Chapter 18. The Heat of His Breath

Emma’s POV

I slowly opened my eyes, a searing pain shoots through my body, making her wince. I tried to move, but a sharp stinging sensation in my limbs made me gasp. I met with an eerie silence, and the darkness seemed to press in around me.

Groggily, I tried to remember where I was and what happened. Fragments of memories flash through my mind, but they were hazy and unclear. “Hailey?” I called desperately, wanting to know that I wasn’t alone in the quiet room.

I laid there, and I started to feel a creeping sense of unease. It was as if someone were watching me lurking just out of sight. I attempted to brush off the feeling, telling myself I was just being paranoid, but the sensation persisted.

My heart began to race, and I strained my ears to pick up any sound. The silence was oppressive, punctuated only by the faint creaks and groans of the room. I tried to sit up, but a wave of pain washed over me, forcing me back onto the surface.

Suddenly,