When Walls Breathe

Now, with Shirley snoring softly in the corner, Ezra finally had time to think. For the moment, they were safe, but his mind was a storm of unanswered questions.

'What does the tree have to do with the monster? What is it looking for? The chamber, the glyphs, Sol—how are they all connected? And why did this all feel so… orchestrated?'

The more Ezra thought, the more his unease grew. But one thing stood out—Shirley's strange behavior. It wasn't just unusual; it was alarming. The man was always on his feet, full of sarcastic remarks and energy. Yet now, all he did was sleep. The change had started the moment they entered the forest and climbed that massive tree.

"Is it the tree?" Ezra muttered under his breath. His thoughts spiraled as he recalled the oppressive aura that seemed to radiate from its ancient bark. Was it draining them? Or worse, influencing them in some way?

The questions kept piling up, each more frustrating than the last. Desperate for answers, Ezra moved closer to Shirley, his gaze sharpening as he observed the man more carefully.

Heavy shadows darkened Shirley's eyes, giving him the appearance of someone who hadn't slept in days. His once-dark hair, now streaked with gray, made him look older, weary in a way Ezra had never seen before.

Ezra frowned, his eyes trailing down to notice something even more unsettling.

Shirley's clothes hung loosely from his frame, the fabric sagging as if he'd lost weight in a matter of days. His belt barely held his pants up, and his sleeves drooped over arms that had once been strong and steady.

Ezra crouched beside him, his stomach twisting. "What happened to you?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Shirley's breathing was steady, but it sounded heavier, more labored than before. His complexion had paled, and his face looked thinner, the lines around his mouth and eyes more pronounced. It was as if the man was aging right before Ezra's eyes.

Ezra ran a hand through his messy hair, pacing the chamber as his thoughts raced.

"It's the tree… it has to be. Or maybe the forest… or the chamber?" He glanced at the glowing glyphs on the walls, their faint hum filling the silence. Everything here felt alive, connected, and dangerous.

He paused mid-step, rubbing his temples.

"What if this is all a dream?" he murmured, the idea hitting him like a desperate lifeline. "A very realistic, incredibly weird dream… and I'll wake up tomorrow morning, back on the street." He clasped his hands together, his lips curling into a small, hopeful smile. "Yeah, that's it. I'll wake up, and none of this will matter."

A low growl from Sol broke Ezra out of his thoughts. Her ears twitched, and she stood in a defensive position, her sleek body tense, tail rigid and still.

"What is it, girl?" Ezra asked, his voice cautious as he turned to her.

She didn't look at him, her sharp gaze locked on something ahead. Ezra followed her line of sight and frowned. She was staring straight at one of the chamber walls.

"There's nothing there," he said, his tone uncertain as he tried to reassure himself as much as her.

But Sol didn't move. Her growl deepened slightly, a warning rumble that vibrated in the otherwise silent chamber. She remained rooted, her muscles taut, eyes unblinking. Ezra sighed, stepping closer to the wall she was fixated on.

"See? There's nothing here, Sol," he said, standing in front of the wall and pressing his palm lightly against the cool, rough surface. He glanced back at her, expecting some kind of reaction. "It's just a wall."

Sol relaxed a little, her tail twitching slightly as her growl faded into silence. But Ezra still felt a gnawing unease. 'What had caused her to react so sharply?'

Determined to prove there was nothing to worry about, Ezra leaned closer, pressing his ear against the wall. At first, there was nothing but the faint hum of the chamber and the distant sound of his own breathing. He stayed there for a moment longer, waiting for… something.

Just as he was about to pull away, a faint, rhythmic thud reached his ears. He froze, his breath hitching as he strained to listen. The sound was distant, muffled by layers of stone, but unmistakable.

Thud… Thud… Thud…

His heart began to race as the sound grew more distinct, the rhythm unsettlingly deliberate. Ezra slowly pulled back, his lavender eyes narrowing as he stared at the wall in front of him.

"Okay…" he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible. "That's definitely not normal."

Sol was beside him now, her sharp eyes glinting with suspicion as she watched the wall intently. She let out another low growl, her fur bristling slightly.