Story 828: Lurking Hunger

The silence in the collapsed tunnel was unnatural. Dust still hung in the air, the scent of charred flesh and scorched rock thick in their lungs. Mia’s hands trembled as she reloaded her weapon, eyes fixed on the ruined passage behind them.

Was it dead?

Lucas leaned his head against the cold metal of the maintenance door. “Tell me that worked.” His voice was hoarse, hopeful.

Evelyn didn’t answer.

Instead, she pressed her ear against the wall.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

A slow, wet sound, like something viscous seeping through cracks.

Mia noticed it too. “Oh, hell no.”

Leon groaned, still slumped against the wall. Blood soaked through his torn sleeve, his arm broken beyond recognition. Evelyn knelt beside him, assessing the injury, but her mind was elsewhere.

Something wasn’t right.

The laughter had stopped.

Lucas straightened, noticing her hesitation. “Evie?”

She didn’t respond. A shadow shifted in the dim light.

Her breath caught.

“Run.”