The silence that followed the awakening of the statues was as deafening as a thunderclap. Annie stood frozen, the shard in her hand pulsating wildly, its glow now almost blinding. The towering stone guardians encircling the chamber loomed over her and Ethan, their eyes blazing with an unearthly light. Dust and gravel fell from their massive forms as they groaned to life, their movements deliberate and intimidating.
“What do we do?” Annie whispered, clutching the shard as if it could shield her from the looming threat.
Ethan didn’t respond immediately. His gaze darted around the room, analyzing every possible escape route. His dagger, gleaming faintly in the shard’s light, felt pitifully small compared to the stone giants now converging on them.
“They’re not moving fast,” Ethan finally s
