Chapter 12: Into the Darkness

Alex's heart pounded as the shadows rippled behind them, slithering over the walls like serpents. The passageway ahead loomed like a black void, their only chance of escape, yet filled with the unknown. They couldn't afford to hesitate.

"Run!" Alex shouted, their voice barely audible over the rumble. Jim didn't need to be told twice. He darted ahead, pulling Alex with him, both sprinting toward the narrow opening as the walls seemed to close in around them. The shadows grew, twisting and writhing with a life of their own, inches from their heels.

With a final burst of adrenaline, they lunged into the passageway, just as the rumble behind them swelled into a deafening roar. The ground beneath them shifted, causing both to stumble, but they quickly regained their footing. Behind them, the chamber collapsed into a sea of darkness as the shadows devoured it.