Suddenly, The ground beneath me buckled and twisted, a dark abyss yawning open as if the earth itself sought to devour me. My heart pounded against my ribs, each beat a frantic drum as I scrambled for cover. The wind howled around me, carrying with it the whispers of forgotten souls. With a desperate roll, I hurled myself behind a gnarled old tree. Its skeletal branches, like bony fingers, reached out in twisted patterns, offering a fleeting sense of refuge amidst the chaos.
The tree's rough bark dug into my back, each ridge and crevice scraping against my skin. The pain was sharp but insignificant compared to the dread that clawed at my insides. My breaths came in ragged gasps as I fought to steady my shaking hands. I could hear the eerie, rhythmic pulse of my own heartbeat in my ears, mingling with the sinister laughter of the Dark Mage that echoed through the graveyard.