Narrator

i whispered to theo and celine urgently asking if either had seen or taken the rope down earlier both shook their heads breathing heavily in panic we were trapped a faint metallic scraping sound echoed from somewhere deep in the tunnels behind us it was moving closer I recalled an old rumor about a collapsed artillery passage at the back of the fort that led toward the rail line.

We'd never verified it, but now there was no choice. There's another way out, I whispered hoarsely. Follow me and stay quiet. We moved slowly, cautiously deeper into the fort, guided only by fingertips tracing along damp bricks. The familiar gentle breeze faded away entirely as we pushed deeper, replaced by thick, oppressive stillness.

We'd never verified it, but now there was no choice. There's another way out, I whispered hoarsely. Follow me and stay quiet. We moved slowly, cautiously deeper into the fort, guided only by fingertips tracing along damp bricks. The familiar gentle breeze faded away entirely as we pushed deeper, replaced by thick, oppressive stillness.

The air felt stagnant, suffocating, heavy enough to slow each step. We paused occasionally, holding our breath, listening carefully. Every single time, one extra footstep seemed to echo quietly behind us. After one stop I heard Selene whispering in panic, Did you hear breathing? I froze, straining my ears. There it was again, a quiet, rhythmic breathing sound, wet and warm, uncomfortably close.

The air felt stagnant, suffocating, heavy enough to slow each step. We paused occasionally, holding our breath, listening carefully. Every single time, one extra footstep seemed to echo quietly behind us. After one stop I heard Selene whispering in panic, Did you hear breathing? I froze, straining my ears. There it was again, a quiet, rhythmic breathing sound, wet and warm, uncomfortably close.

Every nerve in my body screamed in fear, muscles rigid, afraid to even exhale. Then suddenly Selene gasped sharply and a sudden shuffle of movement echoed in the darkness beside me. Selene? Theo whispered desperately.

Every nerve in my body screamed in fear, muscles rigid, afraid to even exhale. Then suddenly Selene gasped sharply and a sudden shuffle of movement echoed in the darkness beside me. Selene? Theo whispered desperately.

silence nothing replied celine was gone simply taken pulled silently into darkness we hurried on hearts racing hardly daring to breathe every shallow gasp painfully loud theo was shaking beside me his hand trembling uncontrollably I felt my chest tightening, the urge to breathe deeply overwhelming, almost unbearable. Each time one of us inhaled loudly, the faint footsteps behind grew closer.

silence nothing replied celine was gone simply taken pulled silently into darkness we hurried on hearts racing hardly daring to breathe every shallow gasp painfully loud theo was shaking beside me his hand trembling uncontrollably I felt my chest tightening, the urge to breathe deeply overwhelming, almost unbearable. Each time one of us inhaled loudly, the faint footsteps behind grew closer.

As we reached a tight bend in the corridor, Theo faltered. His breathing had become ragged, punctuated by quiet, fearful sobs. I turned quickly, trying to steady him, but just as my hand reached his shoulder, something shifted abruptly beside us. Theo's breath caught harshly, and then he disappeared, torn from my grip so swiftly that I stumbled forward into empty air.

As we reached a tight bend in the corridor, Theo faltered. His breathing had become ragged, punctuated by quiet, fearful sobs. I turned quickly, trying to steady him, but just as my hand reached his shoulder, something shifted abruptly beside us. Theo's breath caught harshly, and then he disappeared, torn from my grip so swiftly that I stumbled forward into empty air.

I held my breath, body rigid, muscles screaming with tension, listening desperately for Theo. Silence. Then, horrifyingly close, slow, careful breathing returned, brushing warm air across my neck. My skin crawled violently. I bit down on my tongue to stifle a scream, tasting blood. Carefully, inch by inch, I backed toward the passage, holding my breath tightly in my chest.

I held my breath, body rigid, muscles screaming with tension, listening desperately for Theo. Silence. Then, horrifyingly close, slow, careful breathing returned, brushing warm air across my neck. My skin crawled violently. I bit down on my tongue to stifle a scream, tasting blood. Carefully, inch by inch, I backed toward the passage, holding my breath tightly in my chest.

Step by agonizing step, I navigated blindly forward, every second a battle against my body's desperate need for oxygen. My head spun from lack of air, lungs burning painfully. Finally, the tunnel turned sharply, and I felt cool night air rush against my face from somewhere ahead.

Step by agonizing step, I navigated blindly forward, every second a battle against my body's desperate need for oxygen. My head spun from lack of air, lungs burning painfully. Finally, the tunnel turned sharply, and I felt cool night air rush against my face from somewhere ahead.

In sheer desperation, I pushed forward blindly, shoulders scraping against jagged bricks, ignoring the pain, lungs about to burst. My hands grasped at moss-covered stone, and suddenly I was out, collapsing onto damp grass beneath an open sky. The air flooded my lungs painfully, sharp and cold.

In sheer desperation, I pushed forward blindly, shoulders scraping against jagged bricks, ignoring the pain, lungs about to burst. My hands grasped at moss-covered stone, and suddenly I was out, collapsing onto damp grass beneath an open sky. The air flooded my lungs painfully, sharp and cold.

Gasping, shivering uncontrollably, I twisted around, staring wide-eyed back at the dark opening from which I'd emerged. Nothing followed me. The tunnel sat quiet, empty, black as a grave. Days later, I returned with a small team during daylight. I'd contacted local authorities, insisting they investigate and close off the dangerous sections of the fort.

Gasping, shivering uncontrollably, I twisted around, staring wide-eyed back at the dark opening from which I'd emerged. Nothing followed me. The tunnel sat quiet, empty, black as a grave. Days later, I returned with a small team during daylight. I'd contacted local authorities, insisting they investigate and close off the dangerous sections of the fort.

As we moved slowly through the tunnels again, the beams of our flashlights revealed familiar corridors, now strangely harmless under the glow of bright LED bulbs. When we reached the chapel, my heart skipped sharply. On the wall near where we had discovered the old notebook was a fresh carving. It stood out clearly against the older scratches, deep and jagged, the edges rough with brick dust.