(Chapter 89 Nightmare II)
Nahida's voice echoed urgently in Tempest's mind, though it was distorted, warped by the nightmare realm he was trapped in. Still, her message was clear, he must not let that thing, the twisted form of his Father, catch him.
Every instinct in Tempest's body screamed at him to flee, his pulse quickening as he faced the terror rushing toward him. The voice of Nahida served as a lifeline in the madness, guiding him through the haze of fear, and telling him to survive.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck!"
Tempest cursed under his breath as he sprinted for his life, racing toward the thirty-first door. Panic surged through him as he felt the presence of the monstrosity behind him, the twisted form of his father growing nearer with every second.
Pink eyes began to pop out of the walls around him, watching his every move as if the woman was toying with him, enjoying his torment. Her voice echoed through the hall, sickly sweet and mocking.
"Come now, don't you want to reconcile with your dear Father~?"
As Tempest barreled through room after room, the relentless footsteps of the twisted form behind him never faltered, closing in with each passing second. The weight of his fear was suffocating, but a flicker of hope remained, Nahida's voice, though distorted, still guided him.
Each time he reached a crossroads, the correct door glowed faintly with a green light, her presence nudging him forward, keeping him on the right path. With every door he burst through, the creature's pursuit continued, its monstrous footsteps echoing closer and closer. Tempest ran with everything he had, heart pounding, desperation fueling his every step.
"I'll kill you! I'll kill you! I'll kill you, Tempest!!!"
The twisted, nightmarish form of his Father bellowed, the words reverberating through the halls like a curse. His voice was a guttural snarl, filled with rage and hatred, echoing off the walls with every step. The sound of his pursuit was relentless, his distorted figure gaining speed as he tore after Tempest, his shrieks becoming more violent with each passing moment.
"Fuck off!"
Tempest yelled, his voice echoing with defiance as he sprinted forward, desperation and fury fueling each step. As he burst through the thirty-fifth door, a wave of intense heat slammed into him. The room was ablaze, flames licking the walls and ceiling, turning everything into a hellish inferno. Twisted, grotesque arms stretched out from the windows, gnarled fingers clawing at the air, trying to snatch him.
Tempest dodged and weaved, narrowly avoiding their grasp, his breath ragged as the fire's scorching heat singed the edges of his clothes. But he didn't stop. He couldn't stop.
"Thirty-six!"
Tempest yelled as he slammed through the thirty-sixth door. The scene was no different, the room was engulfed in flames, heat radiating off the walls, and the same grotesque, twisted arms snaked their way from the windows, stretching even further into the hallway, clawing desperately at him. His breath quickened, the fire's relentless heat pressing in on him from every side.
As he dashed forward, a flicker of movement caught his eye, on the far side, through the fiery haze, he saw her. The woman. She stood beyond the window, her figure ghostly amidst the inferno. Time seemed to slow as their eyes locked for a fleeting second. Her lips curled into a wicked smile, a knowing smirk that sent chills down his spine.
"Thirty-seven!"
Tempest shouted, bursting through the door. But as soon as he stepped inside, his heart sank, the room was pitch black, a void of nothingness that made his breath catch in his throat. His eyes widened in terror.
"No... no, no, no!"
Tempest muttered in panic, his voice trembling. He spun around, dread seeping into his bones as he saw the twisted form of his Father barreling toward him. The distorted figure was closer now, his horrifying face twisted in rage. Instinctively, Tempest threw his arms up to shield himself, bracing for the inevitable impact.
"I'LL KILL YOU!"
But just as the monstrous figure was about to enter, the door slammed shut behind Tempest with a deafening thud. The sound echoed in the dark room, reverberating off the walls. His Father began pounding on the other side, each bang sending vibrations through the door, trying to force his way in. The pounding was relentless.
Suddenly, the room flooded with light, and Tempest stumbled back, blinking as his eyes adjusted. For a moment, silence settled over the space, the only sound the fading echoes of the pounding.
Tempest's legs gave way beneath him, collapsing onto the floor as he fought to catch his breath. He was hyperventilating, his chest tightening with each frantic gasp. Clenching his fists against his ribcage, he desperately tried to calm the tempest within him, but the shaking continued to wrack his body uncontrollably.
"Surprise~"
The playful tone of the woman echoed through the room, sending a chill down Tempest's spine.
"The fuck?!"
Tempest exclaimed, jolting upright as he spun around to face the source of the voice. To his horror, a single pink eyeball materialized on the door he had just entered, its unsettling gaze fixed intently on him. The eye seemed to pulse with a life of its own as if it were reveling in his fear, mocking him for his vulnerability.
"I must say, your fears are quite unique, sharks? Really? You should know that dolphins are far more terrifying~ Well, enjoy your time here, champion of the sun. You're halfway there, and you should feel honored. Most people meet their end right at the beginning when the lights flicker~"
Her voice dripped with mockery, each word laced with a chilling delight as she reveled in his discomfort. Tempest felt a surge of anger mixed with trepidation at her words, his resolve hardening as he prepared to face whatever horrors lay ahead.
