Annie's heart raced as she crouched under the bed, clutching the small dragon in her pocket. The dim light from the lanterns outside barely illuminated the room, casting eerie shadows on the walls. The growling grew louder, and she could hear heavy footsteps entering the room, accompanied by the scraping of claws on the stone floor.
Her breath hitched as she dared to peek from her hiding spot. The creature was unlike anything she had ever seen—a monstrous hound, its eyes glowing an unnatural red, saliva dripping from its jagged teeth. Its fur was matted and black as night, blending with the shadows around it. The air was thick with a strange, metallic scent, and Annie felt a chill run down her spine.
The beast sniffed the air, its growls deepening. It moved slowly, methodically, as if searching for something—or someone. Annie held her breath, trying to stay as still and silent as possible. Her mind raced, trying to figure out how she could escape without being noticed. She glanced at the book she had hidden under the bed with her, wondering if it held any answers.
She glanced at the book she had hidden under the bed with her, wondering if it held any answers [https://img.wattpad.com/9af4c05e4f2c65c9cf9a1ebf223eac4f1665e2ab/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4a706c34696377645f4861666c673d3d2d313436353730343639362e313765366234396363666663653861613631313531323030373235362e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
The creature stopped near the bed, and for a terrifying moment, Annie thought it had found her. She could hear the sound of its breathing, the low rumble of a growl forming in its throat. The small dragon in her pocket squirmed, sensing the danger, and Annie gently placed a hand over it, hoping to calm it down.
Just as the monster seemed ready to pounce, a faint, melodic chime echoed through the room. The creature's head snapped up, ears pricking at the sound. It let out a guttural growl, then turned and bolted out of the room, the ground shaking beneath its weight.
Annie waited, her body tense and her heart pounding. The room was silent again, save for the fading echoes of the chime. Slowly, she emerged from under the bed, her legs shaky from fear and adrenaline. She grabbed the journal and the lantern from the bedside table, her hands trembling.
As the monstrous canine lumbered out of the room, Annie's instincts took over. She scrambled from under the bed, her heart pounding in her chest. With shaking hands, she quietly closed and locked the door behind the creature, trying to keep her breathing steady. Sweat beaded on her forehead, her fear palpable in the stifling air of the dungeon.
Desperate to find a moment of respite, Annie leaned against the wall, sliding down until she sat on the small, worn carpet in the corner. Her mind raced, replaying the terrifying encounter with the monstrous hound. The weight of the danger she was in pressed down on her, and she felt a rising panic that threatened to overwhelm her.
Suddenly, the carpet gave way beneath her, and Annie felt herself plummet into darkness. She barely had time to gasp before she was falling, the world above disappearing into a shrinking.
As Annie plummeted into the hard cement floor, the impact jolted her entire body, sending waves of pain through her limbs. Her breath caught in her throat, the force of the fall knocking the wind out of her. She tried to move, but her body felt heavy, unresponsive. A sharp, searing pain radiated from her head, the world around her spinning and blurring.
As she lay there, the cold, unforgiving floor pressing against her, a creeping numbness began to spread through her limbs. It started in her fingers and toes, a tingling sensation that quickly turned to a dull, paralyzing cold. Annie's vision darkened at the edges, her surroundings fading into a shadowy haze.
Panic clawed at her mind as she realized she couldn't move, her body refusing to obey her commands. Her chest tightened, each breath growing shallow and labored. The numbness crept up her arms and legs, a relentless wave that seemed to drain the life from her. Her heart pounded in her ears, the sound growing faint and distant.
Annie's bruised up and tired body became unconcious...
Meanwhile, the rest of the gang frantically searched for Annie. Tensions were running high, and the atmosphere was thick with worry and frustration. Michael and John, both seething with anger, couldn't hide their irritation as they glared at Tina, who sat on a rock, looking downcast and ashamed.
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John couldn't hold back any longer. He stormed over to Tina, his face twisted with rage. "Do something useful, damn it!" he shouted, grabbing her by the collar. "We wouldn't be in this mess if it weren't for your stupid mistake!"
Tina gulped as John's grip loosened, leaving her feeling shaken and exposed. His frustration and disappointment were clear, and as he turned away to continue the search for Annie, Tina felt a crushing sense of failure and desperation wash over her.
In the chaos of her thoughts, Tina's mind clung to one last hope. She hesitated, then silently reached out, Hey... Olivia... I need a hand.
