Groaning softly while pushing myself upright despite every muscle screaming protest at movement, I noticed something else amiss: mirror hanging above dresser reflected back image distorted beyond recognition—flesh stretched taut over bones giving semblance skeletal face staring blankly out from within depths glass itself seemed to ripple like water disturbed by unseen hand passing through.

Reaching up tentative fingers touched cheekbone feeling sharp edge beneath skin now pulled tight as drumhead ready burst at slightest provocation. Panic surged anew but forced self calm down; needed clear head think clearly if hoped escape fate befallen Emily and others...

But how? How could fight something beyond comprehension let alone control—especially when it seemed already won battle for my soul?

No answers came—not then nor ever after—but only more questions haunting every waking moment until finally gave up trying find them altogether. Instead focused solely on survival; learning adapt new reality where once familiar world now held terrors lurking just beneath surface waiting pounce unsuspecting prey.

And so began long descent into madness—one step at time towards abyss gazes back with hunger insatiable...

I woke up to a world turned inside out, my bedroom ceiling now floor and vice versa—gravity defying all logic as it pinned me down against what should've been wall but wasn’t anymore; instead cold stone pressed into flesh through thin fabric of pajamas. Groaning aloud at sudden disorientation while trying desperately claw back sanity amidst swirling chaos around us.

"Alex?" Emily's voice echoed nearby, filled with same confusion and fear churning within my own chest."Where are you?"

"I'm...here," I managed to reply after few attempts—words tasting strange on tongue like foreign language suddenly forgotten. "I think."

A soft thud followed by shuffling sounds indicated her moving closer; soon enough she appeared upside down in doorway, hair hanging loose around face now pale as moon above us—or below? Hard tell anymore.

"What happened?" She asked breathlessly—eyes wide with terror yet relief at finding me alive and relatively unharmed despite circumstances defying explanation."Last thing I remember...we were running from that creature..."

"Tower," interrupted a third voice, sending shivers down spine though couldn't pinpoint exact location of speaker; seemed to come simultaneously both inside head as well outside it—echoing through very air itself. "You sought refuge within its fallen husk."

We exchanged glances before turning towards source: nothing but empty room save for shadows dancing macabrely along walls cast by flickering light filtering down from above—or below? Still couldn't tell...

"Who are you?" Emily demanded, voice steady despite circumstances—admirable considering how close she'd come to losing composure earlier.

Laughter echoed around us then; harsh and grating like metal scraping against bone."Names mean little here," it replied cryptically before continuing in same eerie tone:"You've stumbled upon something ancient...something best left undisturbed."

"What do you want?" I asked, trying hard keep voice from trembling despite growing sense dread coiling tightly around heart.

"Want? Want is such a petty human concept." Pause followed by another bout laughter—this time laced with contempt rather than amusement. "I exist beyond wants and needs; bound only to purpose."

Emily scoffed loudly at that, crossing arms defiantly beneath breasts despite precarious situation we found ourselves in:"Well then maybe you should start making sense instead of talking like some cheap fortune cookie!"

Silence fell heavy upon us after her outburst—so thick could almost reach up grab hold slice through it with bare hands. Then slowly...oh so very gradually, temperature began dropping until breath misted visibly before face; each exhale forming tiny crystals hanging suspended mid-air briefly.

"Careful," whispered voice from shadows."Anger me further and you'll find out just how little mercy I possess."

I placed hand gently on Emily's arm—silencing her retort even as she opened mouth to deliver it. No sense provoking whatever this thing was until we knew more about its capabilities...and ours.

"Please," began cautiously, choosing words carefully."We don't understand what happened here today—or why you're speaking with us now."

Another pause before response came:"You seek answers? Very well then—listen closely..."

Story unfolded over next few minutes; voice weaving tale so ancient and terrible it made hair stand on end just hearing recitation. Of architect driven mad by visions granted him through contact lens designed to capture images invisible human eye could perceive—and which ultimately led creation of tower reaching heavens themselves.

"Babel's Folly," whispered Emily once narrative concluded, eyes wide with realization."It wasn't hubris...but obsession."

