CHAPTER 80

The cold, damp air of the tunnel pressed in on Philip and Jessica as they crawled through the narrow passageway. The darkness seemed to stretch on forever, with only the faint, flickering light from Jessica’s lighter illuminating the way. Every creak, every echo, made them tense, fearing that at any moment, they might encounter another trap or, worse, their captors.

Philip’s mind raced as he led the way, his hands and knees scraping against the rough metal of the vent. The passage was tight, almost suffocating, but he forced himself to focus. They were moving forward—that was all that mattered. They had to find an exit, a way out of this maze.

“Are you okay back there?” Philip asked, his voice strained as he tried to keep his tone steady.

“I’m fine,” Jessica replied, though the tremor in her voice betrayed her fear. “Just… let’s keep going.”

The tunnel seemed to twist and turn endlessly, with no clear direction. The sound of their breathing was the only thing filling the suffocating s