Chapter 4: The Hidden Chamber
The air grew colder as they descended into the darkness. The narrow staircase creaked under their weight, and the faint glow from their phones barely illuminated the walls around them. With each step, Kaito's heart thudded louder in his chest. The further they went, the more oppressive the silence felt.
Finally, the stairs ended, and they stepped into a dimly lit chamber. The walls were lined with ancient carvings, the same strange symbols from the plate etched into every surface. The room was enormous, its ceiling lost in shadow, but what stood out most was the large stone altar in the center.
"This place... feels wrong," Haru said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Kaito nodded, his gaze fixed on the altar. It was as if the room had been waiting for them. "What is this place? Who built it?"
Yuki stepped forward, examining the symbols more closely. "These carvings... they don't make any sense. It's like they were meant to keep something hidden."
Kaito moved toward the altar, unable to resist. As his fingers brushed the stone, a sudden jolt of energy shot through him, and the ground beneath them trembled.
"Did you feel that?" Yuki gasped.
Before Kaito could answer, the walls began to shift. A low rumble echoed through the chamber as hidden doors slid open, revealing more tunnels leading further into the depths of the island.
A voice, faint and distant, seemed to whisper from somewhere deep within. "You shouldn't have come."
Kaito's stomach dropped. The air around them felt heavier now, more oppressive. They weren't alone.
"We need to leave," Haru urged, but Kaito couldn't tear his eyes away from the altar.
This island wasn't just a place. It was a prison. And they had just unlocked its secrets.
To be continued-