Chapter 11 - The Illusion
A sudden burst of warm, yellow light illuminated the space ahead of him. Arthur stopped in his tracks, staring at a perfect replica of his own cabin’s living room. Lily was sitting by the fireplace, smiling and beckoning him to come sit down. She told him that the nightmare was over and that Mason was safe asleep upstairs. Arthur felt a heavy wave of exhaustion wash over him, tempting him to give in. He took a step toward the comforting fire, longing for a moment of peace. But then he noticed that the clock on the mantelpiece was ticking backward. He remembered the warning note and tightened his grip on his iron crowbar. He shouted that this was a lie, swinging the heavy metal bar through the illusion. The cozy living room shattered like broken glass, dissolving back into the cold, damp stone hallway. The entity roared in frustration, the sound shaking the very foundation of the dark realm.
