ESCAPE II

With a burst of effort, she dove into the crevice, her body scraping against the rough rock as she squeezed through. The darkness closed in around her, the air thick with dust and the scent of earth. She could feel the Count Spirit's presence just behind her, his energy pressing against the walls of the crevice, trying to reach her.

Ariel gritted her teeth and pushed forward, her muscles burning with the effort. The crevice was narrow and winding, forcing her to contort her body to navigate through it. The rocks cut into her skin, drawing blood, but she didn't slow down. She could hear the spirit's voice—a low, menacing whisper that echoed through the crevice, promising pain and death.

But Ariel refused to give in to fear. She had come too far to be caught now. She had faced the impossible before, and she would do it again. With a final burst of strength, she pushed through the last of the crevice, emerging on the other side into a small, hidden cave.