The group stumbled into an ancient hall, the heavy stone door grinding shut behind them with an echoing finality. Their breaths came in harsh gasps, their bodies trembling from exhaustion and the adrenaline still coursing through their veins. The room they had entered was vast, with towering ceilings and walls covered in faded murals depicting twisted figures and dark rituals. Massive stone pillars supported the structure, and broken furniture lay scattered across the floor, covered in centuries of dust.
Caroline leaned against one of the pillars, clutching the leather-bound journal to her chest. Her skin was pale, and her eyes darted to every shadow. The voice—that voice—still echoed faintly in the recesses of her mind.
Ezra noticed her unease immediately. He sheathed his sword and appr
