The Masquerade

Spiraling spiritual entities emanate, Circling infinite in the night. I cannot run from them they imbed Into my nightmares repeatedly. More of them every time multiply, Chanting in dissonant unison. Entrancing, I am immobilized, Adhered to the web, The fiber strengthening as I fight To free myself from enchanted silk. Their ears are all deaf to my cries. As they strap me down deep into sleep paralysis, Their power grows with every passing eve, As my own strength seems to fade away. They feed on all that is left of my Sanity. Hidden behind Tribalist masks, Inhuman forms Shifting their shapes. The unholy dance, I try to discern What lies beneath. Their power grows with every passing eve, As my own strength seems to fade away. They feed on all that is left of my Sanity. Hidden behind Tribalist masks, Inhuman forms Shifting their shapes. The unholy dance, I try to discern What lies beneath. Their forms twist with hypnotizing momentum, Their limbs flail and ceaselessly grow. Traced through the haze, demonic emblems Materialize. The smoldering text falls from the air to my flesh, Marking my skin their scripture imprints. Cauterized, they bury me beneath the scars, Chanting a hymn they bless the sacrifice. Every night resolves the same: The smoldering text falls from the air to my flesh, Marking my skin their scripture imprints. Cauterized, they bury me beneath the scars, Chanting a hymn they bless the sacrifice. Every night resolves the same, Ending the ritual. Every night it ends the same: they feast on my living flesh. I cannot move but I still feel pain, they consume continuing to devour from my legs up To my neck and to my face, Only then will I wake.

Submitted by Lake of Tears — Apr 26, 2025

Wrought in constant terror, Born of boundless rancor, This night is different than the other ones. I couldn't wake from the ritual of cannibals, The dream continues with my body gone, I am only but a mask. Lifted from the alter, I can't control Before me. A burst flame that lights darkness, Revealing In the heart of the inferno An apparition begins to form, Reaching to me from the portal. This demon is different than the other ones, It conducts the ritual of cannibals, Commanding the other ones stop the dance. Advancing it begins to speak, "I am defined by all I can control." Wrought in constant, Terror that let them inside, Born of boundless Rancor my hatred resides. "Join the masquerade, I'll take the pain away, I will free you from all that you can't escape. Become a wraith and feast upon the energy Of the ones that condescend your very existence." Wrought in constant Terror that let them inside, Born in boundless Rancor my hatred resides. Wrought in constant terror, I've let them inside To infest And defile My soul. Wrought in constant terror Born of boundless rancor.

Submitted by Corpse Grinder — Apr 26, 2025

I awaken, the nightmare relinquishes, Yet the wounds I've endured still remain Embedded in my skin. My intestines are gone and I'm fully bled. Bones exposed and I can feel the worms Colonizing my insides. My reflection has shifted and I can't Recognize. They have severed the final tether Connecting me to myself. Nobody can see the blood, I walk alone. No one can see That my soul Has left my body. My open wounds, They don't perceive. My only yearning Is to be buried. They say I'm living, They say that it is all in my head, They're medication does nothing to pull me from the edge. They say I'm living, But I know I'm one with the dead, Their assessments mean nothing. Now they have put me away, Hiding me within their walls. Pumping me full of their opiates, Forever wander white halls. If they refuse to put me to sleep, I have no other choice: I'll do it myself. Why can't they see the blood? Why can't they smell the putrefaction? The stench that never leaves me, Haunting on and on. I walk alone, No one can see That my soul Has left my body. My open wounds, They don't perceive. My only yearning, Is to be buried. They say I'm living, They say that it is all in my head, They're medication does nothing to pull me from the edge. They say I'm living, But I know I'm one with the dead. Their assessments mean nothing to me, I sit to rot forevermore.

Submitted by Warbringer — Apr 26, 2025

Reality fading away as I let it go, Free of all that's shackled me to the Realm that has forsaken my existence. Everything is silent until the cult returns, The ones I can't forget. Forming a phalanx surrounding me, they whisper as they close in, Summoning the ruler of the denomination. Familiar burst of radiance now lights the shadows, Appearing again in the heart of the inferno. You are the one that took everything thing away, "You had nothing and have been broken for decades. I offer you the chance at respite, take my hand." Reaching Out to me, His arm are Still burning. I extend, Clutching The demon's hand I pull close, I close the gap with my own plan. Reaching Behind me And wielding The shard of Broken glass, Stabbing Deep into its throat with all my fury. I will make you bleed for my pain! Rip flesh, bathe In the blood of the demon upon the alter. The flames of Hell are crossing over, Enveloping me in the fire, But nothing can stop my fury. I will make you bleed for my pain! Rip flesh, bathe In the blood of the demon upon the alter. The flames of Hell are crossing over, Enveloping me in the fire, But nothing can stop my fury. I will make you bleed for my pain!

Submitted by Warbringer — Apr 26, 2025

The cult dances, Approaching the mangled Corpse of the demon, And begin feeding on The ancient one. Tearing at it's legs and Up to it's face, And leaving only a mask. The cult now bows to me, The usurper of their lord. The cult now bows to me, The usurper of their lord. As I gaze into the mask, The light from inside Projecting my past. A window within The deepest reaches of My soul before I was lost. As I gaze into the mask, The light from inside, I feel it invite. Burning underneath my grasp, I adorn the flaming mask. As I gaze into the mask, The light from inside, Projecting my past. A window within The deepest reaches of My soul before I was lost. Incinerate, Burning my flesh. I am burning as the fire crosses over enveloping, And consuming my whole body, I've become the flame. I've become the very thing that despise and destiny has brought me here. I've become the very thing that despise and destiny has brought me here. Incinerate, Burning my flesh. The ritual has come to a halt as the tribe offer me a crown of burning thorns to signify My in vicious descension. I have transitioned into the form of a demonic creature, Burning eternally in the depths of a parallel universe. Incinerate, Burning my flesh.

Submitted by Immortal — Apr 26, 2025