Steve felt eyes watching him. They glared, burning sigils into his back like marking targets. Heavy, labored breathing filled his ears and the stench of rotting skin sent his recently-eaten steak coming back through his throat. Turning, he saw the distorted, eldritch face of the zombie. Clusters of holes pitted the green skin, broken bones with festering mold tearing through the flesh. Fear raced through Steve, catching his breath and tying his feet to the ground.


                And then he saw what had been staring at him. A large, nightmare-inspired creature, eight furry legs dancing anxiously on the stone. Poisonous mucus dripped from its jaws, pooling on the ground. Eight red eyes moved in sync, spinning a web that entranced him and almost made him forget how terrified he was.


                The stone pick in his hand felt heavy and cold. He looked for escape; fruitless, as the rickety ladder he had made was gone. The zombie opened its mouth, rows and rows of broken, moldy teeth sinking into Steve’s head. Searing, white-hot pain ripped through Steve, and spots danced in his vision. The spider scuttled over, feasting upon his abdomen and slurping up his intestines like noodles. Steve could only scream in agony as he felt life flash before him.


                And his vision blanked, the zombie with shards of Steve’s skull on its saliva glaring down at him.



A new vision appeared, one with two words…


You failed.