Gavin gulped audibly, the realization hitting him like a punch to the gut. "I… I could've died if I'd fallen in there completely," he stammered, his voice shaking.
"Well, thank your stars that you didn't," Ethan whispered to Garvin, his voice low. Garvin nodded in agreement, his gaze fixed on the scene before them.
The group stood in stunned silence, their eyes still glued to the deadly trap at the center of the pit.
The blonde-haired man, who appeared to be the leader of the pit's inhabitants, stepped forward. He held himself with calm authority, though his expression betrayed a hint of weariness. "My name is Ryder Cole," he said, his voice firm but carrying a touch of friendliness. "And this is our refuge. We've been living here for months."
"Months?!" Scarlett and her group echoed in unison, their eyes widening in shock.
