In the city of Obsidora, two vigilante leaders—Varyon Rellion and Aldric Lysander—had long protected the streets, their actions hidden in the shadows but known to all. To announce their new collaboration, they decided to host a grand party at the Crystal Spire Mall.

What was meant to be a celebration soon turned into a nightmare.

While Varyon was fooling around with his wife, Seraphina, laughing and oblivious to the dangers around him, Aldric noticed something out of place. There, aimed at Varyon, was a hidden camera with a remote clicker, spying on them. Aldric’s instincts kicked in—something was terribly wrong. He quickly destroyed the camera, knowing it wasn’t safe anymore. Without a word, he darted towards the nearest exit, a large glass door.

But just as Aldric reached it, enemy hackers, watching through their surveillance, sealed off the exit. All but one door remained open, leading to an escalator. With no other option, Aldric stepped onto the escalator alongside a man who was just there to shop. The escalator began moving, but something was off.

As Aldric ascended, he realized the escalator was changing. Slowly, the steps began to twist and warp around him, like a snake tightening its grip. Before he could react, the escalator had him bound, wrapped up tight in its mechanical hold. The man behind him blinked, unsure if what he was seeing was real or just his imagination. But Aldric knew—he was in serious trouble.

Suddenly, the escalator carried him into a dark, hidden room—a storage area deep within the mall. There, Aldric could hear faint whispers, the voices of others who had suffered the same fate. Trapped and terrified, he entered a state of shock, his mind racing, but his body frozen.

In the darkness, a robotic arm appeared, placing a sleep mask over his eyes. A cold voice whispered mockingly, “Night night, sweetie.”

When Aldric finally came to his senses, the horror became clear—his body was gone. He had been decapitated, his head placed neatly on a shelf. And there, next to him, were the heads of Varyon and Seraphina, their once-vibrant faces now lifeless, frozen in fear.

This story is based on a dream I had and translated into a tale. An extract from the Maroon Tales.

Adri Mukund

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