You slam the door and retreat into the hall. You can still hear the machines going behind the metal, illusions or otherwise, chopping your prize to bits. A fate you nearly shared.

"Scary monsters are one thing," you comment, "but how the heck am I supposed to deal with that?"

Eh, you'll come back to it later. Or not. Maybe its a double bluff and there's nothing useful or important in there at all and it's just meant to distract you and waste time.

The tall portraits that line this hall stare down at you with their haughty gazes, as though judging you for your choice to retreat. There are four possible exits, TWO DOORS to your right, and the hallway leading both LEFT and RIGHT.