Anne stepped into the center of the living room.
The walls groaned.
The air thickened.
And there she was—Mrs. Hodgins, standing like a queen in a crumbling palace.
Anne's eyes locked onto her.
She didn't speak.
She didn't blink.
She snapped.
"You broke the bond," Anne said, voice trembling. "You took Zahir."
Mrs. Hodgins smirked. "I claimed what was left."
Anne clenched her fists, her pendant glowing faintly.
Brittany, Lily, and Mira gathered around her, tense and quiet.
They began to plan—whispers, signals, escape routes.
But it was too late.
The moment Anne stepped forward, the floor clicked.
Mrs. Hodgins smiled.
"Oh, you thought you were clever."
The floor trembled.
Then sank.
Anne gasped.
Brittany screamed.
Lily reached for Mira—but missed.
They fell.
Not into a pit.
But into a bunker.
Cold. Sealed. Silent.
The walls were lined with old monitors, rusted tools, and flickering lights.
Above them, the trap sealed shut.
Mrs. Hodgins resumed her pacing, her voice echoing faintly through the vents.
"Now… where were we?"
Mira hadn't fallen.
She stood in the hallway, heart racing.
The wooden piece she'd found earlier pulsed faintly in her pocket.
She looked at the sealed trap.
Then at Mrs. Hodgins.
And stepped forward.
Into the living room.
Into the light.
Mrs. Hodgins turned.
Surprised.
Mira didn't flinch.
She held the wooden piece in her hand.
And stared her down.
To be continued…