"Uguokakakaka!"
"Raksala Kulkul!"
"GAHAHAHA!"
Grotesque, scrabbling noises reverberated through the cavern, the echoes bouncing off the jagged stone walls like distorted laughter.
Each sound was accompanied by the thundering stomp of heavy footsteps, the ground trembling faintly beneath their weight.
Somewhere beyond the darkness, drums began to pound.
Not rhythmic in a human sense—no, this was primal, chaotic, more akin to a celebration of savagery.
It was the sound of a gathering, a ritual, or perhaps simply… a feast.
And she was the price.
Crumble.
Her fingers twitched first, brushing against the cold, unyielding ground.
Slowly, Vanessa's hand tightened, nails digging into the dark stone as if to anchor herself in reality. With a quiet, weary groan, she forced her eyelids open.
Her long, delicate lashes trembled as lightless green eyes adjusted to the dim glow of torches burning in crude sconces along the cavern walls. Her chest rose and fell in a tired sigh.
