Story 421: Into the Hollow Depths

The team emerged from the blast’s aftermath into another tunnel, its walls no longer jagged but eerily smooth, as though carved with precision. The dim glow of lanterns had disappeared, leaving only the faint hum of the emergency lights attached to their gear. The oppressive silence was unnerving, broken only by the faint drip of water echoing in the distance.

"Where are we now?" Shadow asked, her voice low but strained.

Rook glanced at the scanner in Ghost’s hands. "Ghost?"

She adjusted the device, the screen flickering briefly. "The energy spike isn’t gone—it shifted. Whatever we destroyed wasn’t the source, just a node. The real source is deeper. About 200 meters straight ahead, but…" She hesitated.

"But what?" Viper pressed, her hands gripping the hilt of her twin blades.

"It’s fluctuating," Ghost continued. "Almost like it’s aware of us."