Lucien gritted his teeth, pushing himself to run faster. The hallway seemed endless, each stretch looking identical to the last.
Moonlight seeped through the tall, arched windows, illuminating his path and casting long shadows that danced eerily on the walls.
He took sharp turns, hoping to lose Avalerry in the maze-like structure of the place. His mind raced with thoughts of escape, but her laughter echoed around him, mocking his efforts.
"Is she following me?" he wondered, the clarity of her voice unnerving him.
Sweat trickled down his face as he glanced over his shoulder, seeing nothing but the empty corridor behind him.
The hallway began to feel repetitive, each corner looking more familiar than the last. Panic bubbled up inside him as he realized he was running in circles.
He skidded to a halt, breathing heavily. Confused and desperate, he noticed a door to his right.
