The faint glow of the ruins came into view just as Caleb was beginning to think they’d been walking in circles. The crumbling stone walls were barely visible through the trees, their surfaces overgrown with moss and vines.


    “This is it,” Evelyn said, her voice barely above a whisper.


    Caleb stared at the ruins, his flashlight catching on the faint carvings etched into the stone. “Looks… inviting.”


    “It’s not supposed to,” Evelyn said, stepping forward.


    Caleb followed her reluctantly, his hand resting on the grip of his gun. The air felt heavier here, thick with tension and the faint smell of damp earth.


    “You think the Keepers beat us here?” Caleb asked.


    “Maybe,” Evelyn said.


    Caleb frowned, his flashlight darting between the shadows. “That’s not exactly reassuring.”Stolen novel; please report.


    “It’s the truth,” Evelyn said, her tone matter-of-fact.


    Caleb sighed, muttering under his breath.


    They stepped into the ruins, the faint glow of the carvings casting eerie shadows across the walls. At the center of the room was a pedestal, partially buried in dirt and debris.


    “This is it,” Evelyn said, moving toward the pedestal.


    Caleb stayed back, his gun raised, his eyes scanning the room. The air felt heavier now, like something unseen was pressing down on them.


    “Tell me this thing isn’t booby-trapped,” Caleb said.


    “It’s not,” Evelyn replied.


    “How do you know?”


    “I don’t,” Evelyn admitted, pulling a small tool from her pack.


    Caleb rolled his eyes. “Fantastic.”


    Evelyn worked on the mechanism for what felt like an eternity, her hands moving with practiced precision. Caleb kept his focus on the shadows, every nerve in his body on edge.


    “Got it,” Evelyn said finally, pulling the key from the pedestal.


    Caleb stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as he studied the object in her hand. The key was larger than the others, its surface covered in intricate carvings that seemed to shimmer faintly in the light.


    “That’s it?” Caleb asked.


    “Yes,” Evelyn said, slipping the key into her jacket. “Let’s go.”


    Before they could move, a faint sound echoed through the ruins—the deliberate crunch of footsteps on stone.


    Caleb turned, his gun already raised. Figures began to emerge from the shadows, their movements slow and deliberate.


    “Keepers,” Evelyn said, her voice tight.


    “Well,” Caleb muttered. “This just got interesting.”