Chapter 99: The Sleeping Egg

Luckily, the last infiltrator nightmare creature collapsed in a twitching heap.

It’s blood pooling beneath its mangled body. Silence settled over the ruined tavern, broken only by ragged breathing and the occasional groan of the wounded.

Broken tables lay scattered across the floor.

The smell of blood, smoke, and spilled stew filled the room.

Gene slowly looked around.

Nearly everyone had survived.

Nearly.

Several resistance fighters were also injured, and missing.

Wilbur leaned against a support beam, pale from his blood loss. 

The stump where his arm had once been was tightly wrapped in makeshift bandages by Maid Marian.

Selene lowered her staff, her battle barrier finally fading.

Lilith quietly hugged Fluffy’s neck while scratching behind one of the Cerberus’s ears.

The Rabbit dusted imaginary dirt from his sleeves.

“I’ve always disliked indoor fighting.”

The Cheshire Cat was busily licking the stubborn crimson stains from one of its massive paws.

“I rather enjoyed it.”

Gene let out a tired sigh before touching the side of his helmet.

“Athena.”

The AI immediately responded.

Awaiting orders.

“Open a portal to the base.”

A blue holographic circle briefly appeared before Athena answered.

Unable. Portal generation requires authorization from Mother Sarah. Requesting assistance.

Gene nodded.

“Mother Sarah.”

Thousands of miles away…

Deep beneath the Nightmare Hotel…

Mother Sarah stood inside the Dark Chapel.

She was finishing a quiet prayer beside the great black altar when Athena’s voice echoed through the sanctuary.

Priority Request.

Mother Sarah slowly opened her glowing purple eyes.

“Priority… I hear you loud and clear.”

“The expedition requires immediate extraction.”

Without another word, Mother Sarah raised one of her many hands.

Black mist flowed from beneath her veil.

The stained-glass windows darkened.

The shadows beneath the pews twisted like living things.

The air itself screamed.

Mother Sarah appeared the planned area inside the underground base.

She reached over and sliced the air.

A jagged wound tore itself through reality.

The portal widened until it became large enough for dozens of people to pass through.

Mother Sarah quietly nodded.

“It is ready.”

Back in the resistance headquarters…

The tear in reality opened beside Gene.

Everyone instinctively stepped backward.

Inside the portal lay polished black steel floors.

Bright white laboratory lights.

The familiar underground facility beneath the Nightmare Hotel.

Baby Bear blinked.

“…That is one of the nicest portal I’ve ever seen.”

L.W. scratched one ear.

“I’ve seen worse.”

The Rabbit looked impressed.

“That was an excellent technique.”

The Cheshire Cat smiled.

“I approve.”

Gene clapped his hands.

“Everyone quickly head through!”

The resistance needed no further encouragement.

One after another they crossed through the portal.

The transition felt strangely gentle.

Almost like walking through cool water.

Moments later…

They emerged inside Athena’s underground laboratory.

The Scientists immediately hurried toward them.

The Mad couple arrived pushing modified hovering medical carts.

Doctor Elias grinned beneath his goggles.

“Ooo!”

His wife, Doctor Evelyn, adjusted her glasses.

“Patients!”

Both scientists looked genuinely excited.

Gene sometimes forgot that they considered medical emergencies entertaining.

“Let’s get everyone stabilized,” Gene said.

Within seconds organized chaos erupted.

Medical drones descended from the ceiling.

Mechanical arms extended from nearby walls.

Beds rolled themselves into position.

The resistance members stared in amazement.

Wilbur blinked.

“…This place is underground?”

“Several miles,” Athena answered.

“…I’m never making fun of horror summoners again.”

Nearby…

Doctor Evelyn carefully examined Wilbur’s missing arm.

“Hmm.”

She gently tapped the exposed bone.

“Excellent! Looks like healing has already started.”

Wilbur winced.

“It doesn’t feel excellent.”

“Oh, that’s perfectly normal.”

She smiled warmly.

“We’re going to build you something much better.”

His ears perked up.

“…Better?”

Doctor Elias wheeled over a floating display.

Dozens of arm designs appeared.

Mechanical.

Organic.

Bone-crafted.

Crystal.

Living slime.

Clockwork.

Dragon scale.

Wilbur stared.

“I only needed… an arm.”

Doctor Elias laughed.

“Why stop there?”

Across the room another resistance fighter who had lost several fingers was already having measurements taken.

Baby Bear received stitches.

Charlotte allowed tiny robotic spiders to repair cracks in her exoskeleton.

Even Fluffy willingly allowed nurses to clean the cuts on one enormous paw while Lilith watched protectively.

Gene smiled.

His hotel had become far more than simply a place for monsters.

It had become a refuge.

Selene gently touched his shoulder.

“What now?”

Gene looked around.

“I want you to gather everyone.”

“The Rabbit too?”

Gene glanced toward the old guardian.

The Rabbit was somehow teaching Baby Bear how to properly pour tea.

“…Especially the Rabbit.”

“And Cheshire?”

The Cat had disappeared.

Gene looked upward.

The Cheshire Cat was somehow lounging upside down on the laboratory ceiling.

“…definitely him too.”

Selene nodded.

“I’ll gather everyone.”

She kissed Gene’s cheek before walking away.

