Suddenly, a sound broke the silence, a rhythmic clapping that echoed through the dilapidated halls. Each clap reverberated, creeping closer, sending shivers racing down her spine.
Lucia strained to listen, her heart hammering in her chest like a frantic drum. The noise grew louder and more pronounced with each passing moment, merging with the frantic rhythm of her own breathing.
Then, as if summoned by the collective echo, the lights flickered to life, flooding the room with illumination. It was then Lucia saw them, a group of five figures clad in black, their faces obscured by smooth black masks.
They moved as one, a dance of shadows and mystery that sent a wave of terror crashing over her.
One stepped forward, a woman whose presence was striking even beneath her mask.
