The church doors slowly creaked open, pushed by the sleepwalking crowd. The harsh groan of the hinges cut through the night like a rusted steel needle piercing the stillness. Beyond the doors stretched a bottomless, dark corridor, seemingly leading into an infinite abyss. The faded murals on the walls twisted under the flickering candlelight, forming distorted human figures that seemed to silently watch every soul that stepped inside.
Ethan and Silas followed quietly, their footsteps crunching softly on the dust-covered floor. Each step felt like a hammer striking their nerves, tightening the tension in their bodies. The air was thick with the scent of old candles and mildew, mixed with a low, incomprehensible moan, as if it came from the depths of the abyss itself.
The candlelight flickered, revealing unsettling sights. The church, which should have been solemn and majestic, now bore walls cracked and contorted. The fissures seemed alive, slowly stretching, as if consciously spying on every inch of space. From the depths of the cracks, a faint yet piercing glow leaked, hinting at an immeasurable presence lurking in the shadows.
The sleepwalking townsfolk moved in neat lines, eyes tightly shut, lips moving silently as if chanting some ancient spell. The wind whispered through them, carrying subtle laments that sent shivers crawling up Ethan's spine. He swallowed hard, muttering under his breath: "Well… this place doesn't feel like a prayer hall at all. More like a horror movie set. Shouldn't a monster jump out any second now?"
Silas shot him a sharp glance. "Shut up. Listen."
Ethan focused. A cold, humming vibration gradually became audible in the air. The sound was low and slow, like stones tearing apart, yet also like the breathing of a slumbering giant, interwoven with an oppressive weight that made each breath sting. Even the candlelight in his hand seemed to tremble.
They followed the direction of the crowd carefully, stepping lightly as if afraid to disturb the terrifying stillness. Finally, they arrived at the altar.
The sight made Ethan catch his breath: at the center of the altar, a narrow rift slowly opened. The edges of the fissure twisted unpredictably, emitting a dim yet viscous light, as if another dimension was peering through into reality. Whispers poured from the crack, countless voices crying in despair, mingling with mournful wails and shrieks that struck at the very core of the soul.
"Damn…" Ethan's throat tightened. "This isn't just an ordinary crack, is it? It's… moving!"
The fissure's edges expanded slowly, debris peeling off the walls and falling to the floor with dull thuds. The whispers grew louder, as though countless eyes were now observing them from within the rift, each gaze slicing deep into the mind like a razor.
Silas' expression grew grim, the glasses reflecting an eerie light. "This is a 'Nightmare Rift.' It connects reality to the world of nightmares. Once fully opened, this town will be completely consumed."
Ethan took a deep breath, forcing a casual tone. "Good news: we get a free trip to another world. Bad news… it's a one-way ticket, no refunds."
Silas replied coldly, "If you manage to keep up this mouth until the end, I'll actually respect you."
No sooner had he finished speaking than the rift blasted a bone-chilling gust of wind. The candles instantly snuffed out, plunging the church into deathly darkness. Whispers swirled through the blackness, as if trying to shred the very air into pieces.
The sleepwalking crowd froze, then, in unison, lifted their heads. Their empty eyes slowly opened, staring straight at Ethan and Silas. There was no humanity in their gaze, only bottomless void and hunger.
Ethan froze, his voice dry: "…Should I say, 'Sorry to bother you'?"
Silas tightened his grip on the sigil, eyes sharp as blades. "Prepare yourself, rookie. This is the real beginning."
The eerie glow within the rift pulsed unpredictably, like a slumbering creature writhing. The cracks along the walls seemed to awaken, emitting low, grinding sounds, as if warning that countless nightmares were about to surge forth.