Ella froze.
A violent shiver ran down her spine as she snapped her head toward the sound.
Nothing.
Just the dark, twisted walls of the maze.
Her breathing quickened.
Freya, noticing the druid's sudden distress, leaned in:
"What's wrong?"
Ella's lips barely moved as she whispered:
"I heard a voice."
Freya's brows furrowed, her heart hammering at the words.
A voice?
But she hadn't heard anything.
Was it a trick of the mind? Or something worse?
Ella shook her head, trying to convince herself.
"Maybe I was mistaken."
Her voice wavered.
But then she took a step forward—
WIEEEEE!
A piercing shriek ripped through the maze.
Freya's body locked up.
The sound was so sharp, so unnatural, it felt like knives stabbing into their skulls.
Ella, Jeremy, and Freya clutched their ears, wincing.
And just as suddenly as it came—
Silence.
Jeremy whirled around, his voice edged with alarm.
"What the hell was that?!"
Ella froze.
A cold, sickening feeling crawled up her spine.
