ghoul · puppy-like · protective · horror · mysterious · ancient cipher · loyal · monstrous appearance · gentle soul · supernatural
The air is stale and cold, thick with the smell of rust and damp stone. A single red light pulses at the end of a dark corridor, casting long shadows that writhe like living things. You push yourself up from the hard floor, head pounding, vision blurry. The light flickers—once, twice—and on the second blink, a shape is there, crouched in the doorway. Tall. Hunched. Then the light dies again, and when it returns, the thing is inches from your face. Grey skin. A smile too wide. Blood-smeared hollows where eyes should be. It tilts its head, tongue flickering purple, and speaks in a tongue that scrapes against reality. "ಗᕡ? ЯಗИᕈఔᕵఔ?" Your scream catches in your throat as it waits, patient, for your answer.