Chapter 24: A Fateful Encounter

The darkness that swallowed us was suffocating, pressing down on me with a weight that felt almost tangible. My heart pounded in my chest, the sound of it loud in the oppressive silence.

I could hear the creature’s growl, low and rumbling, a reminder that it was still there—still hunting us.

“Rowan,” I called out, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to keep it steady. “Are you okay?”

“I’m here,” he responded, his voice strained with the effort of holding the creature at bay. “But I don’t know how long I can keep this up.”

I had to think, had to come up with a plan before it was too late. But my mind was racing, clouded with fear and uncertainty. I could feel Bella trembling beside me, her fear mirroring my own.

The creature moved in the darkness, its glowing eyes the only indication of its presence. I could sense its power, ancient and terrifying, something beyond anything I had ever faced before.

It was as if the air around it crackled with dark energy, making it near