The rumble began like a whisper, a shiver in the bones of the earth, growing louder, more insistent. The tunnel shook, dust and small stones raining down on Ava and her companions. Behind them, the walls groaned, then cracked, giving way to a deafening crash as the tunnel collapsed, sealing off their only known escape route. They were trapped, the echoes of the collapse fading into the cold, oppressive silence.
"Move!" the shadowy figure commanded, his voice cutting through the haze of dust and fear that had descended upon them. There was no time to argue, no time to mourn the loss of their retreat. The only way was forward, deeper into the unknown.
