing the distance between us, I aimed for its head, but the ghoul anticipated my move, evading my thrust with a backward lean.
In retaliation, it unleashed a barrage of claws, each swipe a deadly threat.
With quick thinking, I seized its elongated arms, pulling it off balance and into my reach. As it lunged towards me, jaws agape, I executed a swift maneuver, twisting the knife in my grip and slicing through its gaping maw.
With a sickening crunch, the blade tore through flesh and bone, severing its upper jaws from its skull.
I watched as the creature writhed in agony, its attempts at regeneration futile as its body succumbed to the fatal blow.
I was finally victorious, as I stood over the fallen ghoul and thought to myself,
'I have grown weaker,'
I mused silently, assessing my performance in the brief yet intense encounter.
'How long did it take? 20 seconds perhaps,'
I speculated, my mind already dissecting the battle for lessons learned.
'And this one was weakened too,' I added, noting the creature's already compromised state.
With a resigned sigh, I accepted the task ahead.
"I now have to dispose of its body."
If I don't, it'll attract other ghouls.
Using a nearby cloth, I carefully lifted the ghoul's half-severed head and dragged its massive form across the room, the weight of its carcass making the task arduous.
— Slump
I placed it near a large bed, easily moving the furniture aside to reveal a hidden trapdoor beneath.
Retrieving the small key that I have hidden within a cologne bottle, I unlocked the trapdoor without hesitation, undeterred by the layers of dust and grime that coated its surface.
— Creaaaaak
The hinges protested loudly as the trapdoor swung open, revealing a ladder descending into the darkness below.
Taking a moment to assess the descent, I noted the ladder's sturdy construction before deciding to forego the climb in favor of a swift jump.
— Thump!
Descending into the storage room, I found myself shrouded in an eerie green glow, courtesy of my trusty night vision goggles.
Despite the layer of dust and neglect that coated every surface, the room retained a semblance of order.
'Well I used it as a hideout after all and no one found out so,' I shrugged.
Swiftly scanning the area, my eyes alighted on a large wall safe concealed behind a towering cabinet.
With practiced efficiency, I inputted the combination lock, the tumblers clicking into place with a satisfying sound.
After a tense moment, the safe clicked open, revealing its contents to my eager gaze.