The narrow passage loomed ahead, its jagged edges like the teeth of some great beast. The whispers in Mia's mind were deafening now, a chaotic symphony urging her forward. She stumbled, her hand brushing the cold stone wall for balance.
"Hurry!" Caleb shouted, his voice echoing down the canyon.
The group plunged into the passage, the creatures' guttural growls reverberating behind them. The walls closed in, forcing them into a single-file line as they pressed deeper into the darkness. The air was damp, the silence broken only by their labored breaths and the distant sound of pursuit.
"Do you see anything?" Finn hissed from the rear, his voice tinged with panic.
"Keep moving," Ruby barked, her tone clipped.
The passage twisted and turned, its uneven floor slick with moisture. Zoe stayed close to Mia, her knife drawn and her gaze sharp.
"You doing okay?" Zoe asked, her voice low.
