Page 7 of Monster's Maiden

A low rumble begins beneath our feet. The ground trembles, sending small rocks skittering across the floor. Dust cascades from the ceiling like a fine mist.

"What did you do?" Maya's voice rises in panic, her eyes wide as she backs away from the alcove.

"I... I didn't think—" Aiden stammers, his bravado vanishing as the ruins groan around us.

"Hold on!" I shout, grabbing onto a nearby pillar for support. The carvings under my fingers feel cold and unyielding, a stark contrast to the chaos erupting around us.

The walls shake violently. Ancient stones shift and crack, filling the air with a deafening roar. It's as if the ruins themselves awaken from a long slumber, protesting our intrusion.

"We need to get out of here!" Maya's voice barely carries over the crackling of stone. She clutches her pack tightly, eyes darting around for an escape route.

Aiden's face pales as he struggles to regain his balance. "I didn't mean to?—"

"Save it!" I snap. "We need to move!"

The floor beneath us splits open with a thunderous crack. Jagged fissures snake their way across the stone surface, widening into gaping chasms that threaten to swallow us whole.

"This way!" I gesture toward the steps we descended earlier, but they are now obscured by falling debris. Our exit is cut off.

Panic surges through me. Every instinct screams to find safety, but my mind races for another solution. We can't stay here; the ruins won't hold much longer.

4

ZYRITH

The chamber trembles, shaking loose centuries of stillness. My fingers grip the edge of the stone slab I sit upon, the cold surface grounding me. What is this? The ground shudders again, a deep, unsettling quake that pulls me from my reverie.

“What…?”

I shift slightly. Eons have passed since I last felt such a disturbance. The bioluminescent moss casts a soft, eerie glow over my domain, illuminating the jagged walls and scattered remnants of my once-thriving race. The Syldravians are gone, yet their legacy clings to these ancient ruins.

I peer through a narrow crevice in the cavern wall, my view of the surface limited to slivers of light and shadow. What could cause such an upheaval? My mind, dulled by solitude and time, struggles to piece together an answer. The world above has become foreign to me—a distant memory shrouded in fog.

The rumble intensifies, resonating through my core. Another quake sends loose stones clattering to the ground. Dust fills the air, its dry scent mingling with the earthy aroma of damp moss and ancient decay. I inhale deeply, savoring the familiar smells that anchor me to this place.

A sudden crack splits the silence, sharp and jarring. My eyes narrow as I focus on its source—somewhere beyond the chamber's walls. My thoughts churn with curiosity and unease.

I remain where I am, rooted in my spot like an ancient sentinel. Exploring would mean leaving behind my sanctuary's safety, a risk I'm not yet willing to take just yet. Instead, I wait and watch, senses attuned to every shift and murmur.

Time stretches as I ponder the significance of these quakes. Are they a sign? A warning? Or merely the ground’s restless dreams disturbing my solitude? Whatever their cause, they have awakened something within me—a spark of curiosity long buried beneath layers of stone and sorrow.

I remain vigilant, listening to the echoes of the world above and wondering what has come to disturb my eternal slumber.

Soon, another tremor shakes the air around me. I hear distant screams and frantic voices. They echo through the labyrinthine corridors of my home, bouncing off the ancient stone walls. My curiosity mingles with caution. I listen intently. Every sound is amplified in the silence that follows the distant commotion.

Intrigued yet wary, I rise from my resting place. My form shifts slowly.The ground beneath me feels alive. It seems to be charged with an energy that crackles with urgency and turmoil.

My guard is heightened. I pause near a cluster of stalagmites, their jagged forms rising like ancient sentinels guarding this forgotten realm. My thoughts churn like restless tides. This disturbance is unlike anything I've encountered in eons. What could provoke such chaos?

The air is thick with anticipation, the kind that precedes a significant event. My mind races with possibilities. The screams and voices seem to carry a weight of desperation, pulling at something deep within me. Who dares disturb these sacred halls?

Yet, I hesitate to leave my hidden spot. These ruins have been my refuge for centuries, a place where time stands still and memories linger like shadows. Venturing beyond these walls would mean embracing the unknown.

The chamber trembles once more, more violently this time. Cracks snake across the ceiling, and loose stones begin to rain down. Each impact echoes through the cavern, a discordant symphony of chaos.

“What is happening?” I ask no one in particular.

My sanctuary crumbles around me. The moss flickers as dust clouds rise. It chokes the air with a gritty haze. I inhale deeply, the scent of ancient stone and earth filling my nostrils. This place has been my home for centuries. Now, it teeters on the edge of destruction.

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