Echoes in the Dark

4393 words

Episode 11: Echoes in the Dark The scream rips through the tunnel again, jagged and raw, bouncing off the stone walls until it feels like it’s coming from everywhere. Elias stumbles, his boots skidding on the damp ground, the key in his hand nearly slipping from his sweat-slick fingers. His pulse hammers in his ears, drowning out everything but that wet, tearing sound—a sound he can’t shake, a memory of flesh giving way under something sharp and relentless. The air down here is thick, heavy with the stench of rot and something metallic, like old blood. It clings to the back of his throat, making every breath a struggle. “Move!” Rylan’s voice cuts through, sharp and urgent, his hand clamping down on Elias’s shoulder. He shoves hard, pushing Elias forward, away from the echoing scream. The tunnel ahead is narrow, the walls glistening with moisture, jagged edges catching the faint light from the flickering torch Rylan holds. Shadows twist and dance, turning every crevice into a threat. Elias’s legs burn as he picks up speed, his free hand scraping against the rough stone for balance, the cold biting into his palm. Behind them, the slithering grows louder, a sickening drag of something heavy across the ground, punctuated by sharp clicks—like claws on rock. It’s closer now, too close, and Elias...