The hallway was dead silent, a heavy kind of silence that made every creak of the floor and flicker of the torches feel louder.
James stood in the middle of it, his back straight but his breathing uneven, his chest rising and falling as he tried to stay calm.
Three strong spirits surrounded him, blocking all his exits. Their glowing eyes stared at him, unblinking and full of malice.
The pressure coming off their bodies made the air shimmer, and James could feel sweat sliding down his face, but he ignored it. His mind was focused.
James glanced to the left, then the right, and then behind him, hoping to see… something. A guard, a way out—anything.
Nothing. Just the spirits and the bright walls.
His fingers twitched, his thoughts racing. 'I need time. Just a little more time' He kept his face blank, but inside, his mind was a storm. 'Maybe I can stall them long enough for help to arrive. Maybe…'
