The Answers I'm Looking For

I was expecting to see Andrew on the other side of the door. I was expecting to see him tortured by nightmares even after he died. I was expecting to be able to save him and give him some peace.

None of that actually happened.

When I walked through the door, I stepped into a dark room. The walls were made of curtains. A music box on a pedestal in the center of the room played an eerily slow version of "the Entertainer". Next to the box was a large armchair. A figure sat in the chair.

It's hard to describe him... her... it. I don't know exactly what it was, as if it were constantly changing but... not. It slowly started to settle into a vaguely humanoid form, though it never really stayed the same. It wore a blazer and slacks and had a fedora perched atop its head.

"I've been waiting for you, [Silent]." It said without talking, "Do you know why you're here?"

"To get answers." I finally said something.

???: Do you know what questions you're asking?
Silent: What happened to Andrew?
???: You already know the answer to that question.
Silent: Then what the fuck should I be asking?
???: That's for you to decide.
Silent: Why did you bring me here?
???: What makes you think I brought you here?
Silent: Answering a question with a question is cheating.
???: [laughs] Fine, I didn't bring you here.
Silent: Who did?
???: I can't tell you.
Silent: Then why am I here?
???: To learn.
Silent: What do I need to learn?
???: What you've been learning your entire life.
Silent: What is that?
???: I can't tell you.
Silent: What can you tell me?

A wide smile, wider than its head erupted across the thing's features. "I can tell you this, [Silent], you have been chosen. Don't think you're special, it was completely random. But you were chosen forever ago. You have been chosen to tell the stories of those who can't. And you have been chosen to tell those stories for a reason. You have to figure that reason out on your own, and I can promise you won't like it."

The figure's face was so close to mine we were nearly touching. I stared into shifting eyes that were not eyes. "Your friend... Andrew... was delicious."

It then wrapped its hand/tentacle/claw/thing around my neck, crushing it.

I woke up in my room.