Chapter 8

Adrenaline flooded Viktor's veins as Dream's warning pierced through his thoughts. He spun around, expecting the worst, but the corridor remained still, the walls plastered with the eerie, silent stare of the crossed-out eyes. The air grew thick with tension, the very fabric of the room seemingly stretching as he waited for the inevitable assault.

The red mist surged from his own body, wrapping around him like a living, malevolent cloak. It burned his eyes and filled his lungs with a scent of burning metal and sulfer. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat a thunderclap echoing through the hallway.

"Dodge!" Dream's voice was a desperate shout in his mind, cutting through the panic.

Viktor reacted on instinct, throwing himself to the side as the walls around him suddenly twisted and contorted. Immediatly after, he sensed a burning sensation on his back, as the spot where he was just standing at, was torn apart by invisible claws. He stumbled to his feet, his heart racing, his eyes scanning the room for any sign of the attacker.

"You're still in an illusion!" Dream's voice echoed in his mind, a mix of urgency and frustration. "Use the Dream Codex to break out of it!"

Viktor gritted his teeth, trying to focus through the pain. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, willing the green light of the Dream Codex to emerge from within him. The red mist grew thicker in defiance, but he pushed through, feeling the warmth spread through his veins. He opened his eyes again, and this time, the world around him shifted slightly. The walls grew less distorted, the crossed-out eyes becoming less pronounced.

The air grew lighter, and the pressure lifted from his chest. He stumbled forward, his eyes scanning the room for any sign of the creature that had attacked him. "What was that?" he panted, turning to the empty space where Dream should have been.

"That's a manifested illusion nightmare! It must come from someone who was afraid of dying under an illusion!" Dream's voice was urgent in his head, as the red mist grew denser. "You're still under the illusion. Be careful, it's trying to keep you trapped!"

Viktor's heart hammered in his chest as he sprinted down the corridor, the red mist swirling around him like a tornado of malevolent intent. The walls began to close in, the crossed-out eyes morphing into snarling maws, reaching for him with twisted, metallic limbs. His breath came in ragged gasps as he felt the claws of fear dig into his very soul.

Dream's panic was palpable in his mind. 'Why did you stop channeling! Focus on the breakout out! Don't stop! Keep going!' Viktor stumbled through the corridor, the walls now closing in on him. He could feel the very air thicken with the nightmare's presence, the heat from the red mist burning his skin.

With a roar of desperation, he forced the green light of the Dream Codex to surge forth from within him. It collided with the red mist, sending shockwaves through the illusion. The walls retreated, the air grew cooler, and the pressure on his chest lifted. The nightmare's screeching grew louder, a high-pitched sound that pierced his eardrums.

Blood trickled from his nose, and he could feel warm liquid seep into his ears. He gritted his teeth, pushing forward. Dream's voice grew fainter in his mind, but the encouragement remained, spurring him on. "You're doing it, Viktor! Keep pushing!"

The green light grew brighter, the walls of the corridor warping and distorting as the two Codexes clashed. The floor beneath him trembled, and the air crackled with energy. He could feel the illusion's grip on him weakening, but the effort was taking its toll. The pain grew unbearable, and the world around him spun into a whirlwind of light and shadow.

Through the chaos, a new form emerged. A tentacle-like vine, studded with jagged, gleaming claws, swirled through the air like a snake searching for prey. It shot towards him, and without hesitation, he threw himself into the ground, the claws narrowly missing his face. The impact knocked the wind out of him, but the pain was a distant echo compared to the battle raging in his mind.

"Dammit! Give me control!" Dream's voice grew louder in his head, almost a scream. "You're going to get yourself killed!"

Viktor's mind was a tumult of fear and confusion, but he knew he had to trust the being that was both a part of him and a stranger. He nodded, and he immediately felt falling into the backseat in his mind, his body went slack as the power of the Nightmare Codex began to be channeled through him. The world around him shifted again, and he watched as his hand, no longer his own, pointed at the vine with the unfurling claws. The green light of the Dream Codex blazed forth, all the while darker, crimson red arcs of lightning began to manifest around him.

"Allow me," Dream said with a sinister chuckle then snapped his finger. Viktor felt a cold shiver run down his subconscious spine. And with that, he felt his body jerk to life, moving with a grace and confidence that wasn't his own. The world around him took on a sharp, vivid quality as the nightmare codex activated, a surge of power that made his veins feel like they were on fire. But the control wasn't his. It was Dream's.

The shadows around them began to convulse and converge at a point next to Viktor's body. The air grew cold and thick, like a fog rolling in off a frozen lake. His eyes widened as the figure of a man, dressed in ancient garb, complete with a monocle, stepped out of the dark matter made up of shadows. The figure looked at him with a sneer, before turning to the vines that had been attacking them.

With a dramatic flair, the man took a step forward, the sound of his polished shoes echoing through the corridor. His hands twitched slightly, and the claws of the vines retracted, retreating back into the walls as if in fear. "Whats wrong?," the Dream said from behind, his voice a blend of amusement and menace. "I thought all nightmares were supposed to be fearless. Or do you need him to show you how it's done?"

