As darkness enveloped Liam, a chokehold cloud engulfing what remained of light, his pulse pounded. Every breath seemed like a battle against the weight of hopelessness because the air was so heavy and dense. Desperate to locate Emily in the spinning abyss, he tried to reach for her.
"Emily!" he exclaimed, his voice resonating through the quiet. "What is your location?"
The air was thick with silence, immovable. A feeling of panic tore at his insides, pushing him to move and struggle against the approaching darkness. All of a sudden, he felt a little, comforting touch—a familiar warmth—brush across his arm.
"Liam?" Emily's voice was a scared, delicate whisper. "Here I am!"
He felt a wave of relief that anchored him in the shadows. He gripped her hand and told her to "stay close to m
