The five strangers sat together in the cold, dark basement, each lost in their own thoughts as minutes dragged by.
Sienna sighed, crossing her arms and looking at the floor. Lily sat beside her, hugging her knees close. "I trust Raven will do alright,” Lily said softly, “but… I’m scared.” “Yeah… well, we shouldn’t have let her go alone,” Theodore muttered before Sienna could say the same. Sienna smiled faintly. “Yeah, I was gonna say that… but now that she’s gone, we’ll have to wait for her call.”
“Yeah, not that we care,” Blake scoffed, his voice sharp and selfish. “It’s her decision. All I need is to get outta here alive.” No one replied. They just looked away, the silence settling heavier between them.
Minutes turned to twenty.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZftxtU1UG
Twenty turned to thirty.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9jH01qZZL
Raven was still gone.
The tension rose. Lily fidgeted with her bracelet. Theodore stared at the floor. Finally, Damian stood up.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wEsplDhNc
“Let’s go check,” he said. “Sienna, you and I.”
Theo started to get up, but Sienna stopped him with a look that said “Blake and Lily shouldn’t be left alone". Theo sighed and nodded, sitting back down.
Sienna was about to move when—
A faint voice echoed down the corridor.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVE4btHXDz
“THEODORE! ISABEL LILY! SIENNA! BLAKE! DAMIAN!”
Everyone froze. Their eyes widened. Then, slowly, their faces lit up. “She found something,” Sienna breathed out. They all stood up at once — their exhaustion replaced by adrenaline — and followed the echo of Raven’s voice through the dim hallway, step by step, until they finally saw her silhouette in the faint light.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Q7kO3tL0E
Alone now, Raven stepped carefully into the tunnel, every shadow twisting in her mind as she wondered what might be waiting ahead. Halfway through, unease prickled at her skin. What if this is a murderous trap? Or just a coincidence?
Her bravery started to fade halfway through the long, cold passage. A chill spread through her arms, and her heart raced faster than her steps. She snapped herself back, whispering quietly, “There’s no turning back. We get what we need… and I can go home.”
The tunnel stretched endlessly, dim lights flickering far behind her. The deeper she went, the more silent it became. She turned her head slightly every few seconds, scanning both sides — the air felt heavier with each breath. As she turned, she heard it. A noise so silent… so faint… it almost would fool people's hearing. It came from behind her.
Raven froze. Her eyes widened. Her lips parted but no sound came out. She didn’t dare turn. Her mind raced — is it a murderer? a psychopath? no, a ghost? a lost human? an animal? Every image flashed before her eyes like a scene from a horror movie she once laughed at.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIbKZoWjuf
She hated moments like this in films — the ones that made you hold your breath — but now, it was happening to her.
Her throat felt dry. Her body stiffened. Slowly… very slowly… she turned around. Empty. There was nothing. Just the empty darkness stretching behind her.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuQXJKkU10
No one.
She let out a shaky loud breath “Get a grip, Raven,” she muttered to herself. 8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVhA2CeFeJ
She took one cautious step, then another. Her flashlight trembled slightly in her hand. The tunnel curved ahead, and she followed it until a faint glow appeared in the distance.
She took one cautious step, then another. Her flashlight trembled slightly in her hand. The tunnel curved ahead, and she followed it until a faint glow appeared in the distance.
Her eyes widened when she saw it — a small hole in the wall, cracked open just enough for light to seep through.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmSt94QntN
She squinted, then stepped closer. Beyond it — she saw trees.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZYWF4AZsI
Actual trees, standing tall under a cloudy gray sky. "Out…” she whispered, disbelief and relief flooding her face.
Raven pressed her back against the wall and took a deep breath before yelling at the top of her lungs —8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPB9vP5bW8C
“THEODORE! ISABEL LILY! SIENNA! BLAKE! DAMIAN!"
Her voice echoed through the hollow air, breaking the silence for the first time in what felt like forever.
Isabel Lily ran forward and hugged Raven tightly. “We were so worried!” she exclaimed.
Raven blinked, surprised. Huh? She hadn’t expected that reaction.
Sienna and Theodore smiled, and even Damian nodded with a small grin. “Well,” he said, “I gotta admit… sorry for doubting you.”
Raven returned the nod, acknowledging him.
“So… what did you find?” Theodore asked, curiosity bright in his voice.
Raven took a deep breath. “We might have to do a bit of work to break through the wall, but I saw an escape hole. It leads outside… to the forest or the playground.”
A cheer erupted from the group. They were laughing, exchanging excited words, and finally feeling the relief of hope. For the first time in what felt like forever, the tension lifted, replaced with joy, and the promise of getting out alive.
ns216.73.216.13da2
and then Add to home screen.