Book One – Chapter 8

Midnight strained against the oppressive stillness of the cavern, searching for predatory presences that eluded her. The air clung to the space like a deathly shroud, devoid even of the faintest skittering or scuttling of insects. No stealthy breath added to the sparse, morbid flow of air. The breath of the mountain still lingered, a feeble current weaving through the middle and left tunnels. The latter, nearly obscured and barricaded by a massive rock, bore no visible threads of webbing. Despite the absence of audible or visible threats, Midnight suppressed any surges of confidence or impatience. Frozen in place, she invested several minutes, waiting for time to unveil what her senses could not — a breath, a shift in temperature, a mere suggestion of warmth. Nothing manifested.

Her predatory instincts beckoned her to discard caution, urging immediate action. She took a few silent steps towards the left tunnel. Her gaze scrutinised the entrance, the rock, and the ceiling. The rock had fallen from right above, and she sought to discern whether it was a natural occurrence or a deliberate act of disruption. The absence of obvious signs of aggressive force left her uncertain. Respectively, she questioned the rock’s purpose — a barrier to ward something off or a containment for something within the tunnel?

The boulder did not obstruct the tunnel directly but sat at a slight angle. Scratches on the ground hinted that it had been pushed outward from the other side, creating a narrow gap of 30 to 40 centimeters on the left. It was too narrow for Midnight to pass through, and the boulder’s weight deemed it improbable for her to shift alone. Contemplating the challenge, she envisioned climbing atop the rock, then crouching low to potentially slide through the narrow crevice between the rock and the tunnel ceiling.

Cautiously monitoring any changes in her surroundings, Midnight ascended the rock. She examined the ceiling, crouched down to peer through the gap into the tunnel’s obscured depths, and scrutinised the surrounding rock. She jumped back down abruptly —

This tunnel was part of the trap.