7. Lara

7

LARA

A dull ache throbs in my head as I stir, groggy and disoriented. Darkness envelops me, thick and oppressive, yet dotted with faint glimmers of bioluminescent moss. I blink several times, trying to shake off the fog clouding my mind.

Where am I? What happened? My thoughts swirl like a tornado. Slowly, the memories filter back: the ruins, the rumble, the ground giving way beneath me.

I push myself up on shaky elbows, my eyes adjusting to the dim light. The moss casts a dim glow, enough to reveal jagged stone walls and scattered debris. My heart hammers in my chest as I take in my surroundings, each breath echoing off the cavern walls. The damp, musty scent fills my nose, and the chill of the stone beneath me seeps through my clothes.

Then I see it—a massive figure looming over me. My breath catches in my throat. Its grotesque form sends a jolt of terror through me. Skin marked by deep cracks and weathered by time. Eyes that gleam with an otherworldly light.

Panic claws at me. Instinctively, I scream—a raw, desperate sound that ricochets through the chamber. The echoes magnify my fear, bouncing back at me from every direction.

My mind races. What is this creature? Am I dreaming? The ground beneath me feels solid, anchoring me to this reality.

I try to steady my breathing, but each inhale feels like a battle against rising hysteria. The creature doesn’t move; it just watches me with an intensity that chills me to the bone.

My thoughts scatter in a thousand directions. What does it want? Is it going to kill me?

I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment, hoping that when I open them again, this nightmare will be over. But the darkness remains, punctuated by those haunting bioluminescent glows.

When I dare to look again, the creature is still there—silent and immovable. Every muscle in my body tenses as if ready to spring into action.

Soon, my hands claw at the cold, uneven ground, fingers scrambling for something to grip on the loose stones. Every scrape and scratch fuels my desperation. I need to get away from this monstrous figure that looms over me.

Rocks dig into my palms as I push myself backward, the rough texture biting into my skin. Each inch gained feels like a small victory, but his gaze never wavers, following my every movement. Those eyes—ogling and unblinking—bore into me. Our eyes meet briefly, and for a moment, I think his unyielding stare reflects curiosity rather than malice. But that’s impossible, this is a monster.

I can't breathe. My chest tightens as if a vise grips it, and my heart pounds so loudly it drowns out everything else. What is he? Why is he just standing there? Every instinct screams at me to run, but my limbs feel numb.

The cavern seems to close in around me. Shadows dance on the walls, twisting into distorted shapes that mock my fear. I scramble faster, kicking up small clouds of dust and debris in my wake. Every breath I take is shallow and ragged. I can't let him catch me—I won't let him catch me.

My back hits a wall with a hard thud, and a sharp pain shoots up my body. Panic surges anew as I realize I've cornered myself. There's nowhere left to go. Trapped like an animal.

“This can’t be happening,” I whisper desperately. “I-I can’t die like this.”

My mind races for an escape plan, but all I can think about is his intent gaze. Why doesn't he speak? What is he waiting for?

I force myself to take a deep breath, the air harsh and dry in my throat. Maybe if I stay still... maybe he'll lose interest. The thought is almost laughable—if it weren't so terrifying.

His presence fills the cavern like an oppressive weight, suffocating and inescapable. And all I can do is pray for a miracle.

Suddenly, his deep, rumbling voice cuts through the heavy silence. “Do not fear.”

The words resonate like distant thunder, each syllable vibrating through the air and into my bones. But the sound only fuels my terror. My heart pounds in my chest. My breaths come in labored gasps.

It speaks, yet my mind refuses to comprehend. His words bounce off the walls of my panic-stricken mind.

Images of ancient monsters and tales of doom flash through my head. What does he want from me? My thoughts spiral out of control, each one darker and more desperate than the last.

“Calm yourself,” the creature says, his voice softer now, almost pleading.

Calm? How can I calm down? My body trembles uncontrollably, every muscle locked in a vice grip of terror.

I force myself to focus on his face. Eyes that glint like polished obsidian watch me intently. His expression remains unreadable, his features betraying nothing.

