He thought the fall would kill him.
It didn't.
Pain exploded through Amir's body as he hit the ground.
Hard.
Cold.
Unforgiving.
For a moment… he couldn't breathe.
Everything went dark.
Then—
Air rushed back into his lungs.
Sharp. Burning.
Alive.
Amir groaned, forcing his eyes open.
Darkness surrounded him.
Not the night sky.
Not the valley.
Something else.
Enclosed.
Silent.
"Where… am I…?"
His voice echoed back at him.
That's when he realized—
He wasn't outside anymore.
He was underground.
The air was damp.
Heavy.
Still.
Amir pushed himself up slowly, wincing in pain.
His shoulder throbbed.
His legs shook.
But he was alive.
That was enough.
For now.
A faint sound reached his ears.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
Water.
Somewhere ahead.
Amir turned his head.
There was a narrow passage in front of him.
Dark.
Deep.
Unknown.
Behind him—
Nothing.
Just a broken drop… leading back to the surface.
No way up.
No way back.
A low realization settled in:
"I didn't escape…"
"I just fell deeper."
Amir took a slow step forward.
Then another.
Each step echoed through the tunnel.
Louder than it should.
Like the place itself was listening.
The air grew colder.
The darkness thicker.
Then—
He saw it.
Marks.
On the wall.
Long.
Deep.
Claw marks.
Fresh.
Amir froze.
His breath caught.
"This place…"
A distant growl echoed through the tunnel.
Not from above.
From within.
Closer than it should be.
Amir's heart began to race again.
Not fear.
Not exactly.
But something worse.
Understanding.
The valley wasn't the only hunting ground.
And whatever lived down here…
Had been waiting far longer.
The growl came again.
Louder.
Closer.
And this time—
It wasn't alone.
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