"Too late, Thomas," he said softly reaching out hand towards mine; despite revulsion felt at touch his skin against my own I couldn't resist as fingers entwined together forming unbreakable bond between us now. "You've already seen."

Before could respond or even process implications those words held sudden burst light flooded room revealing scene straight from hell itself: twisted figures writhing floor, limbs contorted into impossible angles while mouths gaped wide issuing silent screams eternal torment; walls dripped ichor-like substance that stank putrefaction yet seemed alive somehow—throbbing rhythmically as if heartbeat entire chamber...

"Gods..." escaped lips barely audible whisper amidst cacophony madness surrounding us.

"No," Mayor Harris corrected gently. "Not gods—not like any you've heard tales of before."

He gestured towards one particularly grotesque creature flopping helplessly nearby; it bore semblance human form but only in most basic sense—bulbous eyes stared blindfolded while mouth stretched ear-to-ear revealing row upon jagged teeth dripping viscous fluid.

"What is... *that*?" Disgust warred with fear within me, both vying control over body frozen terror yet unable flee this waking nightmare...

"One of Them," he replied matter-of-factly. "A servant sent by masters to prepare world for their arrival."

I stared at monstrosity before us struggling comprehend how anything could exist let alone serve beings capable creating such abominations—yet here it was, proof incarnate cosmic horrors Mayor Harris spoke so casually about.

"How do we stop them?" Voice barely above whisper yet echoed chamber filled dread; if these were mere servants then what hope stood against actual masters themselves?

"We don't," he answered bluntly. "Not directly anyway."

His words sent wave despair crashing over me—if not fight back, how resist inevitable fate looming ahead? But before could voice thoughts aloud another figure materialized beside us: woman from earlier conference room now too bearing marks upon flesh though hers seemed different somehow... older perhaps?

"Thomas Raines," she greeted coolly acknowledging my presence without preamble; her gaze flicked briefly towards Mayor Harris then back again settling firmly onto mine. "I am Dr Elara Voss—special advisor to the mayor on matters pertaining our current situation."

Special advisors? Matters beyond human comprehension? What kind madness had I stumbled into here?

"Dr...Voss," managed finally through clenched teeth; every fiber being screamed run, escape while still could yet something held me rooted spot despite revulsion felt at proximity these two now shared.

"Yes." She nodded curtly before continuing: "You've been brought in due unique skillset—your ability capture reality within frame lens."

Camera... she meant my photography? How did that factor into any of this?

"I don't understand," admitted honestly; confusion warred with fear leaving me grasping straws attempting make sense chaos surrounding us.

"These beings feed off energy created by human emotion, particularly terror and despair." Dr Voss spoke slowly as if explaining complex concept child—maybe she was right given my current state mind. "Your photographs... they capture essence those emotions allowing Them to consume them."

Horror dawned realization: all this time thought myself merely documenting world around me when instead had been unknowingly aiding these cosmic horrors sustain themselves...

"But why bring *me* here?" demanded angrily; if true, then what purpose served dragging innocent people into their twisted games?

"Because," Mayor Harris interjected softly. "You're going to help us fight back."

His words hung heavy air between three figures standing amidst carnage surrounding—three souls bound together by fate cruel twist of events beyond control.

"How?" My voice barely above whisper yet echoed chamber filled silent screams tormented creatures writhing floor nearby; if photography fueled these beings' power, how turn weapon against them?

"By painting their true forms," Dr Voss answered simply. "Forcing Them reveal themselves fully within your art."

Paint...? Art?! Was she mad or just as deluded Mayor Harris seemed now bearing marks upon flesh like some twisted initiation rite into cult dedicated cosmic horrors!

"No." Shaking head vehemently stepped back until stopped once more against unyielding wall behind me. "I won't—*can*t!"

"You must," Dr Voss insisted firmly; her eyes bored intently mine, willing compliance despite revulsion felt at very idea.

"Why?" Desperation clawed its way up throat threatening overwhelm reason yet still needed answers before could accept fate laid out here today...

"Because only then will we know how to destroy Them." Mayor Harris' voice cut through my turmoil like knife slicing flesh; sudden clarity purpose behind their words struck home with brutal force—this was war, one waged against unseen foes capable reducing humanity mere playthings for amusement.

