(Chapter 76:Mira's Pov)
The moment we crossed into the swamp, it felt like stepping into another world—one where time and reality twisted into something unrecognizable. The air was damp, thick with the scent of rot, and the ground shifted beneath our feet as if it breathed. Shadows moved where there shouldn't be any, whispering in voices I almost recognized.
Thorne walked ahead, his usual arrogance dimmed by something heavier—hesitation, maybe even dread. That alone sent unease crawling up my spine.
"You've been here before," I said. It wasn't a question.
His jaw clenched. "Once."
Lorenzo's sharp gaze flicked toward him. "And?"
Thorne exhaled, shoulders tightening. "And I barely made it out."
I exchanged a glance with Lorenzo, but neither of us spoke. If someone like Thorne had trouble escaping this place, then we were walking straight into something worse than we imagined.
The Swamp's Grip