s thick with the cloying stench of decay, clinging to the back of Femi's throat. He coughed, covering his nose, but it did little to block the smell. The cor

unced off the walls, echoing back in a way that made the chamber feel even more massive. B

ooked down and froze. A human skull, its hollow eye sockets staring up at him, lay half-bur

trembling. "Just keep moving and find

gaze fell upon a sight

etons... moving

at looked almost like stone. Their empty eye sockets glowed bright green, casting an eerie light o

eyes fixing on him like cold, dead weig

on? Since when d

him, its bony feet clattering aga

ldn't you be resting in the grave with you

aking his fur stand on end. Without hesitation, he turned and sprinted back through the corrid

ors blurred together, the lights flickering like fireflies in the darkness. His lungs burned, his legs ached, but he refused

mming it shut behind him. The loud clang echoed through the cell, and Femi leaned against the door, panting

ied to catch his breath. His mind raced. "This isn't the cell I left earli

staring at him as he'd fled, its bony fingers clawing at the air. He'

closer, their shadows stretching unnaturally. His breath hitched as he turned, searc

ed, his voice trembling. "Na evil spir

frantic. His eyes swept the room, searching for any sign of the exit. B

intly, their vertical pupils fixed on him with an unnerving intensity. Its chest rose and fell in a

he called out, hi

ce right through his very soul. Then, without warning, it unleashed a high-pitc

atop its head. Its short, humanoid frame was covered in patchy, mottled skin.The sharp, cur

s eyes locked onto his, its

inst the rough stone. "What are you? A demon

ng through the air. He dodged to the right, his heart pounding.

aws scraping against the stone. Each swipe came dangerously close, the air whis

oh!" he shouted,

it continued its relentless pursuit. His mind raced. "First the sk

reature was relentless, its claws swiping through the air. He could f

foot caught on a loose board. He stumbled, his arms flailing. Th

behind a nearby crate. He peered around the edge, his heart raci

ature advanced. He could see the hunger in its eyes, the way

a way out. But the walls were solid, the door he'

cing through flesh with a searing pain that made him cry out. He stumbled back, clutching the wound

erated through the room, startling both Femi and the creature. The beast froze, its head snapping toward the source

wall. Or so he thought. The faint light caught its rough texture, and hope surged within him. He lunged for it, his fingers wrapping around the wood. It felt so

amming it into the creature's side. The impact sent shockwaves through his arm, but the creature recoiled, momentarily

unnerving intensity. The air seemed to vibrate with tension as the two faced off.

e had been one of quiet routine. Now, faced with this monst

oice steady despite the fear coursing through him. He locke

with claws outstretched. Femi swung the staff with all his strength, slamming it into the cre

the force of the blow. Femi stared

then?" he cussed, thro

emi could react, it charged at him, dragging him to the ground. Pain exploded in his arm as the creature's claws tore into his flesh, follow

ture recoiled, howling in pain, and Femi seized the moment. He pounced, beating at the creature with his f

did, and it bit down on the appendage, and Femi let out a blood-curd

east thrashed, its claws flailing wildly, but Femi held on, stabbing and slashing with the jagged edge

t the lifeless body. His arm throbbed

he ragged gasps of Femi's breathing. T

ooked down at his hands, now stained with blood, and

he whispered, hi

ed slightly at the sight of the blood already pooling be

puked, r

se in around him, the walls pressing in like a living, breathing entity that threatened to suffocate him. The shadows deepened, twisting into dark tendrils that wrapped around him like a shroud,

yes wandered aimlessly across the room,To di

re made of stone, their surfaces rough and uneven, with shadows stretching unnaturally acro

ows there deeper and more menacing. The rest of the room was cluttered with remnants of what might

room felt like a forgotten, cursed place, designed to ensnar

er of hope. His gaze drifted past the scattered debris, la

act, its wooden form still whole. A faint

y, his claws brushing against the blood-stained fur. The throbbing ache was almost overwhelming, but he forced himself to move, each step s

with age. Without hesitation, he brought his uninjured arm down on it with a loud slam, the wood spli

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