Viktor watched as the figure grew closer to the vines, his movements calculated and precise. The man's monocle glinted in the dim light, reflecting the green glow of the Dream Codex. The vines quivered, their movements erratic as the red mist swirled around him. "You know, I do enjoy a good show," Dream's voice was a smug as it echoed in the corridor.

The man's hand flashed out, snatching a vine mid-strike. With a flick of his wrist, he sent it flying back into the wall, the force of the impact sending a spray of plaster and dust into the air. The vines retreated, hissing and spitting, their movements frantic as the man approached them. Lazily, the figure pulled out a gleaming pocket watch from his vest, the chain jingling softly with the movement.

Viktor's eyes followed the man's hand as he opened the watch with a flick of his thumb. Inside, instead of the usual gears and hands, there was a swirling vortex of shadows, and what seemed to be souls trying to escape. The man's eyes glinted with a malicious delight as he held the watch before the vines. "Tick tock," he murmured, his voice echoing through the corridor.

The vines lunged again, but this time, they moved with a newfound ferocity, as if driven by the very essence of fear itself. Yet, the man didn't flinch. He stepped aside, letting the attack pass through him like a ghost. The red mist grew more frantic, the vines' movements becoming erratic as the crimson sparks of lightning from the Nightmare codex grew brighter. The man's eyes never left the watch, his gaze bored and unfocused.

Viktor watched in amazement as the figure clicked the button on the stopwatch with a dramatic flourish. The vines froze in mid-air, the crimson sparks of the Nightmare Codex dissipating like mist in the sun. Time itself seemed to hold its breath as the man's eyes narrowed, focusing on the plant-like creatures that had been stalking them. "Tick," he repeated, the words echoing through the corridor.

The shadows around them grew more substantial, coalescing into thick tendrils that reached out for the vines. The vines thrashed and writhed, desperately trying to escape the inky embrace, but it was futile. The shadows enveloped them, drawing them into the pocket watch with a sickening sound of tearing flesh and wood. The man's smile grew wider, the monocle reflecting the fading red light of the mist.

With a click of the stopwatch, the crimson sparks vanished entirely, and the corridor grew quiet once more. The shadows retreated, leaving behind only the stark, cold light of the Dream Codex. The man closed the watch with a snap and tucked it back into his vest pocket. "Tock," he said again, turning to face the spot where Viktor stood.

Viktor's eyes widened as he saw that the man was fading away, becoming less substantial. The monocle, the hat, the very fabric of his being grew translucent. The smile on the man's face morphed into a snarl, his eyes burning with a fiery intensity before he disappeared entirely.

The world around him grew solid again, the walls of the corridor no longer pulsing with malicious intent. The red arc and green light of the Codex's receded, leaving him panting and disoriented. Dream sighed in his mind, the sound echoing like a distant storm. "You're in control again," he said, sounding tired.

Viktor's knees buckled, and he leaned against the cold, unyielding wall. His head was spinning, the aftermath of the power struggle leaving him weak and dizzy. He opened his eyes to see the corridor as it truly was: a desolate, abandoned space with no sign of the nightmarish creatures that had just attacked him. The fear was still there, but slowly faded into a memory as he forced himself to calm down.

'I won't be doing that again any time soon,' Dream murmured in his head, the words sounding exhausted. 'You're not ready for the full extent of the Nightmare Codex. You were not even prepared to pay the price for summoning your own nightmare.'

"What price?" Viktor panted, his voice echoing in the empty corridor. The taste of copper filled his mouth, and his vision swam with after-images of the crimson lightning.

'Ah, the price,' Dream's voice was a low, as he answered with a chuckle in his mind. 'That's the beauty of it, Viktor. You'll find out when you need to pay it. But for now, let's focus on the task at hand. Looting, my dear Codec. Lets find something useful in this place.'

Viktor took a deep breath, pushing himself off the wall. His legs felt like jelly, but he forced them to carry him forward. The silence of the laboratory was eerie, the only sound his own ragged breathing and the distant drip of water. He walked through the corridor, the air thick with the scent of ozone and decay. The walls were scarred, as if something had been trying to break out. The only light came from the green glow of the Dream Codex that he hadn't realized was still emanating from his hand.

"Why am I glowing?" He asked aloud, looking down at his hand. The light was faint but unmistakable, casting elongated shadows on the floor.

'The light? Ah' Dream answered back with a knowing chuckle. 'It's a byproduct of your connection to the Dream Codex. After you've been in a heightened emotional state or when you've focused on your power, your subconscious projects outward the remnants. It's all common sense and simple theory, quite literally.'

Viktor paused mid step. Sensing his confusion, Dream sighed before trying another way. 'You overuse Codex. Have left over energy in your body. Body releases it like steam, or sweat. Your eyes also have more energy left over. Eyes detect energy release.' 

"Ah..."