There was a mildewy smell, too, but I didn’t see any water. There weren’t any stalactites or stalagmites, which made me think that despite the smell there might not be any water. Which was bad. I could go a while without food, but not without water.

A scratching noise brought me back to reality. Claws on dirt and rocks. If he was making as much noise as possible to scare me, then it was working.

I’d faced Bhrunyz once before, and I hadn’t wanted to again. I’d barely survived the first time. My only choice was to run. Even if there was no way out.

Bhrunyz was coming down one of the branches. That left two to choose from.

Donovan would come. I had to believe that. As long as I kept running, there was a chance.

I tucked my crooked arm against my body and tried to decide which tunnel was better, but there was no way to know. They looked the same, and everything down here smelled like Bhrunyz.

I closed my eyes and took a step toward the right branch.

Bhrunyz cried out.

All the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and I froze in place. This time I didn’t have Donovan’s magic to counter its hold.

I was so royally fucked.

The freeze only lasted a second. Just long enough to terrify me.

I ran flat out, taking twisting turns through the tunnels. Little branches off the main ones kept tricking me. I’d go down one way only to hit a dead end. Backtracking when Bhrunyz was somewhere behind me…

I was fully terrified. Every time the beast’s magic froze me, my fear ramped up.

Adrenaline coursed through me and my teeth rattled as I ran frantically. I couldn’t think. All I could do was try to stay ahead of Bhrunyz.

Run.

Run.

Run.

I went through the cave, stumbling over rocks as I tried to find a place to hide. The only thing that saved me was that Bhrunyz moved slowly. I had no doubt that he could move faster if he wanted, but the beast was toying with me. Making sure my blood was thick with fear before he killed me.

This was his sick game, and when he finally grew bored, I’d be dead.

Time passed in a fog. I wasn’t sure if I’d been running for hours or minutes, but my muscles ached and threatened to give out.

The tunnels were endless. Each turn I took looked the same as the last until I had no idea where I was. All I could do was keep moving forward, with no goal but to stay as far away from Bhrunyz as possible.

I tripped, falling to the ground.

Shit. I tried to get up, but my legs were shaking.