The Nightmare

> I didn't think you'd come back. We're going to have a lot of fun, you and I.
>
> The Nightmare

The interior of the cabin is plain.

**Chapter II: The Nightmare** is a second chapter of *Slay the Princess*.

## Requirements

 In Chapter I, the Player leaves the Princess in the basement. Refusing to let her chance for freedom escape her, the Princess frees herself from her chains, becoming a nightmarish entity whose very presence causes the Player so much terror, their body shuts down, and they die.

There are two ways to leave the Princess in the basement, each offering minor dialogue changes in Chapter II.

* After speaking to the Princess, choose to keep her in the basement. Against both the Princess and the Narrator's protests, the Player commits to leaving the Princess in the basement. This path is available whether or not the Player had previously picked up the Pristine Blade.
* After going back up stairs to retrieve the Pristine Blade, the Player must immediately leave the basement. This is only available if the Player did not take the Pristine Blade with them to the basement, but has yet to agree to save the Princess.

## Overview

After the harrowing sensation of death by organ failure, the Player is back again on the path in the woods. Despite the Player claiming to have been her before, the Narrator dismisses his concerns. The Voice of the Paranoid, however, is intensely distrustful of the Narrator's intentions, and advises the Player to stay on guard.

## Endings

### A World of Terror

**Requirement**: Give in. Let the Princess escape the cabin.

The Player gives into the Princess' demands and escorts her out of the cabin. With a pull of the cabin door, the Princess is released into the world, ready to start a campaign of terror. However, the world soon comes to an end, and the Nightmare is claimed by the Shifting Mound.

Choosing this ending ends the playthrough and makes the Nightmare one of the Shifting Mound's vessels. It also unlocks the "**A World of Terror**" achievement.

### A Monolith of Fear

**Requirement**: Choose ***"I'm not doing any of this. I'm not helping you leave, and I'm not going to try and kill you, so do your worst." [Toss the blade and remain with your Nightmare.]*** or run away.

The Player tosses their knife into the void, refusing to slay or help the Princess. The Nightmare mocks the Player for his bravery and removes her mask, bearing her innermost feelings of loneliness trapped in an endless cycle of death, rebirth, and death again. The Narrator, overburdened by these feelings, fades away, and the Player follows suit. The Nightmare promises that the next time they meet, he will let her out.

Choosing this ending will lead to **The Moment of Clarity**, and unlocks the "**A Monolith of Fear**" achievement.

### No Exit

**Requirement**: ***[Slay the Princess.]***

The Player stabs the Nightmare in the heart. She is surprised by his audacity, but accepts her fate, promising only that if the Player can somehow get himself out of the void, she will become "something worse."

The Player is now trapped in an endless void with no way out. The only recourse for escape is for the Player to end his life with the Pristine Blade, or simply let natural biology make him starve after an agonizingly long time. Everything goes dark, and he dies.

Choosing this ending will lead to **Chapter III: The Wraith** with the Voice of the Paranoid and the Voice of the Cold. It will also unlock the "**No Exit**" achievement.

### Terminal Velocity

**Requirement**: ***[Slay the Princess]*** after tricking her into following you out of the basement.

The Player seemingly chooses to let the Nightmare go free. However, just as they reach the cabin door, the Player betrays the Nightmare and stabs her in the heart. She is shocked and angered by his audacity, and punishes his betrayal by pushing him into the endless void. As the Nightmare perishes, her corpse trailing off into the void, the Player is left alone.

The Player is now trapped in an endless void with no way out. The only recourse for escape is for the Player to end his life with the Pristine Blade, or simply let natural biology make him starve after an agonizingly long time. Everything goes dark, and he dies.

Choosing this ending will lead to **Chapter III: The Wraith** with the Voice of the Paranoid and the Voice of the Opportunist. It will also unlock the "**Terminal Velocity**" achievement.