"Where am I?" she pondered, her mind swirling in confusion. As she kept her eyes shut, she felt a strange sensation, like tiny worms wriggling across her face. The only thing that echoed in the depths of her memory was the feeling of slipping away into a vast nothingness. Desperately, she tried to open her eyes, but they remained stubbornly shut. Breathing was challenging, and her surroundings felt enveloped in a warm, jelly-like substance. Determined, she used her hands to claw away whatever was clinging to her face. Finally, she managed to pry her eyes open, and what she saw left her breathless…
The walls enclosing her were smooth and round, pure white, almost resembling the inside of a gigantic egg. She glanced around, feeling disoriented, and noticed that her once blonde hair had transformed into a striking crimson red. Panic surged through her as she instinctively thumped against the wall. With a surprising burst of strength, she kicked out, breaking free from her confinement, and tumbled to the ground.
As she landed, a chilling rush of cold air enveloped her, and she felt the unmistakable crispness of falling snowflakes landing on her skin. Startled, she looked back to see that her fall had originated from a towering tree, one that had an uncanny resemblance to a womb, its trunk swelling like an egg. How long had she been trapped up there? The uncertainty chewed at her, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was radically different about her. As she struggled to rise, she discovered that her legs felt unsteady, as if they were new and unfamiliar to her. With a mix of desperation and determination, she abandoned the idea of standing and opted to crawl instead.
Her thirst became unbearable as she crawled through the snow, drawn by the sound of a babbling stream. It called to her like a siren's song, and she pressed on, completely naked in the cold air. Upon reaching the water, she drank greedily, quenching her parched throat. When she caught sight of her reflection in the shimmering water, she gasped in shock. The face staring back at her was unrecognizable a stunning visage with delicate skin, crimson red hair, and piercing blue eyes. Gone was the old 45-year-old Jean; she had been transformed into a captivating 26-year-old beauty. But the moment of awe quickly turned to horror as memories from that night rushed back, flooding her mind with vivid fragments of terror featuring the Entity. In an instant, she recalled the weight of life she had been carrying within her-how that darkness must have manipulated her form as a means of protection.
With a renewed sense of urgency, she attempted to stand, her legs still growing accustomed to this newfound body. Weakness overcame her as her stomach grumbled, protesting its emptiness. The gnawing hunger made her feel ravenous. Slowly, she began to navigate through the unfamiliar landscape, struggling to get herself as the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the ground. Hours seemed to drift by, and still she was left vulnerable, shivering in the night without a stitch of clothing.
Amid her loneliness, she heard distant sounds that sparked a glimmer of hope. The rhythmic drumming and sweet pipe melodies filled the cold air... As she approached, the sounds became clearer, leading her to a Dark castle with towering walls radiating excitement and music.
With urgency, she pounded on the gates, calling out, "Help! My name is Jean, and I need assistance! Please, let me in!" Her gaze fell upon the imposing skeletal figures framing the entrance: a fierce bear, a noble lion, and a majestic griffin. A shiver ran down her spine; she realized a hunter resided within. Little did she know, her strange journey was just beginning, setting the stage for the bizarre events ahead…
The giant castle door opened slowly, revealing a man with a pale face. "Good evening," he said in an accent that sounded funny. "How may I be of help, madam?" Not minding her naked body, his facial expression was lacking emotion as he just stared at her.
"I'm Jean," she stammered. Please spare a coat and a warm bed for me to stay for the night. I beg thee, I'll be on my way the next day. I have nothing on me… I'm just a traveler; I was robbed of everything," she lied.
The man silently gestured toward the inside. As she walked past him, she reassured herself, "What's the worst that could happen?" Once the door shut behind her, he trailed after her, stopping at a door in a narrow hallway. "This is it," he said. "There are clothes, water, food, everything you need is in here. Don't come out until dawn. The master is having a ball and unwanted guests are not allowed unless you want to be it," the tall, pale man warned. As she pushed the door open slowly, she was taken aback to see that it seemed like they had been waiting for her. The space was filled with everything she could possibly wish for—clothes that not only fit her like a glove but also matched her style perfectly. Little did she know, she had entered a magical room. Each time someone opens the door, the room transforms itself to cater to that person's preferences, from the clothing and furniture to the food.
Dum dum dum. The castle throbbed with the lively sounds of a party, the rhythmic beat echoing through the halls. Meanwhile, Sha was in her room, freshly bathed and looking radiant, almost like a character straight out of a fairy tale. Curiosity stirred within her; she couldn't help but wonder what was happening upstairs. What did that cold man mean when he said, "Unless you will be it"? Perhaps he was just the butler.
Dressed and determined, she moved to open the door, eager to satisfy her curiosity and uncover the mystery. However, it wouldn't budge.
Locked. But she remembered her childhood days of picking locks, a talent she honed during her mischievous days before meeting Ashura. With a bit of effort, she managed to unlock the door. As she stepped into the hallway, she began to creep forward, hearing screams coming from one of the rooms.
When she tried the door, it surprisingly opened, revealing a horrifying sight. Spiders were crawling all over a woman's body, invading her eyes, mouth, and ears. Sha slammed the door shut, desperate to keep the creatures from escaping as they covered the room like a thick layer of dust.
Next, she heard laughter coming from another room. Curiosity compelled her to peek inside, and she found a man soaking in a milky bath, clearly having the time of his life as he sipped on something. She quickly closed the door and moved on to the next room.
This time, she stumbled upon a couple in a passionate embrace, completely lost in each other in a rather unholy position. Not wanting to intrude, she discreetly shut the door and headed toward the sounds coming from upstairs…