The hallway was a warzone.
Dust swirled in the air, coating everything with the faint smell of smoke and decay. Shadows stretched along the cracked walls like claws, twisting and reaching for them. Every instinct in Ariana screamed danger, but she couldn’t pull away from Adrian. Couldn’t breathe without him pressed against her side, muscles taut, ready to strike.
Adrian’s jaw was tight. His eyes darted from shadow to shadow, scanning every corner, every crack, as though the darkness itself might spring to life.
“They’re here,” he muttered, voice low, barely above a growl. “And they know exactly where we are.”
Ariana swallowed hard. Her hands were clammy, but she didn’t move. “Then… What do we do? How do we fight something we don’t even understand?”
Adrian’s gaze snapped to her, burnin
