Synopsis

...[Insideanundergroundbasement]“Youaregoingtodiefornothing,hahahaha,”theoldman'svoicethunderedthroughtheroom,sendingchillsdownmyspine.Step.Withaswiftandruthlessmotion,helungedforward,hisswordslicingthroughtheairandslashingmythroat,crimsondropletsstainingthedarkness.“We'llsee,”Iwhispereddefiantly,myfinalwordsescapingasamerebreathagainsttheimpendingdarkness.Slowly,inexorably,myconsciousnessslippedaway,andIdescendedintoadeep,unfathomableslumber.“Huh!?”Myeyesflutteredopen,andIfoundmyselfseatedinabustlingtavern,theairthickwithlaughterandtheclinkingofglasses.Infrontofmestoodacaptivatinglady,herbeautyjuxtaposedwithanangryfurrowuponherbrow,threateningtoshattertheharmonyofthejovialscene.“Don'tfollowmearound!”Herwordspiercedtheairlikeshardsofice,theintensityofheremotionspalpableasshecastaresentfulglareinmydirection,beforeswiftlydepartingfromthetavern....AmItrappedwithintheconfinesofagame?Thefragmentsofmyshatteredcommonsensescatteredbeforeme,leavingmetoquestiontheveryfabricofmyreality.