"Yes indeed," agreed voice softly—though whether directed at her comment or simply acknowledging fact remained unclear. "And now his masterpiece lies in ruins while he himself resides within my domain—a prisoner to madness until end of time itself..."

"Can we help him?" I asked impulsively, heart aching for man driven insane by glimpse into realms beyond human comprehension.

Laughter echoed once more around us—this time filled with genuine amusement rather than contempt."Help? You cannot even save yourselves."

As if on cue something shifted beneath our feet; stone grinding against itself ominously as floor began tilting at alarmingly steep angle. Gravity reversed again, pulling me downwards towards what should've been ceiling but wasn't anymore—now gaping maw leading straight into darkness below.

"Alex!" Emily screamed above cacophony of crumbling masonry and splintered wood."Grab onto something!"

But there was nothing left to grab; everything around us collapsing under unseen force driving it inexorably downward. Panic surged through veins like wildfire, threatening consume all rational thought as I flailed desperately against inevitable pull towards abyss.

Then suddenly Emily's hand closed tightly over mine—her fingers cold yet strong despite terror gripping both our hearts."Together," she gasped out hoarsely before being dragged under alongside me into yawning chasm opened beneath us...

Plummeting through darkness felt like eternity stretched thin as razor blade; each second ticking away precious moments remaining until impact with whatever lay waiting below. Wind roared past ears deafeningly loud, drowning even Emily's screams echoing beside mine—though whether from fear or pain couldn't tell anymore.

Then just when thought lungs would burst and limbs give out entirely...we hit water instead of solid ground; shockwave sending us spiraling downwards into icy depths where light failed utterly. Kicking frantically against unseen currents pulling me deeper still, I struggled to surface—desperate for air even as panic threatened overwhelm senses completely.

Something brushed past leg then—a cold touch like dead flesh—and fear surged anew through veins; propelling body upwards with renewed vigor despite burning muscles and lungs screaming protest at lack oxygen. Breaking free finally into dim light filtering down from above, I gasped greedily for breath while treading water cautiously—eyes scanning surface nervously in search Emily.

"Emily!" Called out hoarsely once able speak again."Where are you?"

No response came; only distant echoes of my own voice bouncing off walls surrounding us now visible beneath murky waters. Heart pounded wildly against ribs as realization dawned: she hadn't made it up with me...

Diving back down without hesitation, I swam frantically through gloom searching desperately for any sign her—anything at all—that might indicate whereabouts or fate befallen friend who'd saved my life mere moments ago. But nothing remained save empty darkness and silence broken only by sound bubbles rising past ears.

Resurfacing finally after what felt like hours spent scouring depths, I broke free into air once more—and found myself staring directly at figure standing motionless atop crumbling masonry jutting out from wall nearby: tall gaunt form clad in tattered remnants clothing barely recognizable as human anymore. Eyes burned fiercely within sockets hollowed by time or perhaps some other force entirely—casting eerie glow upon surroundings while mouth hung open revealing rows jagged teeth stained dark with...blood?

"Where is she?" I demanded hoarsely, voice echoing through chamber like gunshot."What have you done to Emily?"

It tilted head slightly sideways—as if considering question carefully before responding:"She belongs here now," came reply eventually—cold and unyielding as stone surrounding us. "As do all who trespass upon my domain."

Rage surged within chest then; hotter than any fear or despair gripping heart moments ago."No!" Shouted defiantly, fists clenched tightly at sides despite knowing futility such gestures held against creature before me now clearly not bound by same rules governing mortal world. "I won't let you have her!"

Laughter echoed around us once more—this time filled with genuine amusement rather than contempt or anger."You cannot stop what has already begun," it said softly, almost gently—as if speaking to child unable grasp complexities adult life held.

But I refused listen; couldn’t accept defeat so easily—not when Emily's fate hung in balance. "I'll find a way!" Vowed fiercely instead—teeth gritted against pain wracking body from exertion and cold."Somehow...someway..."

