Elira was no longer in control.
Her heart thundered in her chest as she fought against the ropes, but they were too tight, cutting into her skin. She wasn't sure how long she'd been trapped in this room, but time no longer mattered. Everything blurred into a haze of pain and terror.
Sister Helena's words echoed in her mind, a constant hum: You were chosen. You belong here. You will be sacrificed.
But Elira refused to accept that.
With a final surge of strength, she tore through the ropes and stumbled to her feet. Her legs wobbled beneath her, but the adrenaline pushed her forward. She had to leave. She had to escape.
The door creaked open.
She slipped into the hallway, her breathing ragged. Every shadow seemed to stretch toward her, every corner hiding something sinister. But she kept moving, guided only by the flickering lights and the whispers that followed her like ghosts.
Find the way out. Find the way out.
The hallway twisted in ways that shouldn't have been possible, but Elira didn't hesitate. She had seen the maps, heard the rumors. The exit was near. It had to be.
As she turned a corner, she nearly crashed into a figure.
Nina.
The ghost girl stood in front of her, her face contorted in pain. She reached out, her fingers brushing Elira's arm. For a moment, everything went still.
Then Nina pointed.
Her eyes were full of warning.
Don't go that way.
Before Elira could respond, the sound of footsteps reached her ears—heavy, deliberate.
Sister Helena.
With a final glance at Nina, Elira turned and ran.
She sprinted down the hall, heart pounding in her ears, her breath ragged. She could hear the echoes of Helena's voice behind her, calling her name. But she didn't stop. Not until she reached the door.
The front door.
It was open.
A beam of moonlight sliced through the darkness, offering the hope of freedom. Elira's fingers brushed the door handle, but before she could escape, something cold gripped her ankle.
She looked down.
The floor was alive—twisting, shifting. Hands—pale and skeletal—reached up, grabbing her, pulling her back into the darkness.
"No!" she screamed, but it was too late.
The door slammed shut.
Elira was back inside.