The ominous silence that had enveloped them after the ambush was shattered by a sudden, blood-curdling scream echoing through the cavernous lair. Isabella froze mid-step, her heart pounding in her chest. The sound was unmistakably human, but the agony in it sent chills down her spine.
"That's not just fear," Malrik muttered, his crimson eyes narrowing as he scanned the dimly lit corridor ahead. "That's the sound of someone—or something—being torn apart."
Isabella clutched the Heartstone tighter, its pulse unnervingly irregular. "We can't keep running blind into the dark. We need a plan."
Caelum shook his head, his bow at the ready. "There's no time for plans. If whoever screamed is still alive, we—"
"We do nothing," Malrik interjected sharply. "It's bait. The Hollow wants to draw us in."
Before they could argue further, the walls of the cavern shifted. A grinding noise like stone against stone reverberated as the ground trembled beneath their feet. Isabella stumbled, her hand bracing against the wall as fissures opened in the floor, revealing an abyss of swirling shadows below.
"It's closing in on us!" Caelum shouted.
Malrik spun around, his blade glinting darkly. "Run!"
The three of them sprinted forward as the corridor collapsed behind them, the air growing colder with each step. The flickering light from Isabella's Heartstone illuminated a grotesque mural etched into the walls. Twisted figures, their faces contorted in pain, seemed to watch them as they ran.
"What is this place?" Isabella gasped, her breath visible in the frigid air.
"A feeding ground," Malrik said grimly. "The Hollow traps souls here, drains them of everything until there's nothing left but—"
He stopped abruptly, his eyes narrowing at the end of the corridor where a massive iron door loomed. It was adorned with a serpentine symbol that seemed to writhe and shift under their gaze.
"That's it," Malrik said, his voice low. "The way forward."
"And what's behind it?" Caelum asked, his tone skeptical.
Malrik didn't answer. Instead, he stepped forward, his hand hesitating over the door's handle. Before he could pull it open, the shadows behind them surged forward, forming a massive figure with glowing red eyes and elongated claws.
"Malrik!" Isabella shouted, raising her dagger as the Heartstone flared with light. The creature recoiled briefly but recovered, its growl reverberating through the cavern.
"We're out of time!" Caelum shouted, loosing an arrow that passed harmlessly through the shadowy form.
Malrik threw the door open, revealing a staircase spiraling downward into the unknown. "Move!" he barked.
They bolted through the door, Malrik slamming it shut behind them just as the shadow lunged. The impact echoed like thunder, and the door's serpentine symbol glowed briefly before fading.
The staircase was narrow and steep, descending into an oppressive darkness that seemed to press against them from all sides. The Heartstone's light flickered, casting eerie shadows on the walls.
"What now?" Isabella whispered.
"We keep going," Malrik said. "This place will try to break us, but we don't stop until"
A deafening roar interrupted him, shaking the very foundation of the stairs. The sound was followed by the unmistakable sensation of movement. The staircase was shifting, twisting as though alive.
"It's trying to separate us!" Caelum shouted. "Hold on to each other!"
Isabella reached for Malrik's arm, but the floor beneath her gave way, and she plunged into the darkness below. Her scream was swallowed by the void as the Heartstone's light disappeared from sight.
"Isabella!" Caelum's voice echoed, panic evident.
Malrik's expression darkened. "We'll find her," he said, his voice cold but resolute. "We have to."
As the staircase stabilized, Malrik and Caelum were left standing in an eerie silence, the oppressive darkness around them feeling heavier than ever. Somewhere in the distance, another scream echoed—this time unmistakably Isabella's.
To Be Continued...