Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Shadow in the Passage

The air inside the narrow passage was suffocating, thick with dust and the scent of old wood. Elena's footsteps echoed against the uneven stone floor as she ran, her heart slamming against her ribs.

Behind her, Leon moved swiftly, his grip firm on her wrist as he guided her deeper into the unknown. But no matter how fast they moved, she could feel it—something was following them.

The sound of dragging footsteps whispered through the passage, slow at first. Then quicker.

Elena chanced a glance behind her.

At first, there was only darkness—a black void where the passage twisted and turned. But then, something moved.

A shape. A shadow that was too tall, too wrong.

It wasn't human.

Her breath caught in her throat. "Leon—"

"I know." His voice was sharp, his pace unrelenting. "Keep moving."

The narrow walls pressed in tighter as the passage sloped downward. The air grew colder, almost damp, like they were descending into something forgotten.

Then—a whisper.

Low. Sinister.

Not words. Not quite.

Elena's legs burned, her breath ragged as she stumbled, catching herself against the rough stone wall. Leon pulled her upright before she could slow them down.

Then, suddenly—a loud thud.

The walls trembled.

Elena gasped. "What was that?"

Leon didn't answer. His grip on her tightened as they turned a sharp corner, his pace increasing.

Behind them, the passage groaned as if something massive was shifting within it. Like the walls themselves were alive.

Then—another thud. Closer.

Elena didn't dare look back again.

She ran.

The Dead End

The passage twisted, turning into yet another hallway of endless darkness. Then, just as Leon turned another corner—

He stopped.

Elena nearly crashed into him. "What—?"

Then, she saw it.

A wall.

A solid, unmoving wall.

They had reached a dead end.

Panic clawed at her throat. There was no way out.

"No, no, no—" She turned frantically, her breath coming in quick gasps. The sound of heavy footsteps was getting louder behind them.

Leon's head snapped toward the ceiling, his gaze scanning. Then, he moved.

"Elena."

His voice was calm, but urgent. He reached up, pressing his fingers against the upper corner of the stone wall.

A crevice. A panel.

Without another word, he shoved it.

At first, nothing happened.

Then, with a groan, the stone shifted.

Elena gasped as a small opening revealed itself—a narrow crawlspace just big enough to squeeze through.

Leon didn't hesitate. He turned to her. "Go. Now."

She hesitated. "What about you?"

"I'll be right behind you. Move."

Elena didn't argue. She climbed, squeezing into the tight space, her hands scraping against the rough stone. The moment she was halfway through, she heard it—

A deep, guttural growl.

Right behind them.

She whipped her head around.

And saw it.

The shadow had taken shape, looming at the end of the passage. A twisted, shifting mass of darkness, with hollow, burning eyes staring straight at them.

It lunged.

"Elena, move!"

Leon shoved her the rest of the way through, just as the passage erupted with a deafening roar.