The hallway was chaos incarnate.
Dust choked the air, thick and suffocating. Shadows writhed on the cracked walls, as if the darkness itself were alive and hunting. Debris littered the floor, forcing Ariana to stumble with every step, but Adrian’s hands were always there—catching her, guiding her, pressing her back against his body when the attackers struck.
“This way!” Adrian shouted, voice sharp, commanding. “Keep moving!”
Ariana’s lungs burned. Her chest ached. Fear and adrenaline twisted together like a cruel vice. “Adrian… I can’t—”
“Yes, you can!” he snapped, jaw tight, eyes blazing. “Stay close! Don’t look away!”
Another shadow lunged from the corner. Adrian reacted with lightning speed, spinning, kicking, punching. Ariana felt the vibrations of each impact through the floor, t
