38

The air was thick with the acrid scent of smoke and the metallic tang of spilled blood as Elijah, Liam, my son, and I made our way through the ruined corridors of the castle. The once-grand structure groaned and creaked around us, the very foundations trembling beneath our feet as if the entire building might collapse at any moment.

I clutched my son's hand tightly, my heart pounding in my chest as I scanned our surroundings, searching for any sign of Damien or the others. The uncertainty of their fate weighed heavily on my mind, a constant source of worry and dread that threatened to consume me.

Elijah and Liam moved with a sense of urgency, their weapons at the ready as they navigated the treacherous terrain. Their expressions were grim, their eyes narrowed with a determination that belied the exhaustion written on their faces.

"We need to find a way out of here, quickly," Elijah murmured, his voice low and tense. "This place is coming apart at the seams, and I don't know how much l