"You fucking bitch, I'll kill you when I'm done when your damn games!"
Tempest spat, his voice filled with raw fury. His eyes blazed with determination, each word fueled by a burning desire for retribution.
"Why so serious~ Do- OUCH!"
The woman's playful tone was abruptly interrupted as Tempest's fist connected with the eye on the door. The impact sent a shockwave of pain through his knuckles, but the satisfaction of silencing her for even a moment overshadowed the sting.
"You'll regret that..."
She warned, her voice dripping with a sinister undertone before the eye slowly closed, leaving Tempest in a suffocating darkness. Moments later, the lights flickered ominously, casting erratic shadows that danced across the walls like phantoms.
'You should hide, Tempest, it's coming.'
The voice of Nahida echoed urgently in his mind.
"I know..."
Tempest replied, his voice barely above a whisper as the weight of fear settled heavily on his chest. He took a deep, steadying breath, trying to quell the rising panic that threatened to consume him. His heart raced as he scanned the dimly lit room, searching for a place to conceal himself. Spotting a nearby closet, he sprinted toward it, his pulse pounding in his ears. As he slipped inside, he pressed his back against the wall, holding his breath in the suffocating darkness, praying that the impending terror would pass him by.
Shortly after he had hidden, a horrific sound echoed through the room, growing closer with each passing moment. Tempest held his breath as the creature stalked past the closet where he was hiding, its presence oppressive and menacing. Through a crack in the door, he caught another glimpse of its pink eye, glowing eerily in the darkness. The unsettling noise finally faded, leaving an unsettling silence in its wake.
Taking a moment to steady himself, Tempest slowly emerged from the closet, his heart still racing from the encounter.
"Young Pasha."
He called out, his voice trembling slightly.
"Can you help me get out of this nightmare?"
The desperation in his tone was palpable as he searched the shadows for any sign of hope, yearning for Nahida's guidance to navigate this twisted realm and escape the horrors that surrounded him.
'I'm trying, and I'm making progress. This realm is a manifestation of your own thoughts and fears. It took me some time to breach into it, but I sensed that your mind was in trouble, and I rushed to see what was happening. Thankfully, you're still okay since I arrived.'
Tempest felt a wave of relief wash over him at her words, though the weight of his situation still pressed heavily on his chest.
'Your real body and the woman are still in your office, both of you trapped in a coma-like state. Tempest, you must endure this twisted game of hers. If one of those creatures ever catches you, your mind wi-'
"I'll be braindead..."
Tempest interrupted, a cold dread settling in the pit of his stomach as he grasped the gravity of his situation.
'Yes...'
Nahida confirmed, her voice steady but filled with concern.
'You must remain vigilant and outsmart her. This realm feeds on fear and doubt. Focus on your determination, and don't let her win. You're stronger than she thinks.'
Tempest took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her words.
"Okay, I need your help on this one, Young Pasha, please..."
Tempest said, desperation creeping into his voice.
'I am with you, Tempest. You must keep moving. I don't know what will happen if you stay in one room for too long, but I sense that something terrible is lurking just beyond your awareness. I will do everything I can to bring you back to reality, I just need more time to break through this realm. For now, you must press on, Tempest. You are stronger than you think and I believe in you.'
Tempest nodded to himself, steeling his resolve. The weight of her words hung heavily, but he knew he couldn't afford to hesitate. He had to keep pushing forward, even when fear clawed at his mind.
"Alright, then. I'll keep moving, I won't let her win. Not now, not ever."
He muttered, a flicker of determination igniting within him.
So, he pressed on, navigating through room after room with a determined focus. Each flicker of the lights sent a chill down his spine, a haunting reminder of the lurking dangers that threatened to engulf him. Whenever the lights dimmed, he instinctively sought refuge in nearby closets, holding his breath as the creature passed by.
Nahida's guidance was invaluable, she illuminated the real doors with glowing green light, steering him clear of the deceptive traps that lay in wait, including the terrifying specter of a fake Penance that threatened to stab him with a knife.
With each room he passed, Tempest confronted the embodiment of his deepest fears, from haunting shadows to grotesque figures that danced at the edges of his vision. Yet, through it all, Nahida remained a steady voice in his mind, reminding him of his strength and urging him to maintain his sanity amidst the chaos. Her presence was a lifeline, anchoring him as he navigated this twisted realm, reminding him that he wasn't alone in this fight.
"Forty-Seven..."
Tempest murmured wearily as he stepped into the forty-seventh room. A familiar sight greeted him, a massive window stretching across the wall, revealing a vast expanse of water outside. The eerie stillness of the liquid mirrored the feelings of dread swirling within him, reminding him of the thirteenth room he had passed through earlier.
"Psst, Wanna see something funny?~"
The woman's eerie voice echoed through the room, dripping with mockery.
