Panic threatened to engulf the group in the face of the unknown. The whispers had morphed into a cacophony, their volume rising in proportion to their fear. Sarah, her voice barely audible above the din, commanded, "Stay close! We need to find shelter."

Liam, his usual bravado faltering, pointed towards a cluster of dilapidated stone huts at the far end of the cavern. With a silent nod, Sarah led the charge, their boots echoing off the cavern walls. As they ran, the whispers seemed to follow, morphing into chilling laughter that sent shivers down their spines.

Reaching the huts, they scrambled inside, slamming the heavy wooden doors shut behind them. The laughter outside intensified, transforming into guttural growls that vibrated through the decaying wood. Emily, her face pale, fumbled with her camera, trying to capture the scene in the dim light of their lanterns.

Ben, his voice hushed, spoke, "These structures... they look familiar. Remnants of an ancient civilization, similar to the ones depicted in the cave paintings I saw near the entrance."

"Great," Liam muttered, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Now we're trapped in a haunted archaeological site."

Sarah silenced him with a sharp look. "We need to find a way out of here. Ben, do your historical texts mention anything about escape routes?"

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Ben flipped through his pages frantically, his brow furrowed in concentration. "There's a passage... it speaks of a hidden tunnel leading back to the surface, known as the 'Whispering Way.'"

Hope flickered in their eyes. "Do you know where it is?" Maya asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Ben shook his head. "No, it only mentions that it's guarded by something... something called the 'Echoes.'"

A collective gasp filled the cramped space. The growls outside had ceased, replaced by an eerie silence, broken only by the frantic beating of their hearts. In the suffocating darkness, their imaginations took over, conjuring images of unseen horrors guarding the path to escape.

Suddenly, a loud thump echoed through the hut. They all jumped, their eyes darting towards the sound. Sarah, taking a deep breath, raised her lamp and slowly approached the source of the noise. A sickening smell reached their nostrils as she crept closer.

There, lying sprawled on the floor, was Maya, her face frozen in an expression of terror. A single, deep gash marred her throat. Liam screamed, a primal cry of anguish echoing through the hut. Sarah, her heart pounding in her chest, knelt beside Maya, checking for a pulse. There was none.

Grief threatened to paralyze them, but Sarah knew they couldn't afford to dwell on their loss. With a steely resolve, she looked at the remaining members of her group. "We have to keep moving. We owe it to Maya to find a way out of here."

Tears streamed down Liam's face, but his eyes held a newfound determination. Together, they huddled closer, seeking solace in each other's presence as they prepared to face the unknown dangers of the Whispering Way.