The tension in the air thickened, wrapping around them like a suffocating blanket. Ella’s heart raced as she fumbled with her flashlight, the beam flickering ominously as if mirroring her rising fear. The cellar felt like a living entity, its stones whispering secrets of the past, and she could sense the presence of something ancient lurking in the shadows.

“Lydia!” she called again, desperation creeping into her voice. “If you can hear us, please answer!”