Dreams, in scientific terms, are simply brain activity during sleep.
Almost everyone dreams.
However, the frequency and vividness of dreams vary from person to person. Some people dream every few days, others only once in a long while... But the one thing they all have in common is that when they wake up, those dreams are usually forgotten quickly.
But **Evan Walker** is different.
He dreams **every single night**, and he remembers **every** dream **clearly**. Not only that, but he can sense that—within those dreams—**something is calling to him**…
It's a gentle, feminine voice.
### Something Has Changed
Recently, Evan's dreams have changed again.
In the past, his dreams were always grounded in reality—familiar people, familiar places, fragments of daily life and memories.
But now? Everything has become strange.
He finds himself in a deep, otherworldly forest, filled with beasts and flora no one has ever seen.
Even stranger, the dreams seem to be connected.
There is a **sequence** to them.
And in that mysterious forest, the voice calling to him only grows louder.
Evan begins searching for the source of the call. He feels like his dreams are unlike anyone else's—**perhaps because of this voice**.
But finding the source isn't easy. In fact, it's dangerously hard.
The entire forest seems to resist him—**hostile** plants and **unnatural** beasts all try to stop him.
Evan dies, over and over.
But each death teaches him something.
Through experience and sheer determination, Evan eventually discovers a massive, **castle-like mansion** deep within the forest.
### The Castle
The castle is even more dangerous than the forest.
Deadly traps appear at every turn. Deceptively beautiful—but horrifying—objects lie in wait. Once, Evan enters a lavish room and sees a lifelike doll, more stunning than any woman he's seen in real life. She sits perfectly still... too perfect.
But when Evan approaches to inspect her...
Her eyes open—**blood-red**, oozing crimson tears.
The doll lets out a strangled, demonic scream and begins to move.
Evan dies. **Many times**.
But as the saying goes: *Failure is the mother of success.*
Eventually, Evan discovers a secret passage hidden in a wall.
It leads to an underground labyrinth beneath the castle.
### The Truth Calls
He doesn't know how many dreams, how many deaths, or how much time has passed.
But finally, Evan comes face to face with the **creature that's been calling him**.
> "Welcome to the Land of Nightmares, human. I am the Nightmare Lord."
In front of Evan stands a massive, **indescribable** being.
Its body isn't solid—just shifting black mist.
It has no recognizable limbs, but Evan makes out a curved, crescent-like shape—perhaps its eyes and mouth—glowing faintly within the fog.
Previously, Evan might've been terrified.
Now? After all he's been through, he remains calm.
> "You're the one who's been calling me… Nightmare Lord?"
The Nightmare Lord seems genuinely surprised by Evan's composure. The surrounding black mist twists as it laughs menacingly.
> "Yes. You have many questions. But there's little time left."
> "Time? What do you mean?"
> "Time is limited. So now… become part of the Nightmare!"
Suddenly, the Nightmare Lord charges at him.
Evan tries to dodge*,* but an unseen force holds him in place. Paralyzed, he can do nothing as the swirling black mist engulfs him.
It seeps into his body.
His limbs begin melting away.
Oddly, there's no pain. Only a numb sensation—as if his consciousness is slowly fading. As if he is about to fall into a sleep he'll never wake from...
> *Am I going to die?*
He's died many times in dreams before... But this time, something feels different.
It feels *real*.
### Collapse
As the Nightmare Lord consumes Evan, the dream world begins to fall apart.
Everything starts to fracture and fade.
Soon, darkness consumes it all.
Evan's body has nearly vanished—only his head remains.
He's seconds away from disappearing completely when, suddenly...
A **crack of light** appears.
Just like shattered glass.
Then more cracks form, expanding fast.
> "This isn't…"
The cracks grow wider. One massive fracture forms across the Nightmare Lord's body.
From it, a powerful suction erupts, pulling the black mist inward.
The Nightmare Lord thrashes violently, but it's futile.
**He's being pulled in.**
*To be continued...*