Chapter 20

~Ralph

The tunnel was darker and more foreboding than I had ever imagined. Shadows seemed to swallow the dim light from the flickering torch I held, leaving everything else in a thick, oppressive blackness. Each step echoed ominously against the damp walls, a constant reminder that danger could be lurking in any corner. I was thankful I had brought Cormac with me—his presence behind me provided a small comfort in this eerie place.

He had stayed close throughout our journey, silent but steadfast. There was no other light but our torch, no sound but our breathing and the distant, unsettling whispers that seemed to come from the walls themselves. The uncertainty of time gnawed at me; I couldn’t tell whether it was day or night anymore. The darkness in the tunnel was all-consuming, leaving me disoriented.

"Alpha," Cormac’s voice broke the silence.

I turned to face him, curiosity mixed with a hint of irritation. "What is it, Cormac? Don’t tell me you’re thinking of backing out now," I said