Gene watched her disappear into the crowd.

Then quietly turned.

He had somewhere else to go.

…

Athena unlocked several heavy security doors.

Each descended farther underground.

Level Twelve.

Level Thirteen.

Level Fourteen.

Each required Gene’s personal authorization.

Massive blast doors slowly rolled aside.

Cold air drifted upward.

The lights dimmed.

Finally…

The deepest chamber.

Only Gene.

Athena.

And a single object resting inside layers of containment.

The Egg.

The artificial Egg of Calamity.

It rested upon a black pedestal.

Countless cables surrounded it.

Protective seals glowed softly.

The shell pulsed once.

Slow.

Steady.

Alive.

Gene stared at it quietly.

“…You’re growing.”

Athena answered.

Confirmed. Energy output has increased 4.2 percent since previous observation.

“It hasn’t hatched?”

Negative.

Gene slowly walked around the containment chamber.

Half of its essence rested inside Jesse Belle.

The other half inside the Caretaker.

Neither knew.

Neither could know.

Not yet.

They had accepted enough burdens already.

Gene folded his arms.

“I wonder what you’ll become.”

“…Me too.”

Gene nearly jumped.

He spun around.

Lilith stood directly behind him.

Holding Fluffy’s leash.

She blinked innocently.

Gene placed one hand over his heart.

“…Lilith.”

She smiled sweetly.

“You forgot you told me to follow you.”

“I…”

He sighed.

“I honestly did.”

She tilted her head.

“What’s with the egg?”

Gene looked back toward the containment chamber.

Then back at Lilith.

“You heard?”

She nodded.

“A little.”

“How much?”

“You said…”

She counted on her fingers.

“‘Hidden.’”

Another finger.

“‘Secret.’”

Another.

“‘Nobody can know.’”

Gene sighed again.

“…Right.”

Lilith stepped closer.

“I won’t tell.”

“I know.”

She looked almost offended.

“I promise.”

Gene smiled.

“I believe you.”

Lilith puffed out her chest proudly.

“I always keep promises.”

Gene sat on a nearby crate.

After several moments…

He patted the space beside him.

Lilith climbed up.

Fluffy laid down nearby with a content flop.

Gene looked at the Egg.

“It started as an idea.”

Lilith listened quietly.

“A very dangerous idea?.”

“Sort of. I wanted to know if I truly understand monsters.”

Gene scratched his chin as he thought.

“The answer…”

He looked toward Fluffy.

“…was no. The egg should help me to find out what a creature born from horror can become. Hopefully we can raise it into a good creature.”

Lilith nodded enthusiastically.

“Well Fluffy’s nice.”

“He is.”

Gene continued.

“I just wondered if something inspired by an ancient cosmic horror could be born without hatred.”

“So…”

He gestured toward the Egg.

“I created this.”

Lilith stared.

“It looks lonely.”

Gene blinked.

“…Lonely?”

She nodded.

“It doesn’t have any other eggs.”

Gene looked back.

For the first time…

The Egg almost did seem lonely.

“I never really thought about that. ”

Lilith quietly reached toward the glass.

Without touching it.

“It feels sad.”

Athena interrupted.

Emotional resonance detected.

Gene looked surprised.

“What?”

Unknown energy fluctuation originating from Subject: Egg.

The shell then emitted a soft pulse.

Lilith smiled.

“I think it heard us.”

Gene chuckled.

“Maybe.”

Lilith whispered.

“Is it a baby?”

Gene thought for several seconds.

“…Maybe.”

She grinned.

“I hope it’s cute.”

Gene laughed.

“You have a very different definition of cute.”

“I know. But it would be  a shame if it were ugly.”

She leaned against his shoulder.

“So why’s it secret?”

Gene grew serious again.

“Because…”

He hesitated.

“There are people who would destroy it.”

“Others who would worship it.”

“And others who would try to control it.”

Lilith frowned.

“That’s mean.”

“It is.”

“So until I know exactly what this Egg truly is…”

He gently tapped the glass.

“…it stays hidden safe and sound.”

Lilith nodded.

“I won’t tell anybody.”

“I know.”

She smiled.

“You can trust me.”

“I already do.”

Before Gene could continue…

Athena suddenly spoke.

Her normally calm voice carried unmistakable urgency.

PRIORITY ALERT.

Red warning lights illuminated the chamber.

Gene immediately stood.

“What happened?”

Perimeter breach detected.

I’m 

The laboratory lights shifted crimson.

Twenty-seven unidentified hostiles detected.

Gene’s expression hardened.

“The cult?”

Affirmative.

Another warning appeared.

Additional signatures emerging.

Estimated hostile force: increasing.

Athena paused.

Then Athena spoke words Gene had hoped never to hear again.

The Nightmare Hotel is under attack.

Gene immediately activated his helmet.

“Show me on the map.”

A holographic map filled the room.

Red dots flooded across the hotel grounds.

Dozens.

Then hundreds.

Lilith slowly stood beside him.

Her innocent smile vanished.

Her purple eyes became focused.

“So…”

She quietly asked.

“They’re back?”

Gene nodded once.

“…They’re back.”

Fluffy rose to his feet.

Low growls echoed through the chamber.

Far above them…

Alarm bells began ringing throughout the Nightmare Hotel.

The next battle had already begun.