"And if I refuse?" Challenged defiantly despite knowing already answer deep down inside where fear coiled icy tendrils around heart squeezing life from soul itself...

"Then you'll be left behind," Dr Voss replied coldly. "Abandoned here amidst Their servants until consumed by madness or worse."

Her words hung heavy silence between us—threat implicit within them clear as day: cooperate willingly now, join fight against cosmic horrors plaguing our world...or face consequences far more terrible than mere death.

I looked around chamber filled twisted figures writhing floor nearby; each one testament power these beings wielded over reality itself—and knew without doubt they'd make good on promise leave me behind should I refuse comply with their demands...

"Alright," whispered finally surrender complete. "What do you need from me?"

Mayor Harris smiled grimly while Dr Voss merely nodded satisfaction before turning away dismissively—both already moving onto next phase plan leaving only myself standing amidst carnage surrounding, helpless pawn caught up game far beyond comprehension.

"We'll provide materials necessary begin work immediately," she called over shoulder without looking back. "You have until dawn tomorrow."

Dawn...? How long remained till then?

"Wait!" Panic surged through me as realization struck: no time prepare mentally or physically for task ahead—no chance acclimate to horrors lurking shadows cast by our world now revealed true nature...

But neither paused nor acknowledged my distress; instead continued walking away leaving behind nothing but echoes their footsteps upon cold stone floor.

Alone amidst twisted creatures still writhing helplessly nearby, I sank down wall until sat huddled knees drawn up tight against chest—mind racing desperate find solution escape this nightmare yet knowing already none existed save one: paint Their true forms as commanded...

And so began my descent into madness.

I woke up to a world turned upside down—or rather, sideways; my bedroom ceiling now floor while walls loomed above like cliffs threatening imminent collapse under their own weight alone... or perhaps something more sinister at work here?

"Morning glory," I muttered groggily rubbing sleep from eyes only for hands meet resistance—something sticky coating skin? Glancing downward revealed truth: blood, congealed and dark as if aged days rather than mere hours since last night's events.

"What the...?" My voice echoed hollowly in this twisted reality where gravity seemed optional; I pushed off 'floor' sending myself floating upwards towards what should've been ceiling but wasn't—just more wall bearing down menacingly close enough to reach out touch if wanted...

Which, naturally, made me want nothing less than escape back familiar confines my own mind and body. But how? No windows here nor doors leading elsewhere; only endless expanse featureless white walls stretching away into infinity.

"Hello?" I called tentatively expecting silence yet receiving instead faint echo distant voice—my own perhaps but altered somehow, deeper resonating with strange undertones almost... inhuman?

No response came save for that eerie reverberation dying slowly like last breath exhaled by some ancient creature long since turned to dust. Stillness returned oppressive as tomb; I hung there suspended between worlds feeling utterly alone yet simultaneously aware presence something else lurking just beyond periphery of vision, waiting...

"Show yourself," demanded defiantly though heart pounded wildly against ribs betraying fear—this wasn't my world anymore nor rules governing it familiar.

Silence stretched taut like rubber band ready snap at any moment; then finally:

"You summoned me?" A voice spoke from everywhere and nowhere simultaneously—a sibilant hiss slithered through air raising hackles on back of neck despite lack physical presence behind words. It was cold, calculating... ancient beyond comprehension yet somehow intimate too as if whispered directly into ear by unseen lover.

"Who are you? What do want with me?" My voice barely above whisper now; courage faltering under weight cosmic entity's gaze—one I couldn't see but felt nonetheless pressing down upon soul itself like physical force threatening crush all resistance within mere seconds...

Laughter echoed around chamber mockingly cruel, sending shivers coursed spine despite heat radiating from unseen source. "Want?" it repeated thoughtfully before continuing: "'Wants' are human concerns; we exist beyond such petty desires."

"Then why am I here? Why show me... this?"

More laughter followed—this time laced with contempt rather than amusement at my ignorance.

"You're not 'here', Thomas Raines," the voice corrected harshly. "Not truly anyway—not yet." A pause then: "'Here' is where we dwell, in realms beyond mortal comprehension."

