The silence in the crypt was deafening. Caleb’s grip on the flashlight tightened, his pulse hammering in his ears. He swept the beam across the narrow passage again, but it revealed nothing—just the empty stone walls and the faint carvings that seemed to shift under the flickering light.


    He wasn’t imagining it. He had heard the footsteps. Someone, or something, had followed him into the crypt.


    Backing toward the pedestal, Caleb kept his flashlight aimed at the tunnel. The faint glow from the symbols on the blackened book caught his eye, their pulsating light casting eerie shadows on the walls.


    He had two choices: grab the book and risk triggering whatever was lurking in the darkness, or leave empty-handed and lose the only lead he had.


    The sound of shuffling footsteps broke his hesitation. Caleb snatched the book from the pedestal, its weight heavier than he expected. As soon as his fingers closed around it, the air in the room seemed to shift, growing colder. The symbols on the walls began to glow faintly, pulsing in rhythm with the markings on the book’s cover.


    Caleb turned toward the tunnel, his instincts screaming at him to move. He didn’t dare look back as he broke into a run, the book tucked tightly under his arm.


    The footsteps followed.


    They were faster now, echoing behind him with an urgency that sent chills down his spine. The beam of his flashlight bounced wildly as he sprinted up the winding passage, the air growing thicker with every step.


    “Come on, come on,” Caleb muttered under his breath, his legs burning as he climbed the stairs toward the cathedral.


    Just as he reached the top, the door slammed shut in front of him, the sound reverberating through the crypt. Caleb froze, his flashlight trembling in his hand.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    “Who’s there?” he shouted, his voice echoing in the stillness.


    For a moment, there was no answer. Then, a low, guttural whisper drifted from the darkness. The words were indecipherable, but the tone was unmistakable—warning him to leave.


    Caleb’s heart pounded as he turned back toward the door, his hands fumbling with the handle. It wouldn’t budge. He shoved his shoulder against the wood, desperation taking over.


    Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows.


    It was cloaked in black, its face obscured by a hood that seemed to blend into the darkness. The faint glow from the walls reflected off something metallic in its hand—a blade.


    Caleb backed away, his flashlight shaking as he aimed it at the figure. “Stay back!”


    The figure didn’t respond. It stepped closer, its movements deliberate and unnervingly silent.


    With no other options, Caleb raised the flashlight and threw it. The beam flickered as it struck the figure, and for a brief moment, Caleb thought he saw its face—pale, gaunt, and hollow-eyed, like a corpse brought to life.


    The figure staggered, and Caleb seized the opportunity. He rammed his shoulder into the door again, and this time it gave way, spilling him out into the cathedral.


    Father Merrick was waiting, his lantern casting long shadows across the stone floor. His expression shifted from calm to alarm as he saw Caleb stumble out of the crypt, the blackened book clutched in his hands.


    “What happened?” Merrick demanded, rushing to his side.


    “There’s someone down there,” Caleb panted, his chest heaving. “I don’t know who—or what—but they didn’t want me to leave.”


    Merrick’s face paled. “You need to go. Now.”


    “What about—”


    “Go!” the priest barked, his usual calm replaced by an urgency that brooked no argument.


    Caleb didn’t need to be told twice. He ran out of the cathedral into the night, the book still gripped tightly in his hands. The cold air hit him like a wall, but he didn’t stop until he was safely in his car, the doors locked and the engine running.


    He sat there for a moment, his breathing ragged. The city outside was quiet, oblivious to what had just happened beneath its streets.


    Caleb glanced at the book lying on the passenger seat. Its cover was cool to the touch, the symbols faintly glowing in the darkness.


    “What the hell have I gotten myself into?” he muttered, pulling away from the cathedral and disappearing into the city’s labyrinth of streets.