His gaze softens—can stone even soften?—but it does nothing to ease my dread. Everything inside me screams to flee, to find an escape. But there’s no way out. My mind races with images of what could happen next—none of them good. How do I survive this?

He shifts slightly, his massive form casting new shadows on the cavern walls. “You are safe,” he says.

Safe? The word feels foreign, an alien concept in this place of darkness and doom. Safe from what? From him?

The echoes of his voice fade into the stillness, leaving only the sound of my ragged breathing and the relentless thud of my heartbeat.

I don’t move; I can’t move. All I can do is stare at him and pray that his words are true—that somehow, despite everything, I will find a way out.

The monster, realizing the futility of words, shifts closer. Each ponderous step he takes echoes through the cavern, the ground trembling beneath his weight. His movements are slow, almost deliberate, as if he tries to show he means no harm. But it only makes my fear spike higher.

“No!” I shout, my voice raw and hoarse. “Stay back!”

He halts, tilting his head as if puzzled by my reaction. Then he moves again, closing the distance between us. Sheer panic surges like wildfire through my veins.

I thrash against the cold stone at my back, driven by a primal need to survive. My screams pierce the gloom, bouncing off the walls in a cacophony of terror. I claw at the ground, trying to find something to grab, but it’s futile.

“Please!” I beg, my voice breaking. “Don’t come any closer!”

He pauses again but then takes another step. The moss casts ghostly shadows on his cracked skin, making him appear even more monstrous.

My heart races faster than ever. What is he trying to do? Is this how it ends? I can’t let it end like this.

Adrenaline rushes through me, giving me strength I didn’t know I had. I kick out with all my might, aiming for his legs, hoping to throw him off balance. But he doesn’t even flinch.

“Stay away!” I scream again, my voice echoing with desperation.

He reaches out a massive hand, its surface rough and uneven. I wriggle and twist, trying to evade his grasp.

“No! Please!” My pleas fall on deaf ears as he moves closer still.

In a final act of defiance, I claw at his approaching hand, nails scraping against the hard surface. But it’s useless—my efforts do nothing to deter him.

The cavern around me spins as terror grips me tighter than ever before. All sense of time and place fades away until there’s only him and me in this suffocating darkness.

His hand finally makes contact with my arm, the rough surface of his skin sending shock waves through my entire body. I scream again, louder this time, my voice echoing through the cavern like a haunting wail. Tears stream down my face, mingling with the dirt and grime. I thrash wildly, trying to free myself from his grip.

“Let me go!” My voice breaks with anguish. “Please, let me go!”

My mind spins in frantic circles, unable to process anything beyond the immediate terror. Why is this happening? I see nothing but his massive form, feel nothing but the cold, unyielding stone of his hand.

Why won’t he let me go? What does he want from me? The questions swirl in my head, unanswered and terrifying.

His grip tightens slightly, and I sob uncontrollably. “Please!” I beg again, my voice raw and hoarse. “I don’t want to die!”

My breaths come in short, shallow gasps. I’m utterly hysterical now. I can’t think straight. Fear blinds me to everything but the need to survive.

“Why are you doing this?” My voice is barely a whisper now, choked by tears and fear.

He doesn’t answer—doesn’t speak—just watches me with those unblinking eyes that seem to pierce through my very soul. His silence is more terrifying than any threat he could make.

I twist and turn in his grasp, desperate to break free. My nails dig into his harsh skin, but it’s like trying to claw at a mountain. Each movement feels futile, yet I can’t stop struggling. All I can do is fight—fight with every ounce of strength left in me—against this ancient monster that threatens to consume me whole.

“Please,” I whisper one last time, my voice barely audible above the pounding of my heart.

Tears continue to flow down my cheeks as I stare up at him, my vision blurring with despair. The weight of his presence crushes any hope of escape, leaving me trapped in an endless cycle of hysteria and defense.

Understanding or connection is impossible; all that remains is fear—raw and all-consuming—binding me tighter than any chains ever could. In this moment, I realize there is no escape from this nightmare.