Amelia, her lungs burning from exertion, stumbled to a halt beside Liam. The air hung heavy with the stench of dust and something metallic, a grim reminder of the creature they'd outsmarted. Her gaze darted towards the churning orange sky, searching for any sign of pursuit.
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVH2SMB7G0
"Think they bought it?" she rasped, clutching her side where a stray claw had grazed her.
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalDZFzRlrz
Liam wiped sweat from his brow, his weathered face etched with relief. "For now," he said, his voice gruff. "But that beast won't stay distracted for long. We need to move, find a way to activate this damned exit."
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWdVK8JaVs
He gestured towards the tablet clutched in Amelia's hand, its surface pulsing faintly. Amelia, ever the analyst, ran her fingers across the holographic map.
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bLpHdqPp9
"The red dot's definitely an exit," she confirmed, her voice tight with urgency. "But it shows a network of tunnels beneath us. We'll have to navigate those to reach it."
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tbtA6OQqa
A shiver ran down Amelia's spine. Tunnels. Confined spaces, perfect for an ambush by a vengeful creature. But they had no choice. Open ground offered no protection, and the building behind them was liable to crumble at any moment.
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBb3MyFu4cg
"Alright," she said, forcing a steely edge to her voice. "Let's go. Liam, you lead the way. Your agility might come in handy down there."
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MsPCgxMIK
Liam nodded curtly, already scanning for a hidden entrance. Rishang, ever the optimist, offered a small smile.
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lYw0ysnA1
"Think of it as an adventure," he said, his eyes gleaming with a mix of fear and excitement. "Exploring the forgotten underbelly of this alien world."
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xIMwvRJ01
Amelia rolled her eyes, but a spark of begrudging agreement flickered within her. They were in a desperate situation, but right now, a shared sense of purpose felt better than the suffocating dread that had gripped them earlier.
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8E2D5GEaXn
Liam located a hidden panel on the rooftop, revealing a narrow, metal hatch. He squeezed through first, his agile form disappearing into the darkness. Rishang followed, his movements more hesitant but determined.
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GVsUfTLRP
Amelia took a deep breath, the stale air scraping against her raw throat. This was it. The point of no return. With a silent vow to get them all out of this nightmare alive, she squeezed through the hatch, the darkness closing in behind her.
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXFFV9JcRp
The air in the tunnel was thick and stale, carrying the same metallic tang they'd encountered in the building. The walls were rough-hewn stone, damp and slick to the touch. The only light came from Liam's flashlight, its beam cutting through the oppressive darkness and revealing a network of twisting passages branching out before them.
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnChF9rbq3P
Their journey became a blur of cramped spaces, tight squeezes, and the constant fear of something lurking in the shadows. The whispers they'd heard in the building seemed to echo here too, fainter but no less unsettling.
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiC7IB1fSFy
Hours stretched into what felt like an eternity. Exhaustion gnawed at them, their bodies protesting with every step. They kept moving, fueled by adrenaline and a desperate hope of finding the exit.
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9POevWvvS
Then, just as despair threatened to consume them, the tunnel opened into a wider chamber. A faint blue light emanated from the far end, casting an eerie glow on the cavernous space.
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEBEUdwhsD
Relief flooded Amelia's system. Could this be the exit? But as they drew closer, a sense of foreboding settled over them. The blue light emanated from a vast machine, its metallic surface covered in strange symbols that seemed to writhe and pulsate.
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpp4k9tevMs
And in front of the machine, a lone figure stood silhouetted against the blue glow. The figure was tall and cloaked, its features obscured by the shadows. A sense of danger prickled at Amelia's skin. This wasn't just another inhabitant of this alien world. This figure emanated an aura of power, of control.
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzl1KSbpsAp
As they approached cautiously, the figure turned, its head tilting slightly. In the dim light, Amelia could just make out the glint of two reptilian eyes. A voice, smooth yet laced with an underlying threat, echoed through the chamber.
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmt9lQJ8lCm
"Welcome," it said. "You shouldn't be here."
ns216.73.216.10da2
→ Request update
and then Add to home screen.