Lara sprinted out of the cabin, her breath quickening as the growling grew louder behind her. The darkness was all-encompassing, and her flashlight barely cut through it, but she pushed forward, determined to reach the temple before whatever was pursuing her closed in.
The forest seemed to twist and warp around her, the trees
closing in as if trying to trap her.
She could hear the creature's footsteps growing closer, its
growls echoing through the night. Lara knew she couldn't outrun it forever; she
needed to find the temple, and quickly.
The map she had found in the cabin was burned into her mind,
and she followed its path as best she could, her heart pounding in her chest.
Suddenly, the ground beneath her gave way, and she tumbled
down a steep embankment, landing in a shallow ravine.
The fall knocked the wind out of her, but she quickly
scrambled to her feet, her eyes scanning the area for any sign of the creature.
The growling had stopped, but the oppressive silence that followed was even
more terrifying. Lara knew it was still out there, watching, waiting.
As she caught her breath, she noticed a faint glow emanating
from the end of the ravine. She hurried toward it, hoping it would lead to
safety.
As she approached, the glow grew brighter, revealing a
massive stone structure partially hidden by the dense foliage. It was the
temple, just as the map had described, its entrance flanked by towering statues
of unknown gods or beasts.
The temple was ancient, its walls covered in the same
cryptic symbols she had seen throughout the forest.
The entrance was a massive stone doorway, slightly ajar,
with a dim light seeping through the crack. Lara pushed the door open and
stepped inside, her flashlight flickering as she did.
The interior of the temple was vast and foreboding, with
towering columns and intricate carvings depicting scenes of battles, rituals,
and sacrifices.
The air was thick with dust and the smell of decay. In the
center of the chamber was a massive stone altar, upon which lay a large, ornate
chest. This was it—the treasure she had been searching for.
But as she approached the altar, the temperature in the room
dropped suddenly, and the shadows around her began to move.
Lara froze, realizing too late that she had walked into a
trap. The growling returned, echoing off the walls of the temple, louder and
more menacing than before.
The shadows coalesced into a massive, hulking figure, its
eyes glowing with an otherworldly light.
Lara knew she was facing the guardian of the temple, a
creature bound to protect the treasure at all costs.
She backed away slowly, her mind racing for a way out. The
creature stepped forward, its massive form blocking her only exit.
Lara’s hand brushed against the journal in her pocket, and
she remembered the final words of the previous explorer: "Beware the
shadows that move, for they are not of this world."