"Siiiiiii!" "Siiiiiii" Mike called out to the creatures, at the top of his voice, and continued, "Come on! Over here, you cowards. If you're not afraid, let's do this, let's face each other." He spat out the irritating saliva that had formed in his mouth due to the offensive smell of the cave. "I said come on, come on, you beasts!"
The creatures' eyes snapped towards Mike, their faces twisted in a snarl. One of them took a step closer to him, its claws extended. Mike stood his ground, his voice steady as he continued to provoke them. Amina, Bisola, and TJ watched, frozen, as the creatures' attention became more and more focused on Mike.
The air was thick with tension, and for a moment, it seemed like the creatures might lunge at Mike. But then, a slight nod from Mike went unnoticed by the creatures, and Amina began to slowly move, her eyes fixed on the opportunity to escape.
The three captives burst into a sprint, their bound hands awkwardly pumping as they dashed towards the cave entrance. Amina led the way, her eyes fixed on the opening as she pumped her arms and legs as fast as she could. Bisola and TJ followed close behind, their breath coming in ragged gasps.
Mike's plan had worked, drawing the creatures' attention to himself, and for a moment, the path to freedom seemed clear. But then, one of the creatures suddenly spun around as Bisola's arm mistakenly hit a standing skeleton on the wall of the cave, whose appearance was that of a human who had died standing upright and leaning against the wall of the cave, just before they were about to make it out of the cave. Its eyes locked onto the escaping trio.
A loud roar echoed through the cave as it gave chase. Mike's eyes darted wildly around the cave, searching for any advantage. He spotted a torch on the wall, its flame casting flickering shadows. With a swift motion, Mike grabbed the torch and swung it at the nearest creature, the flame hissing as it singed the creature's skin.
The creature recoiled, momentarily stunned, and Mike took advantage of the distraction. He made a desperate dash towards the cave entrance, the torch held out like a sword. The creatures gave chase, their roars growing louder as they closed in.
Mike's heart pounded in his chest as he sprinted towards the entrance, Amina, Bisola, and TJ already disappearing into the darkness outside. Suddenly, Amina's foot caught on a rock, and she stumbled, her bound hands flailing wildly as she struggled to regain her balance.
Bisola and TJ grabbed her arms, pulling her up as they kept running. "Keep going!" Bisola panted, her voice barely audible over the pounding of their feet and the creatures' thunderous pursuit. The entrance to the cave was still a short distance away, but the creatures were gaining on them fast.
The sound of their roars and the pounding of their feet grew louder, making it seem like the very darkness itself was closing in on them.