Story 819: The Abyss Hungers

The air was thick with rot.

Leon braced himself against the wall, trying to catch his breath. Mia and Evelyn stood beside him, their bodies trembling from exhaustion.

But there was no time to rest.

From beneath them, a guttural, inhuman growl rumbled through the ground. It wasn’t dead.

Mia checked her rifle, her fingers tightening around the grip. “Tell me we’re not going back down there.”

Evelyn wiped sweat from her brow. “We don’t have a choice. If that thing gets out—”

A thunderous crash shook the tunnel. The rusted hatch dented outward.

Leon stared in horror. “It’s coming.”

The hatch burst open.

It crawled out—impossible, grotesque.

The monster was larger now, its body pulsating, muscles stretching, black tendrils dripping from its limbs. Its mouth split open wider, revealing rows upon rows of jagged, glistening teeth.

And its tongue slithered forward, like a serpent tasting the air.

It spoke.

“I see you.”