Chapter 16

• Belle***
• I’m running, my steps hurried and jagged, each breath ragged as I push myself forward. The air is thick, suffocating, and the corridor seems endless, stretching on and on, each step dragging me deeper into something darker. The walls pulse, like they're alive, shifting with every flicker of the lights above, casting shadows that stretch toward me, clawing at my skin. My bare feet slap against the cold floor, the chill seeping into my bones, and my chest is tight with fear, my breathing harsh and uneven.
• My heart is pounding so hard, I think it might explode. I don’t know what I’m running from—but I can feel it, pressing closer. I can feel the weight of something awful, something that will swallow me whole if I stop. I can’t stop. I can't.