Beneath the Surface

Falling.

The sensation gripped Alex completely. The world blurred around them as they plummeted into the dark abyss, air rushing past, icy tendrils clawing at their skin. There was no light here, no up or down, just a suffocating emptiness that seemed to stretch on forever.

This is it, Alex thought, heart pounding in sync with the roar of the wind. This is how I die.

Suddenly, the free fall ended with a bone-jarring crash. Alex hit something solid but soft, knocking the air from their lungs. They lay still, gasping, their body trembling from the impact. Every muscle ached, and for a moment, Alex couldn't move.

A low, guttural growl echoed through the cavernous space, reverberating in the darkness.