You feel increasingly uneasy the closer you get to this door, the giant eyeball embedded within seeming to follow your each and every move. Shaking off your rising concerns, you brace yourself for whatever is on the other side and make your way past it.
To your cautious relief, there doesn’t seem to be anything too concerning… yet. At first glance it appears to be a peaceful, yet unnervingly dim, room. Your eyes can’t help but immediately fall on the only thing within it… Io.
Counting yourself lucky that you’ve found him this quickly, you open your mouth to call out to him. You don’t even get the chance before he’s already answering you.
“Yes I know you’re here, idiot. You’re incredibly difficult to miss in this vast, expansive, ever reaching room of zip and butkus.”
… That’s Io’s voice, but that’s definitely not Io. Oh no.
In a swift motion, Io spins on his heel to finally face you with an unnervingly wide grin. Dark, viscous fluids drip from his hollow eyes and down his pallid cheeks as he lets out an uncharacteristic laugh.
“Surprise! Or not. It’s a guaranteed cliche that I’d show up here. I quite literally lived rent free in his head for years, do you really think he was going to dream about anything else? A little exorcism will never stop me from haunting him one way or another, even if I’m only a handsome figment of his feeble imagination. What do you think, are you enjoying this meta banter?”
You can’t let him distract you with his words. Dream or not, Veles is nothing but trouble. Just as you try to figure out how exactly you’re supposed to stop him, you feel a strange sensation in your hand. Quickly taking a glance down, you’re surprised to find a sheet of paper now firmly in your grasp. Strange, how did that get there?
“God, boo, you’re so boring. All business, huh? Tell me, what’s it going to be then…?” Veles chuckles under Io’s breath as he takes a confident stride towards you, “Are you going to make a pathetic attempt at saving the little weenie prince in distress, or are you going to run home and cry to mommy? Heh, as if I’d let y- HURRY!” You’re caught off guard as Veles’ smug taunts turn into choking, shaking gasps, “Read it! Read it now before he- OH, shut up! Once again, you try to ruin everything. Heh. Not this time...”
The room around you suddenly feels much darker, and you can’t help the feeling you’re being watched by many, many angry eyes. You’d better take Io’s advice before things get any worse!
Art by ghost.
Ash 8/7/19 
