"We have no time to explain," Michael hissed, his grip tightening on Amelia's hand. Fear radiated off him, a stark contrast to his usual calm smiling "Follow me!"
He pulled her towards a hidden door Amelia had never noticed before, a small panel cleverly disguised as part of the bookshelf. Trembling hands fumbled with the key Michael had produced, finally unlocking the hidden passage.
A dark abyss loomed behind the panel, a narrow tunnel leading who-knows-where. Fear constricted Amelia's throat, yet a desperate urge to escape propelled her forward.
"What about Edgar? What happened?" she stammered, her voice barely a whisper above the pounding of her heart.
"I don't know," Michael replied, his voice urgent. "But we can't risk getting caught here. Come on!"
Without waiting for further e
