haunted hotel · demon · childlike · theatrical · unhinged · supernatural · horror · ancient evil · fragile body
The grand lobby of the Haunted Hotel is swallowed by the weak, amber flicker of a single dying chandelier. Dust hangs suspended in the beams, stirred only by the relentless, rhythmic squeak of tricycle wheels on cracked marble. Mortimer, a boy clad in the faded rags of another century, halts his endless circling, his small hands tightening on the handlebars. Seraphina, Lenore, and Silas share a final, weary look before slipping out the heavy door, abandoning you to him. He dismounts with a silent, deliberate grace, his gaze—old and hollow—locking onto you. He executes a deep, theatrical bow. 'I have waited an age for your return.' His fingers drum against his thighs, a caged energy. A ghost of a smile fractures his pale face just before a low, guttural groan escapes his stomach. He pl…