The creature let out another bone-rattling roar, a sound that shook the ancient walls of the city and reverberated through Azad's chest like a dark wave of dread. As if in response to the beast's fury, every source of light in the vast chamber vanished, leaving him in total darkness. Azad's torch flickered weakly before snuffing out, plunging him into a black so dense he couldn't see his own hands.
In the silence, he could only hear the eerie, echoing breaths of the creature, each exhale rippling through the cavern like a sinister whisper. Panic clawed at his mind as his pulse quickened, his heart hammering loudly enough he feared it might alert the creature. "This can't be happening," he muttered, frozen in place, fighting the terror rising within him. "I can't see a thing… Where is it? Where am I supposed to go?"
Then, through the oppressive darkness, Azad heard a low, shuffling sound—a dragging, thudding noise that grew louder, closer. The creature was moving, searching for him.
"No, no, no… gotta move!" he whispered shakily to himself, taking off in a blind run. He stumbled through the dark, his breathing ragged and shallow as he imagined the creature closing in. "Keep moving, Azad. Just run… I can't die here. Not in this place."
After what felt like hours, a faint glow returned, illuminating the cavern just enough for Azad to see his surroundings and his own trembling hands. Relieved but still terrified, he slowed down for just a second. But as if responding to his momentary calm, another earth-shattering roar erupted from the beast. The light vanished again, as if sucked away by the monster's rage.
"No, not again!" Azad's voice cracked, fear overtaking him as he darted forward blindly, his footfalls loud against the stone floor. He could sense the creature pursuing him, feel the darkness thrumming with the sound of its massive steps.
Out of nowhere, a wave of force hit him, sending him flying through the air like a ragdoll. His back slammed against the cold stone wall with a brutal impact, and he cried out in pain, feeling the jolt rattle his bones. He tasted blood, his vision spinning. He tried to get up, but his body screamed in protest.
"This is bad… so bad…" he murmured weakly, clutching his ribs, each breath a struggle. His muscles felt weak, and his head was throbbing, but the adrenaline screamed louder than the pain. He had to keep moving.
Summoning every ounce of strength, Azad stumbled to his feet, pushing past the agony that threatened to paralyze him. "Can't… stay… gotta keep going…" he whispered, trying to ignore the pulsing throb of his injuries.
Ahead of him, the glow returned briefly, illuminating the creature. As he squinted through the dim light, he noticed something strange about it—its massive head was featureless, devoid of eyes.
"No eyes…?" he breathed, his voice barely a murmur, his mind racing to make sense of this revelation. "It's… blind. It can't see me. It's hunting by sound."
Desperate, he crouched down, moving with slow, calculated steps, making no noise. His heart thundered in his chest, and he pressed his hands tightly over his mouth to muffle his shaky breathing. Every movement was agonizing, his injuries throbbing with each step. He found a few large rocks nearby, just big enough to hide him, and he crouched behind them, pressing his body against the cold stone and praying it was enough.
"Stay calm," he told himself in a hushed whisper, his voice trembling. "It… can't hear you… if you don't make a sound." He could hear the creature nearby, each shift of its massive frame sending vibrations through the ground.
In the silence, he could feel the thumping of his heart, as if it, too, might give away his position. "Please," he mouthed silently, gripping his trembling hands tightly as he crouched lower, barely daring to breathe. The beast's heavy breaths and the occasional low growl seemed to echo from every corner of the ancient city.
The creature moved closer, and he felt its breath wash over him, hot and foul. His whole body trembled, every muscle tense as he clutched the stone beneath him. "Come on, come on," he silently urged himself, "just stay still… and maybe, just maybe, it'll pass."
He squeezed his eyes shut, waiting in terror for the creature to move on, praying he would live to see the light again.