"Who's there?" jerry called, his voice trembling.
The figure did not respond. Instead, it slowly raised its hand, pointing toward the ground. Jerry and viya followed its gaze and froze. The ground beneath them had cracked open, revealing a dark pit. From within it, a deep, throbbing hum emanated, like the beating of some monstrous heart.
"Get back!" viya screamed, grabbing jerry 's arm. But it was too late.
The whispers intensified, a cacophony of voices now screaming in their ears. The earth trembled, and the cloaked figure stepped forward, its hood falling back. The face that stared at them was not human. Its eyes were wide and empty, hollow sockets that seemed to peer into their souls.
"You shouldn't have come," the figure rasped, its voice echoing with an unnatural resonance.