Liam and the girls stepped into the cave, and right away the darkness wrapped around them like a thick blanket. The air felt cooler and heavier, with a faint musty smell that made Liam wrinkle his nose.
He held his sword a little tighter, squinting ahead. "Man, this place is really dark," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
His voice echoed off the rough stone walls, sounding smaller than he wanted it to.
Crya stayed close, one arm looped around Pyra's shoulders to keep the smaller girl steady, she had been out cold since the fight earlier, her breathing shallow but even. Beatrix walked just behind them, her steps careful on the uneven floor.
They hadn't gone more than ten feet when a soft glow suddenly flared up from deeper inside the cave. It looked like a floating ball of pale light, hazy and shifting, and it shot straight toward Crya.
Crya yelped and jumped back, nearly dropping Pyra. "A ghost!" she screamed, her voice cracking with real fear.
