As the door was opened through such unorthodox means, the being that had caused the methodical scraping…was nothing. Nothing at all. Or maybe it had left long ago? Impossible, as they would have all heard such a massive creature lumber off into such unknown territory. So then, what was it then? What had caused the scraping? Or was it never anything at all? Something that served to be only a preview to their time spent in this mad house.

The hallway was long and narrow, and those captured would have to be forced to proceed one by one in a linear fashion. On both sides of the corridor were rows upon rows of beautiful portraits of various landscapes, though there appeared to be something wrong with them. In each and every one there was the image of flames depicted. What they meant was anyone’s guess.

The sound of light orchestra music also filled the hallway, ringing in the prisoner’s ears. It was majestic and gentle, as if the piece from a ballet routine or some other formal dance. The music seemed to be coming from down the hallway, beckoning to the prisoners to enter deeper into the manor’s depths.

And so the Collector waited…