Narrator

this has to be it trevor said clearing brush aside zeke looked hesitant but nodded we unpacked our headlamps and tested them the beams flickered weakly in the daylight hardly comforting then one by one we crawled inside The pipe was narrower than it looked. My elbows scraped against the rusted walls as I crawled on hands and knees. Immediately the temperature dropped, the air heavy and stale.

this has to be it trevor said clearing brush aside zeke looked hesitant but nodded we unpacked our headlamps and tested them the beams flickered weakly in the daylight hardly comforting then one by one we crawled inside The pipe was narrower than it looked. My elbows scraped against the rusted walls as I crawled on hands and knees. Immediately the temperature dropped, the air heavy and stale.

Within a few dozen feet, daylight had entirely vanished behind us. We were submerged in complete darkness except for the thin cones of our lamps illuminating bits of rust, grime, and cobwebs. "'How far does this go?' Zeke whispered, his voice echoing weirdly. "'About six hundred feet to a junction,' Trevor answered quietly, leading us deeper.

Within a few dozen feet, daylight had entirely vanished behind us. We were submerged in complete darkness except for the thin cones of our lamps illuminating bits of rust, grime, and cobwebs. "'How far does this go?' Zeke whispered, his voice echoing weirdly. "'About six hundred feet to a junction,' Trevor answered quietly, leading us deeper.

I tried to focus only on the rhythm of crawling, ignoring how tight and oppressive the walls felt around me. We pressed on in silence, breaths loud and shallow in the enclosed space. The pipe seemed to narrow gradually, pushing down on my shoulders, squeezing until my heart pounded.

I tried to focus only on the rhythm of crawling, ignoring how tight and oppressive the walls felt around me. We pressed on in silence, breaths loud and shallow in the enclosed space. The pipe seemed to narrow gradually, pushing down on my shoulders, squeezing until my heart pounded.

Claustrophobia was always there, lurking, but something felt especially off this time, more than usual anxiety, deeper. Finally, after what seemed like forever, we spilled out into a larger concrete room, a junction point typical of storm drains. Circular walls stretched upward to a rusted manhole cover far above, dripping water forming puddles on the floor.

Claustrophobia was always there, lurking, but something felt especially off this time, more than usual anxiety, deeper. Finally, after what seemed like forever, we spilled out into a larger concrete room, a junction point typical of storm drains. Circular walls stretched upward to a rusted manhole cover far above, dripping water forming puddles on the floor.

I inhaled deeply, relieved to stretch out, and turned slowly, illuminating three smaller pipes branching off. "'Looks like we've got options,' Trevor said nervously. One pipe was marked with a faded splash of red paint, probably left by a maintenance crew decades ago. Another looked partially collapsed." The third was small but open, just barely wide enough to slither through on your stomach.

I inhaled deeply, relieved to stretch out, and turned slowly, illuminating three smaller pipes branching off. "'Looks like we've got options,' Trevor said nervously. One pipe was marked with a faded splash of red paint, probably left by a maintenance crew decades ago. Another looked partially collapsed." The third was small but open, just barely wide enough to slither through on your stomach.

Zeke eyed it warily. I'm not sure, Zeke started. Come on, Zeke, Trevor laughed softly, forcing enthusiasm. We used to do way worse than this. Zeke hesitated, then sighed, giving in. Fine, I'll lead this one, but if it gets any tighter I'm turning around. Deal, I whispered back.

Zeke eyed it warily. I'm not sure, Zeke started. Come on, Zeke, Trevor laughed softly, forcing enthusiasm. We used to do way worse than this. Zeke hesitated, then sighed, giving in. Fine, I'll lead this one, but if it gets any tighter I'm turning around. Deal, I whispered back.

though something about the pipe unsettled me-a black tunnel impossibly narrow zeke went first sliding on to his stomach trevor followed then me within moments the oppressive weight of concrete surrounded me again closer than ever each breath tasted stale mingling with rust and moisture My elbows scraped painfully against gritty concrete, but I kept crawling, feeling trapped by my own choice.

though something about the pipe unsettled me-a black tunnel impossibly narrow zeke went first sliding on to his stomach trevor followed then me within moments the oppressive weight of concrete surrounded me again closer than ever each breath tasted stale mingling with rust and moisture My elbows scraped painfully against gritty concrete, but I kept crawling, feeling trapped by my own choice.

We made slow progress until Zeke suddenly stopped. "'There's something here,' he called back, voice echoing strangely. "'Blocking the pipe. I think it's a dead animal.' "'Can you get past it?' Trevor urged impatiently." We can't exactly turn around here. I heard Zeke breathing quicker, shallow gasps of disgust. Oh God, I don't know. It feels gross. Warm. Warm. My stomach churned.

We made slow progress until Zeke suddenly stopped. "'There's something here,' he called back, voice echoing strangely. "'Blocking the pipe. I think it's a dead animal.' "'Can you get past it?' Trevor urged impatiently." We can't exactly turn around here. I heard Zeke breathing quicker, shallow gasps of disgust. Oh God, I don't know. It feels gross. Warm. Warm. My stomach churned.

Just go over it quickly, Zeke. He groaned, retching quietly. Fine, fine. I heard scraping as he crawled over, his voice panicky. "'Oh God, it's all over me! Hurry up!' My heart pounded as I moved forward. In the dim circle of my lamp I saw it, a dark, shapeless lump filling half the pipe. My stomach clenched.

Just go over it quickly, Zeke. He groaned, retching quietly. Fine, fine. I heard scraping as he crawled over, his voice panicky. "'Oh God, it's all over me! Hurry up!' My heart pounded as I moved forward. In the dim circle of my lamp I saw it, a dark, shapeless lump filling half the pipe. My stomach clenched.

As my body brushed against it, I felt a sickening warmth, my fingers sinking slightly into the mass, fur-like and slimy. The smell hit me next, like rotten meat mixed with chemicals, burning my throat." I fought the urge to vomit and forced myself quickly over the foul obstacle. Trevor cursed softly behind me. What the hell is that? I don't know, I said weakly.

As my body brushed against it, I felt a sickening warmth, my fingers sinking slightly into the mass, fur-like and slimy. The smell hit me next, like rotten meat mixed with chemicals, burning my throat." I fought the urge to vomit and forced myself quickly over the foul obstacle. Trevor cursed softly behind me. What the hell is that? I don't know, I said weakly.