"Then what am I doing...?" My question trailed off into silence as realization dawned sudden and terrible—this wasn't some dream or hallucination; no mere figment imagination conjured up by overactive subconscious mind. No...

"You're being shown," the voice whispered softly now almost gently, "the truth."

Truth? What possible 'truth' could justify such madness?

"Look around you!" it commanded sharply cutting off my thoughts midstream—despite lack physical form behind words felt compelled obey; eyes scanned walls once more only to find them no longer featureless but covered intricate patterns swirling colors defied description. They pulsed rhythmically like heartbeat visible beneath skin, throbbing with energy both exhilarating and terrifying...

"What are they?" I whispered awestruck despite myself.

"Reality," came the simple reply yet laden heavy significance—one impossible grasp fully given my limited human perspective but understood nonetheless on some primal level deep within soul itself. These were not mere patterns etched into walls; no, these were... worlds entire unto themselves teeming lifeforms alien to anything ever encountered before.

"Beautiful," I breathed reverently unable help myself despite fear still coiled icy tendrils around heart—beauty existed here too amidst horror though perhaps only because one couldn't exist without other?

"Yes." Voice softened slightly acknowledging my awe. "And terrible."

Before could respond further, reality shifted again; walls receded into distance revealing vast expanse empty space stretching out before me filled stars countless numbers each burning fiercely against backdrop blackness absolute—galaxies swirling past like cosmic dancers performing intricate ballet just for our benefit.

"Where...?" My voice faltered under weight such majesty yet also dread knowing whatever awaited here would change everything forevermore...

"This is your universe," the entity said simply. "One among many."

I stared agape at spectacle unfolding before eyes—stars being born dying in explosions cataclysmic proportions; planets forming orbiting suns only to be swallowed whole later by those same celestial bodies grown fat on their own power... and amidst all this chaos, life emerged tenacious as weed growing crack concrete.

"Life," I whispered reverently. "It's everywhere."

"Yes." Voice echoed through cosmos itself now resonating with pride almost parental in nature—this was its creation afterall; birthed from nothingness into existence by forces beyond mortal understanding yet still bound inextricably to them nonetheless...

"But why show me this?" My mind raced trying process implications behind such revelation but kept coming back same question: Why? What purpose served revealing truths hidden since dawn time itself?

"Because," it replied after moment's pause during which stars continued burn brightly overhead, "you're needed."

Needed... for what though?"

"You possess gift—ability capture moments frozen in time through lens camera." A statement rather than query yet still left me reeling; how could this being know such intimate details regarding my life?

"Yes," I admitted cautiously wary trap awaiting should admit too much.

"Good. Then you'll understand importance task ahead."

Task? What possible 'task' required skills architectural photographer—one who'd spent years documenting cityscapes devoid human presence rather than capturing moments history itself unfolding before eyes...

"I don't..." began only to be cut off sharply:

"You will document our arrival," it declared firmly brooking no argument. "Record every moment leading up until final confrontation between us and those seeking destroy all we've built here."

Arrival? Confrontation...?

"Who are 'they'?" I demanded suddenly angry at being kept in dark despite everything revealed thus far—if expected play role somehow within this cosmic drama then deserved know full story!

More laughter echoed around chamber though laced with sadness rather than contempt now; perhaps even regret.

"They," voice said softly, "are those who would see universe burn."

Burn...?

Before could press further questions however reality shifted once more sending me tumbling head over heels through endless void filled stars—each one blurring past faster until finally everything went white...

I woke with jolt gasping for breath as if emerged from deep dive underwater; heart pounded wildly against ribs while sweat dripped down face stinging eyes. Blinked rapidly trying clear vision only to find myself back familiar surroundings studio apartment overlooking cityscape—no sign twisted reality nor cosmic entities demanding my participation in their ancient war.

Yet...

Hand trembled slightly reaching out grasp camera lying nearby on desk; picked it up turned over examining closely as if expecting discover something amiss though knew already nothing would've changed physically. No, whatever happened here today remained locked within mind itself—impossible to prove existence let alone share with others without sounding mad or worse: delusional.

Still...