They stood at the doorways. Blocking the path. Two at each door, North, South, East, West. Their chant began and all eight moved one step closer to me. It was a slow drone, a sound which would have terrified me had I had the capacity to be more scared at the time. 

One step closer.

The chant became louder and echoed around the square room. I looked up and saw a domed ceiling lined with mirrors it was like looking at a kaleidoscope, everything began to swirl.

One step closer.

I tried to move but couldn’t, I felt a force pulling me down back to earth. My head swam as I looked at one of them. All I saw was a twisted and grotesque visage floating where a face should be in the black robe. The chanting stopped, suddenly my world was filled with noise as if a dam had been broked, but as soon as it came it ended and as I had for what felt like weeks, I heard nothing.

One step closer.

The same noise, twice hit my body like a shockwave. Clack, Clack like heels on tile as the figures moved each foot one step closer in complete unison. The figures were so close yet I could not hear them breathe, my world was silence.

One step closer.

The figures were upon me, I could feel them near me, my face felt hot and constricted. I knew this was it, there was no more hope. I began to recount my life, but could not remember. I felt as if I had no identity, no memories, no existence other than here. Suspended in the middle of the square room with the dome ceiling. I knew my time was over, was this a test?

Everything went black.

…

They stood at the doorways. Blocking the path. Two at each door, North, South, East, West. Their chant began and all eight moved one step closer to me. It was a slow drone, a sound which would have terrified me had I had the capacity to be more scared at the time.