The diner shuddered under the entity's wrath. Shards of glass covered the floor,The air was heavy with the smell of decay and burnt flesh. I gripped the searing charm, its golden light pulsing erratically, a fragile shield against the swirling darkness. Beside me, Lila was a steady presence, her red hair catching the light. She pressed close, her breath shallow but her resolve firm. Ethan thrashed against the shadow tendrils around his legs, his face a mask of terror.
The chasm yawned wider, its edges crumbling as eyeless faces emerged, their silent screams shaking the ground. Old Tom's limp body dropped to the floor, his face now a bloody ruin. Jenny groaned, clutching her shredded shoulder, her defiance fading into pained gasps. Tar dripped from the ceiling, hissing as it ate through tables, filling the room with a toxic haze that burned my eyes and throat.
Mr. Hargrove's husk convulsed, shadow insects spilling from his mouth, their clicking mandibles scuttling toward us. The entity loomed, a jagged form of claws and teeth. Its many eyes glowed with malevolent intent. It hissed my name, a venomous chant that echoed off the walls. The chasm's faces drew closer, their outstretched hands clawing at the air.
Lila's voice, firm despite its tremor, cut through the noise. "The charm—it's our only chance!"She nudged Caleb, and he raised it, a quick flash of a witch and blood hitting his mind. The shadow screeched, pulling back, but its tentacles grabbed Ethan, dragging him. Caleb yanked him free, the charm's light pushing the dark a bit. The floor split wide, showing a pit with eyeless faces reaching up. They were trapped.
The diner was a mess, with black tar dripping everywhere and those eyeless faces in the pit staring up like they wanted to drag everyone down. Caleb's heart pounded as he clutched the charm, its heat burning his palm, while Lila's hand stayed tight in his, giving him a boost of courage...why tho?? He asked himself. Ethan scrambled to his feet, panting, his eyes wild as the shadow bugs skittered closer, their tiny legs clicking on the floor.
The entity let out a bone-rattling roar, its claws slashing at the air, sending splinters flying. Jenny groaned, crawling toward the counter, her blood leaving a dark trail. Old Tom's body lay still, his scarred face frozen in a silent scream. The pit widened, roots twisting up like snakes, and one grabbed Jenny's leg, pulling her toward the edge. She clawed at the floor, yelling, "Help me!"