Chapter 41 Esmeralda's Pov

• The tunnel grew narrower with every step, the walls closing in around us. The air became thick and damp, making it hard to breathe. I struggled to keep moving, the weight of fear and exhaustion creeping down on me. Each shallow breath felt like a task, and soon my chest tightened with overexertion and the grip of panic.
• “Ocean,” I rasped, my voice barely above a whisper. “I… I can’t breathe.”
• He turned back immediately, his face illuminated by the dim flashlight in his hand. His sharp eyes softened for a moment as he placed a steadying hand on my shoulder. “Esmeralda, look at me. Focus on my voice,” he said in his low and firm tone.