Descent

The chamber exploded with motion.

The walls twisted violently, the glowing symbols cascading into chaotic spirals that burned like fire. The floor cracked open beneath Sarah's feet, splitting into jagged fissures that spilled light so blinding she had to shield her eyes. The hum in the air had turned into a deafening roar, vibrating through her bones.

The shadowed creature lunged.

Its form stretched unnaturally, limbs elongating as it leapt toward her. She dove to the side, barely avoiding the razor-sharp claws that tore through the air where she'd stood a moment ago. The case floated between them, its dark surface glowing with an ominous red light, as if it were alive and feeding off the chaos.

"Leave it!" the creature bellowed, its voice echoing with fury. "You do not know what you've unleashed!"

The phone buzzed in her hand, vibrating so violently it felt like it would shatter. She risked a glance at the screen, her vision blurred by tears and adrenaline.

Take the case. Run.

Her hands trembled. The shadow creature turned toward the case, its glowing eyes narrowing as it extended a clawed hand toward it. The room shuddered violently as the light from the case grew brighter, pulsing in time with the cracks in the floor.

Sarah's instincts screamed at her to flee, but something inside her snapped. No more running. No more blind obedience. She surged forward, her legs burning, and grabbed the case out of the air.

The light from the case seared her hands, the heat unbearable, but she didn't let go. The moment her fingers touched it, the symbols on the walls flared brighter, their patterns spiraling into something incomprehensible. The chamber groaned, the cracks widening into gaping chasms that spilled fiery light.

The creature roared, its form rippling with rage. "Fool!" it thundered, its voice shaking the air. "You will doom us all!"

Sarah stumbled backward, the weight of the case dragging her down. The phone buzzed again, the screen flashing a single word:

Run.

The floor beneath her feet collapsed. She screamed as she fell, the case pulling her deeper into the chasm. The light from the chamber above faded rapidly, replaced by an all-encompassing darkness that swallowed everything.

The fall seemed endless, the air rushing past her like a hurricane. The case burned in her hands, its surface pulsing with a life of its own. The phone buzzed again, its screen illuminating the void around her.

Hold on.

To what? There was nothing but empty air and the crushing weight of her own terror. Her grip on the case tightened, her fingers blistering from the heat. The void around her shifted, the shadows twisting into shapes that loomed and writhed, watching her fall.
Then, with a sudden jolt, she landed.

The impact knocked the air from her lungs, pain radiating through her body. She coughed violently, her vision swimming as she tried to orient herself. The ground beneath her was cold and smooth, like glass, but it pulsed faintly with an internal glow.

She forced herself to sit up, clutching the case to her chest. The phone was still in her hand, its screen cracked but functional. The message on it was short and ominous:

You're not alone.

Her heart stopped. She turned her head slowly, her breath catching in her throat.
The shadows had followed her.

They emerged from the darkness, their forms more defined now. Jagged, angular limbs sprouted from liquid torsos, their glowing red eyes fixed on her. They moved in unison, a predator's grace that sent shivers down her spine.

The phone buzzed again.

Protect the case.

A low growl filled the air as the shadows encircled her, their movements deliberate, almost ritualistic. One of them stepped forward, its claws clicking against the ground as it crouched low. Its voice was like grinding metal.

"Give it to us," it hissed. "It was never meant for you."

Sarah's grip tightened on the case, her body trembling. "What's in it?" she demanded, her voice cracking. "What is this thing?"

The shadow laughed, a guttural, mocking sound. "Power," it said simply. "Pure, untamed power. Enough to reshape everything."

She shook her head, her breath ragged. "Then why me? Why send me here?"

The shadow tilted its head, its eyes narrowing. "You were a mistake."

Her chest tightened. "What?"

"You were never supposed to survive," it continued, its voice cold and detached. "You were a test. A disposable pawn."

The words hit her like a punch to the gut. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of what she'd just heard. The phone buzzed again, pulling her focus back.

Do not listen. Keep moving.

The ground beneath her feet began to shake, faint tremors growing stronger with every passing second. The shadows hissed, their forms rippling as they advanced. Sarah scrambled to her feet, clutching the case as she backed away.

The phone buzzed violently.

Run toward the light.

"What light?" she shouted, spinning around. The darkness stretched endlessly, unbroken by anything resembling light. The tremors grew more violent, cracks forming beneath her feet. The shadows lunged, their claws raking the air inches from her face.

Then she saw it a faint glow in the distance, pulsing like a heartbeat. It wasn't warm or inviting. It was cold, stark, and filled with dread. But it was her only chance.

She bolted.

The shadows roared behind her, their movements chaotic and frenzied. The ground crumbled beneath her feet as she sprinted, the case burning against her chest. Her breaths came in short, desperate gasps as the light grew brighter, closer.
The phone buzzed one final time.

Don't stop.

The glow enveloped her, blinding and cold. She stumbled forward, her legs giving out beneath her. The shadows screamed, their forms disintegrating as the light consumed them. The ground vanished, and she fell again, the case still clutched in her blistered hands.

This time, there was no bottom.