The tunnel stretched on endlessly, its damp walls closing in with every single step. The air was cold and heavy, carrying the faint echoes of the chaos above. Mia stumbled over loose stones, her breath ragged as she fought to keep pace with the others.
Zoe walked beside her, every muscle tense, her knife still gripped tightly in her hand. Caleb led the group, his flashlight casting flickering beams of light against the uneven walls. Behind them, Finn brought up the rear, his knife ready for whatever might emerge from the shadows.
The whispers in Mia's mind had quieted, but their absence was unsettling. It felt like the calm before a storm.
"How much farther?" Finn's voice broke the silence, his tone edged with irritation.
"Not far," Caleb replied, though his tone was uncertain.
Mia glanced back at Finn, then to Zoe. "Do you think they're still following us?"
Zoe's jaw tightened. "If they are, they'll regret it."
