Chapter 20: A Race to Safety

The group’s frantic footsteps echoed down the dim hallway as Heizou and Aether stumbled upon Lumine and Scaramouche.

“You’re alive,” Lumine gasped, catching her breath, relief momentarily flashing across her face.

“Barely,” Heizou replied, leaning against the wall. “And guess what? There’s not one, but two of those crawling freaks out here.”

“Perfect. Just perfect,” Scaramouche muttered sarcastically, glancing around.

Before anyone could respond, a blood-curdling scream pierced the air. The biwa lady appeared at the end of the hallway, her haunting eyes glowing as she raised her biwa menacingly.

“She’s back!” Aether yelled, panic rising in his voice.

“Everyone, get ready to be smacked!” Heizou joked, though his tone betrayed his nerves.

The biwa lady swung her instrument, unleashing an ear-splitting sound that sent the group bolting down the straight hallway.

“This way!” Lumine shouted, spotting a brighter corridor to the left.

As they turned the corner, they saw Furina and Hu Tao running toward them, the two crawling ladies hot on their heels. Hu Tao’s usual grin was still plastered on her face, but her breaths were heavy.

“Make some room, people!” Hu Tao yelled as she and Furina joined the fleeing group.

“This is bad!” Furina exclaimed, glancing behind them. “We’ve got company times three now!”

“Run faster, talk less!” Scaramouche barked, pushing forward.

Lumine’s eyes darted around, desperately searching for any escape. That’s when she spotted it—a faint glow at the end of the hallway.

“An elevator!” she shouted, pointing ahead. “Go, go, go!”

The group sprinted toward the elevator as the biwa lady’s screeches grew louder, the sound nearly deafening. The crawling ladies closed in as well, their twisted forms scuttling unnervingly fast.

Aether reached the elevator first, frantically pressing the button. “Come on, come on!”

The doors slowly creaked open, just as the biwa lady raised her instrument again, unleashing another piercing wail.

“Hurry!” Furina screamed, practically shoving everyone into the elevator.

Hu Tao stumbled inside, pulling Heizou with her. Lumine and Scaramouche were the last to enter, slamming the door’s close button repeatedly.

The creatures lunged just as the doors slid shut, their distorted faces inches away. The muffled screeches faded as the elevator began to ascend.

Everyone collapsed against the walls, catching their breaths.

“Three of them now,” Lumine muttered, her voice trembling. “This just keeps getting worse.”

“At least we’re alive,” Heizou said, attempting to lighten the mood. “For now.”

“Don’t jinx it,” Aether replied, his tone grim.

The elevator rattled and groaned as it continued to rise, leaving the horrors below—for now. But the ominous silence that filled the space was a chilling reminder that the nightmare was far from over.

I know I know it ain't plotting like the actual game😘