Survival

"Huff, huff."

My breaths came in ragged gasps as I sprinted down the seemingly endless corridors, my heart pounding like a war drum in my chest.

"Damn it!"

I screamed in frustration, my voice bouncing off the cold, unfeeling stone walls. The only thing keeping me going was the thought of my little brothers, Rennie and Reggie. My feet felt like they could give out any moment, barely keeping me upright as I pushed forward.

"My heart is going to burst at this rate," I muttered hoarsely, each word strained from the relentless running.

"Help! Help! For the love of God, if there is one, help me, you bastard!"

My throat burned from the constant screaming, desperation driving me to hope that someone, anyone, might hear me in this godforsaken castle. Every breath felt like fire in my lungs. My frantic screams, instead of summoning help, only seemed to draw the monsters closer. Their rapid approach was a macabre symphony to the melody of my terror.

"How could I be so stupid, screaming like a madman, praying to a god that probably doesn't exist, only to lead these monsters right to me."

Whispering to myself wasn't going to save me. I needed a plan to escape these abominations. These thoughts raced through my mind as I darted around a corner, pressing my back against the cold stone in a futile attempt to catch my breath and think clearly.

"For god's sake, these hallways never end. And they said this was a fifth-class mission," I muttered, hiding behind a pillar. As the adrenaline began to fade, my mind cleared, and I remembered how I ended up here.

Two weeks had passed since I entered this rift. I was told it was the lowest difficulty, an easy job to make some quick money. I needed to feed my twin brothers. The promise of ten silver for a week-long mission had seemed like a lifeline. I took out some leftover meat, tested earlier to see if it attracted the creatures, and started making a trail of blood and meat pieces around the pillars, leading back the way I came. Basic Rift Walker knowledge: always be prepared and think clearly.

With a moment's respite, I sprinted towards the door. The sound of my footsteps echoed loudly, but I didn't dare look back at the dark, terrifying creatures. I always hated the darkness, the unknown lurking within it. But deep inside, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was somehow connected to this castle.

Clack!

The door's loud sound echoed through the hallway. I heard the creatures, their grotesque forms dragging feet, stampeding towards the door I had just opened. My pupils dilated, my heart raced.

"Come on, close up, god damn it!"

My shouts bounced off the castle walls, drawing more of those disgusting lumps of darkness, spilling flesh and insects with each step. Fear gripped me as they approached at an alarming speed.

"Damn you!"

The only thought in my fogged mind was to close the door.

Clack!

The door finally shut. I gasped for air, my lungs burning as if I had been drowning.

"Argh."

I groaned, clutching my throbbing right arm. My mind was blank, but the thought of my brothers kept me tethered to reality. I took this mission for the money, needing to feed them. Ten silver for a week-long mission. I knew it was a rip-off, but as an unlicensed Rift Traveler, I had no choice. I couldn't afford a proper license, not when I needed to feed my brothers.

Life wasn't kind to us. It forced me to kill my own parents, irredeemable pieces of human waste. I had lost faith in humanity, seeing everyone as selfish bastards. My pride didn't matter as long as I could provide for my brothers.

I had tried to get them into Xenovia Academy, making connections through fake smiles and favors, but the nobles laughed me off. Something wasn't right. The pain snapped me out of my melancholic thoughts. I realized something was inducing these negative feelings.

"Click!"

I let go of the handle as the door started to dissipate. The room's structure shifted, revealing a single ornamented chair illuminated by dim moonlight.

"Welcome, you poor soul."

A woman's voice came from the throne. An elegant figure sat there, her presence filling me with both fear and an eerie sense of familiarity.

"Come closer, don't be afraid of this old one."

Her voice sent shivers down my spine. I had no choice but to approach. My feet moved on their own, echoing loudly as I neared the dark figure.

"Do not fret; I am not here to bring your demise," she said in a distinct, low voice. "I find it amusing that you don't recognize me anymore…"

Her words trailed off, the last part inaudible. She felt familiar, yet distant. Even though I couldn't see her face, I knew her beauty and grace were unmatched. I was so shocked that I couldn't speak, my mouth opening but no words coming out.

"It seems you cannot speak for yourself yet. I thought you were ready for the Trial of the Castle," she said, her voice echoing in the darkness. "Fret not, O son of the night. You will soon know that I am the only one you can trust."

Her softer tone made me forget who I was and what I had been doing. The situation blurred my memory as I walked through the dark corridors. The windows provided the only light, a glimmer of hope that there was a way out.

The rift gate was just outside the castle, surrounded by water and giant rocks. The scene was like something out of a book. The woman's words made me question if I was dreaming, but the pain was too real.

If this had been a fifth-class rift, I would have finished and gone home to my brothers, buying them a good meal as I promised. Everything seemed normal until I entered the rift. No distortions, no commotion, no problems syncing with reality. Rifts were gaps in reality; the higher the rank, the more connected to the real world they were. Getting hurt in a low-rank rift meant you'd heal once you left, but the pain and emotions remained.

"Now that my time has come, it is appropriate to let you go through with this," the lady in black armor said calmly.

Her words confused me more as a door appeared behind the throne, her figure dissipating into thin air. I gathered my thoughts and stepped closer to the door. As I passed through, I heard her familiar voice whisper behind me.

"Try not to lose yourself, O son of the night."

Her words hung in the air as I stepped into the unknown, the promise of an explanation and a resolution driving me forward, even as fear gnawed at the edges of my consciousness. The door closed behind me with a final, echoing click, sealing my fate.