Lyra's POV
I was alone, swallowed by a darkness so heavy it felt tangible, pressing against my skin and tongue. Fear weighed on me like chains, each second more suffocating than the last. I squeezed my eyes shut, desperate to vanish into nothingness.
But then—no. What was that? A creak, a groan… a whisper that slithered through the black void, echoing from everywhere at once. My heartbeat thundered in my chest, frantic and unsteady. The shadows seemed to throb, alive with something sinister.
I held my breath, straining to hear. The whisper sharpened, a faint rustle drawing closer. Panic clawed at my throat, but when I tried to scream, no sound would come.
The noise halted right beside me. A chill of air brushed my skin, cold enough to freeze me in place. And then—nothing. Silence. The
