The night blanketed the entire town, with faint moonlight piercing the mist, illuminating Nina Eichner's terrified face. Her breaths were quick and uneven as she stumbled through the deserted alleyways. Her own ragged breathing echoed in her ears, and the world around her was eerily silent, as if she were the only one left alive. Those decaying hands, those cold stares, the eerie tolling of the bell—she dared not look back and instead ran forward wildly, desperately searching for any safe place to hide.
"Ray…" she whispered his name, her heart filled with helplessness and dread. Yet his figure had long disappeared in the chaos, leaving her alone amidst endless shadows. Just then, a faint, ominous sound of footsteps emerged from behind, carrying a sickening stench. Her heartbeat quickened as she gritted her teeth, forcing herself to run even faster.
Nina stumbled into a narrow alley, the walls closing in around her, as if to trap her. She frantically searched for somewhere to hide, glancing around only to find broken windows and doors that refused to open.
"Don't stop, you can't stop…" she repeated in her mind, though her steps grew heavier as fear and exhaustion gnawed at her resolve. Suddenly, at the end of the alley, she spotted a partially open door. Without thinking, she dashed towards it, pushed it open with all her strength, and hurried inside, shutting the door firmly behind her.
It was a dimly lit room, the air thick with the smell of mold and dust. Leaning against the door, she panted heavily, listening to her own heartbeat. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.
The silence didn't last long. A faint scratching sound came from outside the door, as though something was pacing just beyond it. She held her breath, clamping her hands over her mouth, praying she wouldn't make a sound. Her mind was a chaotic mess, unable to determine if those horrific creatures had discovered her hiding place.
"They won't find me…they won't…" she prayed silently.
But then, the sound outside grew more forceful, as if someone—or something—was trying to break down the door. Each groaning plank sent a fresh wave of terror through her. Paralyzed by fear, her mind raced with images of escape, only to realize there was no way out.
The door's wood began to splinter, and a decayed, filthy hand reached through the gap, its nails scraping against the wood with a chilling sound. Nina's eyes widened as she shivered, retreating step by step until she hit the cold wall behind her. Her thoughts were scattered, and the overwhelming fear left her nearly breathless.
"No… stay away from me…" she whispered, hugging herself as tears filled her eyes.
Then, a memory surfaced—Ray's voice: "In any situation, stay calm, find the weak point, then act swiftly." His words echoed in her mind, helping her regain a little composure. Scanning the room, she finally spotted a broken metal rod on the floor.
Gripping it tightly, she took a deep breath, forcing herself to focus, her gaze hardening. As the decaying hand reached toward her, she swung the rod down hard, smashing into the grotesque limb with a sickening crunch. The hand withdrew, and the pounding outside ceased for a moment.
Taking advantage of the pause, she backed away, her eyes fixed on the door as she braced herself for whatever might come next. After a tense silence, the heavy footsteps resumed outside. Cold sweat dotted her palms as she kept her eyes on the door, not daring to relax. But as she waited, the footsteps suddenly stopped, and silence returned.
"Did it leave…?" Her heartbeat slowed, though she dared not believe she was safe. The air remained stifling, as if invisible eyes were watching her. Pressing her ear against the door, she listened, only to hear her own breathing.
Just as she started to relax, a faint noise came from the wall behind her, as if something within was tapping steadily—a harbinger of something sinister.
The tapping grew more frantic, as if something unearthly was trying to break through. Clutching the metal rod, she struggled to keep calm, though each knock felt like a countdown, tightening her nerves.
Suddenly, a brick in the wall cracked, and thick, black liquid seeped out, dripping onto the floor with a muted splatter. The liquid spread slowly, forming strange, unsettling patterns, like a malevolent sigil oozing with decay and doom.
Nina's heart pounded faster as she stared at the floor, feeling an icy dread wash over her. The bizarre symbol seemed to be pulling her into an abyss, its grotesque design a silent curse.
"This… this can't be real…" she murmured, hands shaking as she gripped the rod. Her body felt frozen, unable to move. The viscous liquid crawled along the floor in slow, deliberate patterns, merging into a sinister symbol. The stench grew thicker, suffocating.
Fighting to stay composed, she reminded herself she had to escape. No matter what, she couldn't let this darkness consume her. Taking a deep breath, she tore her gaze from the floor and looked toward the door. But as she shifted her gaze, the black liquid seemed to come to life, climbing up her ankle.
"Aah!" she cried, feeling the freezing touch snake up her leg, as if it meant to swallow her whole. She lifted her leg, trying to shake it off, only to find it clung to her skin like a living chain, impossible to dislodge.
Terror reached its peak as her rationality began to crumble. She swung the metal rod wildly at the liquid, but it refused to dissipate, winding further up her leg, tightening its icy grip. She felt her skin go numb, fear eating away at her consciousness.
Just when she was about to succumb to the fear, a steady voice came from the doorway: "Don't move."
Nina's vision focused, and through her daze, she saw a tall figure standing in the doorway, moving towards her with calm, measured steps. She stared blankly at his face, vaguely familiar, though she couldn't recall who he was.
Ethan Hess stood at the entrance, his expression calm and resolute, holding a small charm in his hand. His gaze held a deep, commanding intensity that sent a shiver through her.
He tossed the charm onto the black liquid, which emitted a faint glow as it fell. The liquid recoiled with a low, hissing sound, withdrawing from her ankle and receding into the shadows.
As the charm's light faded, the icy grip around her disappeared, as if a nightmare had lifted. Nina panted, her legs weakened by fear, almost collapsing to the floor.
Looking up, she saw the man who had saved her, his face vaguely familiar yet oddly distant. Frowning, she struggled to remember where she had seen him.
"You…?" she asked hesitantly, her voice trembling.
Ethan gave a slight nod, his tone calm yet firm. "This place isn't safe."
Clinging to his hand, she looked at him with pleading eyes, desperation and urgency evident in her voice. "Please… help me find… my friend. He's… he's here in the town too. I don't know where he is, but he must be hiding from those things too."
"Ray?" Ethan repeated, his brows furrowing slightly as he seemed to confirm the name. A flicker of unreadable emotion crossed his gaze, quickly hidden.
Nina nodded, her eyes filled with fervent hope. "Yes. Do you know him…? I don't know where he is, but he's somewhere in this town. Please help me find him… we can't leave him here alone."
Ethan observed her silently, as if weighing his options, then finally nodded. "I'll help you find him."
A sigh of relief escaped her, gratitude flashing in her eyes. But Ethan added coolly, "However, first, we need to get you to a safe place. This town is crawling with things that shouldn't exist. I can't take you with me to search for him."
She froze, her gratitude replaced by unease as she shook her head frantically. "No, I can't stay alone. I… I don't want to be here by myself." Her voice wavered, the terror from earlier still evident in her tone.
Ethan's expression remained calm, his gaze one of practiced reasoning. "It might be dangerous for you to stay here alone, but it's riskier if you come with me. If we run into them, I won't be able to protect you."
Nina bit her lip, her gaze darting between fear and hesitation, ultimately nodding reluctantly. "Then… will you come back for me?"
He nodded, his tone softening imperceptibly. "I'll return. I'll find Ray and bring him back with me."
Leading her to a more concealed room, he placed a charm at the entrance, instructing her in a low voice, "This charm will keep most things out, but remember, if you hear anything outside, stay silent. No matter what, don't open the door."
Nina nodded, trembling slightly, fear flashing in her eyes as she inhaled deeply, watching him disappear into the shadows. Alone, she was left with a mixture of terror and anticipation, her heart pounding in the suffocating silence.