Of Dreams And Nightmares

[*StarSight]

The woman does not reply, or even so much as twitch in response to Levria's greeting.

[*Powderhorn]

Levria goes up to poke the woman to get her attention. She was probably just deaf or something like that after all.

[*StarSight]

As Levria crosses the room, she briefly notices a crow sitting on the banister on the balcony outside, glaring into the house. The woman, meanwhile, continues to be motionless, until Levria gives her shoulder a poke.

Whatever balance the 'woman' had on the chair is lost at Levria's poke, and she tips sideways out of the chair, tumbling to the ground, revealing the reasons for her lack of responsiveness.

Her face is an unrecognizable ruin, the bone of her jaw exposed, her ears and eyes removed and none too gently. The hands of the corpse clutch a piece of paper or parchment, the fingers bent unnaturally.

Oddly, other than her ruined face and strange hands, she seems otherwise pristine, in an outfit that might be suitable for a secretary.

[*Powderhorn]

Levria recoils at the destruction, and retches dryly at the floor. She takes a long moment to recover herself, before gingerly taking the document to read it, all the while trying to avert her eyes from the body.

[*StarSight]

As Levria opens the door, she finds it leads to a side yard. A murder of crows seem to be feasting on some poor animal in the fading light.

As Levria looks some of the crows turn towards her, and she can see their eyes glow red.

[*Powderhorn]

Back into the house! her mind screams at her. Matching action to thought, she doubles back in and slams the door shut.

[*StarSight]

For a brief moment, the red-eyed crows flicker as they open beaks that are impossibly toothy.

For the barest of moments, those crows are gone, and instead in their place are red-eyed versions of Levria, open mouths full of jagged sharp teeth. The moment drags out in slow motion, the door beginning to slam shut by Levria's hand. The false Levria's flicker again, once again crows...but their wings are spread as if to take flight.

Another flicker, and the false Levrias are back, leaning forward to break into a run...

Levria slams the door as they start to move, and the barest of heartbeats later the softest thump is heard from the door, as though something struck it from the other side...but it holds without so much as a shudder.

[*Powderhorn]

Levria shakes her head at the image. This has to be a nightmare. This has to be a nightmare, she says over and over to herself. Why can't I wake up?

She makes her way out of the room, and instead through the open door she earlier bypassed. Something has to set me free...

[*StarSight]

Beyond the open door is another hallway, the side to her right with three doors and the other with windows, letting the fading light in and keeping any black gloom away, for now at least. There is another door at the very end of the hall, opposite the one she just came through.

Between the doors on the non-windowed wall hang several paintings...one seems to sit rather oddly.

Levria's light seeking mood notes that the third door on the right is open...and the room beyond is lit.

[*Powderhorn]

Levria, having a moment of light at least, and perhaps, peace, examines the painting that sits oddly before passing into the (more) lit room.