Chapter 135: Set-Up
Axel and Josh bolted through the winding, narrow tunnels, their hurried footsteps echoing off the jagged stone walls. Every shadow seemed to stretch and twist in the dim, flickering light of their lanterns, casting unsettling shapes around them. The air was thick with the smell of damp earth, and the further they ventured, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. They had to move quickly—there was no time for stealth, and any delay could prove fatal. Loki was the weakest of the trio, and if he was already in danger, Axel and Josh couldn't afford to waste a second.
Axel glanced over at Josh as they sprinted side by side. He could feel it too—the weight pressing against his chest, the undeniable presence of something far more powerful than they had anticipated lurking in the depths of this cave. It gnawed at his insides, a growing sense of dread that clung to him like a second skin.