Her voice was barely more than a whisper in her mind, laced with desperation. She knew she was asking for help from someone who had warned her, someone who might not be inclined to assist her after her recent blunders.
Olivia's presence in her thoughts was immediate, and Tina could feel the weight of her disapproval. Don't say I didn't warn ya, Olivia responded, her voice tinged with a mix of pity and frustration. It was clear Olivia thought Tina had gotten herself into this mess, and part of her believed she deserved to face the consequences.
Tina felt her heart sink further. She was on the verge of losing hope when Olivia finally relented. Ugh, fine...
Tina quickly took out her special necklace, her fingers trembling as she pressed the charm that activated their connection. Olivia..
Tina muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible, as Olivia began to move with purpose. Olivia slipped on her special glasses, a tool that had helped them many times before. The glasses could reveal things hidden from ordinary sight, and as she scanned the area, the tension in the air grew palpable.
Olivia's eyes widened behind the lenses. "There's a trapdoor..." she exclaimed, pointing toward a seemingly ordinary rock.
image [https://img.wattpad.com/97fcb5eab7b39627b9a86b9d590fd201581d1c54/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4f3471445546704847426b4d6b513d3d2d313436353730343639362e3137653662373565633739366336386632363731343932383533322e706e67]
Tina's heart leaped at the revelation. Without hesitation, she dashed toward the back of the rock, her pulse racing with newfound urgency. The rest of the group, initially confused by Tina's sudden movement, quickly caught on to her discovery.
"What's going on?" Michael asked, eyes narrowing in suspicion as he watched Tina's frantic actions.
"Tina, what are you doing?" Rose called out, her voice tinged with both worry and curiosity.
Ignoring their questions, Tina felt around the rock, her fingers brushing against a hidden latch. The thrill of uncovering something crucial, something that could lead them to Annie, surged through her veins. She fumbled for a moment, then, with a firm push, the rock gave way, revealing a concealed trapdoor.
The group rushed over, eyes wide with anticipation. Tina looked back at them, her expression a mix of excitement and determination. They had found something, and it felt like a breakthrough. The air buzzed with energy as they prepared to descend into the unknown, driven by the hope that this discovery would lead them closer to finding Annie and uncovering the mysteries that had ensnared them all.
As the group cautiously descended the ominous, spiraling staircase, Olivia hovered protectively around Tina. The air grew colder, the walls closer, and the darkness more oppressive. The stairs seemed to twist endlessly, making them dizzy and disoriented. Finally, they reached the bottom, entering a dank, ancient dungeon.
A low, guttural growl echoed through the chamber, sending chills down their spines. Tina turned just in time to see a shadowy figure lunging at her, a demonic canine, eyes glowing with malice. Her life and memories flashed before her eyes, a heartbeat away from disaster.
But Olivia was quicker. In a blur, she fired her FN SCAR 17, the gunshots echoing in the confined space. The creature yelped, collapsing to the ground. Relief was short-lived, as the beast's wounds began to close, its body regenerating almost instantly.
image [https://img.wattpad.com/7ca97bf328af53bd43f4821453a1e0137cc4240c/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f536f61624e7171685a4d486874773d3d2d313436353730343639362e313765366237326162393631363264633139343132303030373439312e706e67]
"Hey, that's cheating!" Michael shouted, incredulous at the sight.
Clark, always quick to act, barked orders. "Tina! You take care of it while we find Annie!" He gestured for the group to follow him, urgency in every step. Tina was left alone, her heart pounding. She didn't like it, but she knew Annie's life depended on them.
She growled in frustration but squared her shoulders, facing the beast.
Olivia's eyes narrowed, a determined gleam in her gaze. "Regular guns won't work on this thing," she muttered, glancing at her FN SCAR 17.
In an instant, her weapon transformed, shifting and clicking into a sleek, otherworldly device designed to handle creatures beyond the realm of ordinary understanding. It hummed with a strange energy, glowing faintly in the dim light.
image [https://img.wattpad.com/f48a11f36edbbf795279ec1386cf6288afe2673d/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f497574643458374a3444437953673d3d2d313436353730343639362e313765366237353163313964633266653831333735303234363533332e706e67]
Tina tightened her grip on her weapon, ready to face the challenge head-on. The beast snarled, its eyes locked on her, ready for round two.