The tunnel twisted downward, its walls pulsing with a faint, otherworldly glow. Every step Janae and Sezzle took echoed unnaturally, the cavern amplifying even the smallest sound. The air was thick and electric, vibrating with the presence of something—or someone—stalking them.
Sezzle's flashlight flickered violently. "Man… why does it feel like something's breathing down our necks?"
Janae pressed her lips together, eyes narrowing. "Because it is. Whatever's behind us… it's patient. It's waiting for the perfect moment."
A sharp screech sliced through the air, bouncing off the walls. Janae yanked Sezzle back by the arm, but this time she didn't panic. Her senses reached outward, stretching into the vibrations in the cavern, searching for the creature's presence.
"There," she whispered, pointing. A shadow flickered, moving independently of the light. "It's close. Too close."
Sezzle's throat tightened. "And it's still coming?"
Janae's gaze hardened. "Yeah. But… I think I can sense it. It's hunting us. And somehow… it's afraid of me."
Suddenly, the shadows twisted, coalescing into a humanoid shape with glowing eyes. Sezzle stumbled back with a scream, nearly toppling over. Janae extended her hands, energy thrumming through her fingertips. The creature recoiled, pausing as if her presence was a wall it couldn't cross.
"We need to keep moving," Janae urged. "I can't hold it off forever."
They sprinted deeper into the tunnel. Strange symbols along the walls pulsed in response to Janae's energy, casting flickering light over jagged rocks and uneven ground. Every corner held the threat of another trap—or something worse. The cavern seemed alive, shifting around them, testing them.
Ahead, the tunnel opened into a massive chamber. The ceiling vanished into darkness, and faintly glowing glyphs littered the floor. Ethereal figures drifted silently, watching. The creature followed, unseen but present, its cold hunger palpable.
Janae drew a steadying breath. "We stick together. Survive first. Figure this place out after."
Sezzle squeezed her arm, voice trembling. "Lead the way… and just… don't let that thing touch me, okay?"
Step by step, Janae felt her confidence grow. Her powers weren't just a warning anymore—they were weapons. And whatever lurked in the shadows would soon learn the girls weren't as helpless as it thought.
A low, menacing growl rumbled from the darkness behind them. The hunt had only just begun.