The air was heavy, laden with a thick silence that seemed to press down on Emily and her team as the portal snapped shut behind them. The sound of the hermit's sinister laughter echoed through the oppressive atmosphere, chilling their very souls. Panic flickered in the eyes of her companions, but Emily fought to keep her own fear at bay. She couldn't afford to lose control now—not when they were so close to escaping this wretched maze.
"Fuck," Valen hissed under his breath, his voice barely more than a growl. His hand tightened around the hilt of his sword as if squeezing it harder would somehow force the portal to reopen.
Lira's eyes darted around the clearing, her breath quickening as she realized the gravity of their situation. "Emily, what do we do? We're trapped!"