Silence fell heavy upon us once more after that declaration—and remained unbroken even as figure turned away slowly, disappearing into shadows cast by flickering light filtering down through cracks above. Left alone amidst ruins of fallen tower now transformed prison cell for those unlucky enough stumble across path cosmic horror lurking within its depths.

But I wouldn't give up—not yet; not ever—until Emily was safe again...or until death claimed me too in pursuit justice denied her by forces beyond comprehension or control...

With renewed determination burning fiercely inside chest, began searching walls surrounding pool for any means escape this watery grave—and hopefully find answers hidden somewhere amidst wreckage above.

I woke up to darkness, my head pounding like a drum being beaten from within—each throb sending shards glass-like pain through skull and down spine until every nerve ending screamed in protest against such torment inflicted upon them. Groaning softly as I tried moving limbs only for realization set it: they were bound tightly behind back with something rough yet strong...rope maybe?

"Ah, you're awake," came a voice from nearby—coldly detached despite familiarity; one that sent shivers down spine even before meaning registered fully in mind still foggy due to whatever drug coursed through veins now."Good. I was beginning worry about your condition."

Emily.

She sounded different though—not like friend who'd stood beside me throughout this nightmare but rather stranger whose words echoed hollowly around empty chamber we seemed trapped within together...alone save for third presence lurking just beyond reach of flickering candlelight casting eerie shadows upon walls slick with moisture and God knows what else best left unexamined.

"Emily..." I croaked out hoarsely—throat raw as if scraped by sandpaper."What happened? Where are we?"

A pause before she answered, "You don't remember?" A hint of something almost like amusement laced her tone now; cruel edge honing words into weapons meant to cut deep rather than heal wounds already festering beneath surface.

"No," I admitted truthfully—though part me feared recall might return soon enough given context clues scattered about this place...and memories beginning stir within depths consciousness where they'd been locked away earlier by sheer force willpower alone."I don't."

"Hmm. Well, let's see if we can jog your memory then shall we?" she said casually—as though discussing nothing more sinister than weather or latest gossip circulating through office water cooler—before turning towards darkness behind her and calling out softly,"Come here...come meet our guest of honor..."

Something moved in response; something large enough to cause floorboards beneath us creak ominously under shifting weight. My heart pounded wildly against ribcage like caged animal desperate escape from impending doom looming ever closer now—each beat echoing through chamber until felt certain whatever lurked there could hear it too.

And then, slowly...oh so very fucking slowly—a figure emerged into dim light cast by single candle flame flickering fitfully beside Emily's seated form. It was humanoid in shape but any resemblance ended right at that point; for this thing possessed no features save gaping maw filled with rows upon row jagged teeth dripping viscous fluid onto floor below where it pooled like dark blood before seeping into cracks between wooden planks.

"Recognize him now?" Emily asked mockingly while gesturing towards creature standing motionless beside her—those burning eyes never leaving mine even as she spoke."He's been waiting for you...ever since we found that damn book."

The tome. Of course—the one I'd taken from library after discovering its existence hidden amongst ancient texts stored away in forgotten corners of building where sunlight couldn't reach nor banish shadows lurking within pages filled with madness and horrors beyond comprehension.

"Emily..." My voice barely above whisper now; fear choking off words before they could fully form."What have you done?"

She laughed—a harsh sound devoid all warmth or humanity—before replying,"Me? I haven’t done anything, Alex. You're the one who brought this upon us...remember?" And then she leaned in closer until breath whispered against ear like serpent's hiss:"You opened door to hell itself."

The creature stirred suddenly at her words; tendrils of darkness reaching out from body as if testing air around it before snapping back sharply—as though anticipating attack that never came. Instead, I simply stared up into those burning eyes and felt something inside me break apart...like dam holding back floodwaters finally giving way under relentless pressure.

"You're right," I whispered hoarsely."I did this."

And with admission aloud spoken truth became undeniable reality; one impossible to escape no matter how desperately wanted flee from consequences now bearing down upon us both like avenging angels come retribution for sins committed against nature itself through hubris and greed driving human ambition ever onward towards destruction.