The air inside the house was suffocating, the darkness oppressive as Ludwig and Alva pressed forward. The eerie silence was occasionally broken by the soul-wrenching wails of the frenzied djinn crashing against walls and tearing through the structure like living infernos. Each impact reverberated through the building, shaking loose dust and bits of plaster.
The sight of one such djinn suddenly bursting through a nearby wall startled Alva, drawing an involuntary yelp from her lips.
Ludwig moved like a shadow, his hand darting up to cover her mouth. His eyes bore into hers, sharp and commanding. "Didn't I say I'd drop you the moment you became a liability?" he hissed.
"I... I apologize," Alva whispered, visibly shaken. "It caught me off guard."
Ludwig sighed, glancing down the corridor to ensure her outburst hadn't alerted anyone—or anything. Thankfully, the cacophony of the djinn's rampage drowned out her voice. He moved on, more cautious now.
