Chapter 16: The Ritual

We emerged from the hidden passageway, the air above ground feeling strangely fresh after the intensity of the cavern. The hidden tribe’s leader had given us a new sense of purpose, but the threat of Dr. Harlan still loomed large in our minds. We moved cautiously, our senses on high alert for any sign of danger.

The jungle around us was eerily quiet, the usual sounds of wildlife absent. As we made our way through the dense foliage, Lena paused, her eyes narrowing.

“Do you hear that?” she whispered.

We stopped and listened. Faintly, carried on the wind, was the sound of chanting. It was a low, rhythmic murmur that sent chills down my spine.

“Harlan’s cult,” Mara said, her voice tense. “They’re performing a ritual.”

“We need to stop them,” Drake said, his grip on his weapon tightening. “Whatever they’re doing, it can’t be good.”

We followed the sound of the chanting, moving as quietly as we could. The jungle seemed to grow darker and more oppressive the closer we got, the air thick wit