Although the curious ornamentation on the pillars attested to the great mastery of their creator, should you focus on their fluid curves at length, their sinister and alien contours would force themselves to repeat endlessly in your mind.

Tearing my eyes from the sight, I noticed various trinkets scattered on the floor that resembled standard exploration equipment. Is it possible that we are not the first from our era to set foot here? My suspicions grew stronger as our advance revealed yet further signs of cult involvement.

Suddenly, I lost my balance, and had to brace myself against the wall for support. Ignoring the cold, organic feel of the stone, I gazed at my feet. My heart skipped a beat when I realized I stood in a thick puddle of blood. There was no body or signs of a struggle, just this dark congealing ooze, trailing forward out of sight. We dared not look at each other lest we see the fear on our companions’ faces as we followed the trail into the darkness.