Story 438: The Endless Descent

The ancient spiral staircase seemed to defy logic, winding endlessly downward into a vast void. Each step resonated with a hollow echo, as though the stones themselves were mourning. The sconces on the walls emitted a dim, flickering light, but as the team ventured deeper, the flames turned a ghostly blue, casting eerie shadows on the curved walls.

Rook halted the team midway down, raising a fist. “Hold.” His eyes scanned the descent below. “This place isn’t just deep… it’s alive.”

Viper gripped the tome tighter, her knuckles white. The book’s glow pulsed erratically now, like a heartbeat. “The energy here… it’s suffocating. The further we go, the stronger it becomes.”

“It’s like walking into a trap,” Shadow muttered, her sniper rifle at the ready. “Anything could be waiting for us below.”

“No doubt,” Ghost added, his voice calm but tense. He crouched low, scanning for traps or signs of ambush. “The walls feel… off. Like they’re closing in.”