In this world, or perhaps beside it, there is a chamber. Only one door in the world can lead to it. One door that moves to wherever it may need to be.
Or maybe, where it desires to be. This chamber is a prison. Its prisoner, a maiden with her face covered in a dark veil. Tightly wrapped in a cloak and bound by numerous chains.
The chains extend to the walls, vanishing into the shadows that cover them. The chains hold her aloft so she cannot touch the ground, for she must be kept from reach.
However, sitting before her is a pedestal holding the key to her shackles. A taunt to her, perhaps? One could certainly think so.
Of course, she isn't truly a maiden. It's merely a form taken to disarm those that would find the chamber. Her true form, her very nature and identity, are uncertain at best.
Whatever squirming horrors that may lie beneath her cloak aren't for us to know. Still, her words are the sweetest poison.
She whispers promises of freeing you from your own chains if you free her from hers. She offers to guide you to all your desires. To unleash you and draw out what's hidden away within.
The you you wish to be and more. Who could reject such an offer? To be all you can be? All you need to do is unlock her chains.
Should you choose to do so, she’ll take your hand and your journey together shall begin. Instantly she’ll know all she needs.
Your hopes, dreams, and innermost desires. Talents both squandered and unknown. Who you are in your darkest depths.
Nothing happens at once, of course. No, first she must build you up. Start small. She’ll tell you what you need to hear. What you need to do to get what you want.
And sure enough, you’ll do them. You simply won’t be able to resist. Anything or anyone that might stand in your way will simply be discarded.
You won’t be needing them. After all, you’ll have the maiden
As you follow her directions you'll find yourself improving. Perhaps you start that story you always wanted to write. Maybe you take up an instrument.
Your social anxieties melt away and you become the life of the party. The people above take notice of this new person you've become. Confident, driven, a real someone.
No longer languishing in mediocrity. You'll be who you believed you should have been! Oh, how they'll marvel at the new you.
Your family and friends will see a whole new person. Whether they like what they see or not is unimportant. Who are they to stand in the way of your dreams?
There's other people out there for you to find, so what do you need the old ones for? You need only to cast them off and know that the only person you really need is right beside you.
The Maiden.
Holding your hand and whispering in your ear. Watching your talents grow with her patient smile. There to help you get what you want.
As time goes on, you find yourself craving more. Your newfound success just isn't enough. The Maiden begins whispering to you about the thoughts and desires you hide away.
She coaxes them out from the darkness for you to see. And when she does you can't help but notice they don't seem so bad anymore.
After all, the Maiden helps you cast off your chains, and what are morals but the chains of society? Other people just don't understand. Why would they? The poor, repressed fools.
Now you find yourself at your highest. No one can drag you down. You do as you please and get what you want. You'll turn to the Maiden and realize…
She's left you.
You aren't sure when she let go of your hand, when she stopped whispering in your ear.
You search high and low. You have to find her. After all, she's the whole reason you were able to come so far.
Without her, what are you?
And all at once you feel them. The chains you cast off return in force. How much of your gift was you? How much of it was her?
Everything you did, everything you went through now comes back to you in the perfect clarity of hindsight. The people you alienated, the bridges you burned.
The world starts to turn on you, the ugliness that lived in the dark now brought to light. You try all you can but find that you aren’t able to wow them like you used too.
You know what you want to do, but it just no longer comes out. No longer ready with a witty remark or a thoughtful insight.
Once more you find yourself pulled down by chains both old and new.
As for the Maiden, she has returned to her room. Bound once more in her chains with the key placed before her.
Waiting for the next person to come across her. To free them from their chains, raise them up, and leave them to fall.
Why she does this is not for us to know. All you need to know is turn around should you find yourself in her chamber.
But then again, surely you’d be able to handle it all...right?