The darkness in the tunnel felt thick enough to choke on. The copper-and-sulfur stench of the Grave-Walkers rolled forward in waves, a foul musk that made Nora’s stomach churn. Beside her, Leo squeezed her hand so hard his tiny knuckles popped.
"Step back, Nora," Ethan said quietly. His voice didn't shake. It was a cold promise. He shifted his weight, his large frame sliding directly between her and the corridor of glowing red eyes.
Behind them, the blue-white hiss of the cutting torch against the iron hatch grew louder. Sparks were already spitting through the seams of the steel door, illuminating the damp brick walls in frantic, flashing bursts. The heat from the bunker fire was baking the metal frame. They were running out of oxygen, trapped in a concrete throat.
"You have ten second
