In the dark of night, it came to our ward in the psychiatric asylum.
Terrifying and otherworldly, in a bloodied white doctor's coat, it leaned over one of the patients. A crack, then a wet crunch reached my ears. The hairs on my head stood on end.
It was devouring his brains!
"Cry out when the Brain-Eater comes to your ward!" everyone said in the asylum. Perhaps it would be your only chance to survive.
I strained my throat, but my fear-paralyzed voice gave only a hoarse groan.
Only one patient separated us. He would be next, then me.
Behind the feasting monster, a door to the corridor stood ajar, dim light spilling through.
My hands were strapped. I had to break free, run! But how?
I struggled, but the straps held tight.
I am not insane. They think I am, and locked me away in the asylum. They don't understand. I simply see the dark places no one else can. Wild nightmares, arriving on dark wings of horror.
I blacked out again, falling into one of the nightmarish visions. Dark shapes reached toward me with skeletal hands. At the center lay a large ancient knife. I grabbed it and awoke — knife in hand.
The monster turned, glaring at me with a gruesome snarl, then leaned over the next patient. Crack, crunch.
I cut the strap with the knife. It snapped; I was free. I leaped from the bed and ran for the open door. Fell to the floor, got up, and dashed into the corridor. A wild roar came from behind. I looked back — the Brain-Eater charged at me. Its clawed hand struck several times but missed, tearing deep grooves in the walls. It fell back.
I burst into another ward. Patients in straitjackets lay on the beds. I lay on an empty bed at the far end. Soon the monster appeared. It moved among the beds, sniffing, searching for me. No hiding now. I lay in terror, counting moments until its dreadful approach.
In the darkness, a bald face appeared beside me.
"Make a pact, and I will save you."
"Okay. I agree."
The stranger extended a hand, long black claws gleaming. I knew I had made a mistake — but it was too late.
He dragged me into a new nightmare. Under black clouds, he sat on a black throne, clad in strange leather attire. Gaunt creatures served him, dragging bloodied human sacrifices. He held a large chalice, filling it to the brim with the victims' blood, raising it and laughing wildly.
"Now you serve me. You made the pact."
He drank from the chalice, laughing madly, his sinister laughter echoing through the dark reaches of this nightmare.