Ethan stood at the edge of the freshly dug grave, the shovel heavy in his hands. His fingers trembled as he placed the last few shovelfuls of dirt on top of his dog's tiny, wooden casket. The sky was overcast, a dull gray that mirrored the emptiness inside him. His heart ached with a pain he couldn't quite name, but the reality of it was clear—his best friend was gone.
Toby had been with him for almost as long as he could remember, and now, with one final scoop, Ethan said goodbye.
"I'll never forget you, buddy."
The words felt hollow as they left his lips, but there was no one else to say them to. The old cemetery was quiet, save for the soft rustling of trees swaying in the breeze. Ethan wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, trying to push away the tears that threatened to spill.
It was a dreary afternoon in late autumn, and the chill in the air made the task even harder. It was his fault, really. He'd been out too late with friends when Toby had slipped out the back gate and into traffic. Ethan had barely made it home before the call came. By the time he got to the vet, it was too late.
Now, he was alone.
The wind picked up, carrying a faint whisper that seemed to come from the shadows. Ethan shook it off, trying to ignore the strange feeling creeping up his spine. It was probably just the cold, he told himself. Or maybe the exhaustion. He hadn't slept in over 24 hours, his eyes blurry and unfocused, but he had to finish this.
The air around him shifted, as if the entire graveyard held its breath. Ethan straightened, looking around. He thought he saw movement out of the corner of his eye, but when he turned, there was nothing there. His chest tightened, but he forced a breath.
'Get a grip, Ethan. You're just tired.'
The wind howled again, stronger this time, like it was alive. Ethan shivered, pulling his jacket tighter around him. He took one last look at the grave, his heart sinking as he knelt and placed a small stone marker over the mound of dirt.
That's when it happened.
A low rumble, almost like a distant thunderclap, shook the ground beneath his feet. The trees around the cemetery creaked in protest, their branches twisting unnaturally. Ethan stumbled back, his breath catching in his throat. Was it an earthquake? It didn't feel right. The ground beneath him was trembling, vibrating with an intensity that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
And then—everything went black.
Ethan gasped as the world around him collapsed into a blur. His knees buckled, and before he could even scream, the ground beneath him opened up, pulling him into the earth.
He fell.
For what felt like hours, Ethan plummeted through an endless tunnel of swirling darkness. His stomach churned with nausea as his body twisted and turned, weightless and disoriented. He tried to reach out, to grab anything, but there was nothing but blackness.