Tempest froze as the window darkened, and out of the watery abyss, the shark from the thirteenth room returned, but this time it was far more sinister. Its once green eyes were now a glowing, malevolent red. Tempest felt his gaze being drawn to the creature, almost against his will, as though those eyes had minds of their own, forcing his attention. His breath quickened, his pulse racing as he tried to resist the overwhelming compulsion to stare into the creature's many glowing eyes.
"Go on... have a good look. It's your favorite childhood nightmare, back for an encore~"
The woman's laughter rang out, playful yet cruel.
As Tempest's gaze shifted from the shark, he caught a glimpse of the next door, forty-eight. His eyes widened in shock as he noticed an unsettling detail, embedded in the door was a large eyeball. Its pupil wasn't normal, it was a ticking timer.
Three minutes.
The realization hit him hard. He had to survive and avoid looking at the shark for three agonizing minutes. His heart raced, and his palms grew clammy as the eyeball blinked, signaling the start of the countdown.
"Three minutes... I just need to hold out for three minutes."
Tempest muttered under his breath, trying to steady his nerves. The shark outside the window circled ominously, and the woman's voice echoed in his mind, dripping with malice.
"Tick-tock, champion... Let's see how long you can last~"
The room seemed to close in on him, and Tempest knew those three minutes would feel like an eternity.
'Hold on!'
Nahida's voice echoed urgently in Tempest's mind. He felt a sudden shift, a pulse of energy coming from deep within his thoughts. Something was happening.
The eye on the forty-eighth door twitched violently, its pupil shrinking as the timer abruptly changed. Thirty seconds remained.
Tempest's heart pounded less frantically as he braced himself. Thirty seconds felt like a glimmer of hope, but in this twisted reality, it still felt like an eternity. The shark outside grew more aggressive, pounding its massive body against the glass, while the woman's laughter echoed mockingly in the background.
"Thirty seconds... I can make it."
After what felt like an eternity, the eye's countdown finally hit zero. Tempest's vision blurred, the shark's pull growing stronger with every passing second. He could barely hold on, his body fighting against the unnatural force dragging his gaze toward those eerie red eyes.
"Now!"
Tempest growled, mustering all his strength. As soon as the timer hit zero, he didn't waste a moment, he rammed through the door with all his might, desperate to escape before the shark's pull could overpower him completely. The force sent him tumbling into the next room, heart pounding in his chest.
"How did you...? Ugh, whatever~"
The woman's voice crackled through the room, tinged with a hint of surprise as if she hadn't expected the timer to end so quickly. It was clear something had disrupted her game, and she wasn't pleased.
Tempest could hear the irritation creeping into her tone, though she tried to mask it with her usual mocking sing-song voice.
"Enjoy your little victory, champion of the sun. It won't last for long~"
Her words hung in the air as Tempest slowly pushed himself to his feet, shaking off the lingering terror from the last room. He knew this wasn't over, whatever tricks she had left, he had to be ready.
"Thank you, Young Pasha..."
Tempest muttered, his voice carrying the weight of exhaustion and gratitude as he steadied himself after narrowly escaping the latest ordeal.
'You're not alone, Tempest. I'm here with you.'
Nahida's voice echoed softly in his mind, a comforting presence amidst the chaos. Her words, though simple, gave him a much-needed reminder, that no matter how deep he was in this nightmare, he wasn't facing it alone.
"Fifty..."
Tempest muttered under his breath as he approached the fiftieth door, the weight of exhaustion dragging on him. He was halfway there, but each step felt heavier as if the nightmare clung to his every movement.
"I think you might really like the surprise I have for you in the next room~"
Tempest hesitated for a moment, his heart pounding. He had come too far to be stopped by whatever trap she had laid. Gripping the doorknob tightly, he steeled himself, ready to face whatever horror awaited beyond.
"Let's see what you've got..."
He muttered, more to himself than her, as he pushed the door open.
The moment Tempest stepped into the room, his eyes widened in disbelief. The space before him was a perfect replica of Furina's office, every detail meticulously crafted, from the ornate desk to the shelves lined with books.
"No..."
He muttered, the word barely escaping his lips as the weight of recognition settled over him.
"Tempest! You're here!"
Furina exclaimed as she emerged from her room, her face radiant with a smile that seemed almost too welcoming. It was as if she had been waiting for him, her eyes sparkling with an excitement that contrasted sharply with the dread pooling in Tempest's stomach.
"My Lady...?"
Tempest replied hesitantly, a mix of confusion and concern etching his features. He slowly turned his head towards her, his heart racing. The familiar sight of her bright eyes and confident demeanor was both comforting and unsettling. He felt a deep urge to trust her. He wanted to trust her.
"Don't worry, she can't hear us from here. Please, take a seat, my good sir. You look like you need to rest for a moment. Feel free to relax and know that you're safe here with me."
Furina reassured him, her voice soothing as she stepped closer. However, unbeknownst to Tempest, her hands were clasped behind her back, fingers wrapped tightly around a glinting knife, concealed from his view.