The creature's growl reverberated through the ancient chamber, an eerie echo that seemed to come from every corner. Stella barely had time to register its movement before it lunged at them, its claws slashing through the air. She rolled to the side, just narrowly avoiding a fatal blow, her heart pounding in her chest.
Bryan wasn't as lucky. The creature knocked him back with a powerful swipe, sending him crashing into one of the crumbling stone pillars. He groaned, clutching his side in pain as he struggled to get back on his feet.
"Bryan!" Stella called out, her voice strained as she turned to face the monster. It was a hulking figure, its body shrouded in darkness, with glowing red eyes that pierced the gloom. Every instinct screamed for her to run, but she couldn't. Emma's fate depended on them retrieving the mirror. She couldn't afford to fail.
"Go for the legs!" Bryan shouted, stumbling to his feet with his knife drawn.
