First Ascender Tomb.
His eyes widened, a cold realization sinking into his bones. This thing wasn't just here to haunt them.
It was here with a purpose—a dark, incomprehensible purpose that Riley couldn't unravel fast enough.
Before he could react, before his mind could process the next step, the creature's head snapped back upright with terrifying speed. It turned its empty gaze on Eleanor, its smile widening.
"Eleanor!" Riley shouted, the paralysis breaking as fear flooded his system. He reached out, trying to grab his sister, but he was too slow.
In a flash, the creature's hand shot out, its pale, bony fingers wrapping around Eleanor's wrist with an unnatural strength.
She gasped, her body freezing in terror as her wide eyes locked onto Riley's. The air seemed to ripple around them as the ticking became deafening, like the final seconds before a bomb explodes.
And then, with a sickening lurch, the creature yanked Eleanor forward.