The moment Susan crossed the threshold into the temple, the air changed. It felt colder, heavier, like she had stepped into another world entirely. The dim light that filtered in through cracks in the stone walls seemed to be swallowed by the darkness ahead. Every sound echoed unnaturally, bouncing off the walls in a way that made it impossible to tell where it was coming from.
Susan’s heart pounded in her chest, her breath quick and shallow. She could feel the weight of the ancient magic in the air, thick and oppressive. The power that had drawn her here pulsed all around her, but it wasn’t comforting. It was terrifying. She didn’t feel ready for this, not at all.
James was right behind her, his presence a steady force, but even he seemed tense. His green eyes, usually so calm, were nar
