The instant the attendant saw that doorway, it was as if he had been struck by lightning. All color drained from his face, leaving him even paler than the hollow creature peering out from behind the curtain. His pupils trembled beyond control.

“H-hunger...”

A broken whimper came from his throat, but very soon, he could no longer make a sound. His eyes were wide, and his tongue was frozen. He struggled, but it was all in vain, for he couldn’t move.

The moment that face saw him, his body seemed to fall under the control of some invisible force. He couldn’t even call for help from the colleague standing right beside him. All he could do was tremble. Everything but fear evaporated from his mind as his gaze was drawn into that deep, dark void, one that he couldn’t look away from.

“So hungry, so hungry. Come in, come in, come in...” The pale face smiled, bloody tears winding down its cheeks as it beckoned. “Hehehehe. Come in and eat, eat, eat, eat... eat, eat, eat, eat...”

The figure was clearly so far away, yet when it reached out, the attendant felt as though his own hand had been grasped and gently tugged. It led him, step by step, into the darkness behind the hanging curtain.

From the dark came the sound of some thick liquid dripping onto the floor. Surrounded...