Aziel gripped tightly on the cold metal handle, his fingers white with pressure as he twisted it with desperate haste. The knob was icy against his sweaty palm, sending an unwelcome chill up his arm. It gave way and twisted with no resistance—a small mercy in this nightmare—and a quick, shaky breath of relief escaped Aziel's parched lips as he hurried to open the door.
The hinges creaked, a sound that seemed unnaturally loud in the suffocating silence of the void. The door swung open with a force born of pure adrenaline, and Aziel charged inside. His heart hammered against his ribcage like a terrified animal seeking escape, each thunderous beat echoing in his ears as he passed the threshold into the next room. The presence of the monster loomed behind him—he could almost feel its breath on his neck still, cold and rancid.
