Back in the underground, Tina and Jack had no idea how long they had been running. Their small bodies were drenched in sweat, and their breath came out uneven and harsh as their footsteps echoed faintly through the narrow, dark pathway.
Every step felt heavier than the last, yet neither of them dared to slow down. Because even without seeing monsters, they both knew they were still behind them.
The darkness made everything worse. It swallowed the path ahead and stretched endlessly around them, and in that darkness, the monsters held the advantage. Their black bodies would blend into it, unseen until it was too late.
Tina steps faltered before she reached out and pressed her hand against the wall, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. "Jack…" she said weakly, her voice trembling as she leaned her weight against the surface. "I'm… tired…"
