The fall felt endless. Richard’s scream was swallowed by the roar of stone collapsing around them. He couldn’t see his friends—only shadows flailing, dust choking the air, and the awful sensation of weightlessness. Then—thud. The impact knocked the air from his lungs. He landed hard on something soft—moss?—then rolled, groaning. His head spun, and his ears rang like alarm bells. For a long moment, he just lay still, trying to remember how to breathe.“Richard?” a voice croaked nearby. It was Loret. “I’m here,” he rasped. “You okay?” “Not sure. My ankle—hurts.” Richard pushed himself up slowly. He clicked on his torch, wincing at the brightness. The beam cut through a haze of dust, revealing a low rocky ceiling above and uneven stone around them. The air was thick—damp, musty, and oddly warm. Plants that glowed faintly blue carpeted the floor. “Richard!” another voice—Jake. “Jake! Davis?” “I’m here too,” Davis called out, coughing. “But I landed on my spine. I swear I’m two inches shor

The deeper they went, the quieter the world became. Richard led the group through the narrow tunnel that opened from the altar chamber, the strange crystal still pulsing faintly in his pocket. The glowing thread on the ground -the one they'd seen in the holographic map-was barely visible now, like a thin trail of stardust guiding them through the Hollow.No one had spoken in over five minutes. Their faces were pale, damp with sweat, and streaked with ash and slime. Loret limped steadily behind Richard, supported by Davis, While Jake scribbled frantically in a small notebook, recording symbols and sketches from the walls as they passed. " Do you realize what this means?" Jake finally whispered. "There's a whole civilization down here. Architecture. Energy sources. Maybe even language. We've uncovered something no one else ever has."Let's survive it before we celebrate it,' Loret muttered, rubbing his temple. Richard stopped suddenly, raising a hand. "Do you feel that?' The others paus

The stone stairs wound downward like a spiral into the unknown. Each step echoed like a warning in the silence, the sound of their movement swallowed by thick air that smelled of earth and old metal. The walls were smooth and lined with ancient engravings- patterns that looked less like writing and more like... memories. Stories told in symbols. Richard kept the glowing crystal in his hand. It pulsed brighter the deeper they descended, responding to something beneath."Do you feel that?" Loret asked quietly. "The vibration?' “Yes,' Richard said. 'It's like... the stone itself is breathing." They reached the bottom at last. A massive hall spread before them, larger than any they'd encountered. High vaulted ceilings stretched above like a cathedral, though everything was carved from solid rock. Pillars lined the room, covered in moss and bioluminescent fungi. At the center stood a large stone disc embedded in the floor, rimmed with gold and deep etchings.But it wasn't the floor that dr

The cool wind that greeted them was unlike anything they had felt since falling into the underworld. It was crisp, almost fresh, and carried with it the scent of damp moss and something... sweet. Faintly floral. It stirred something peaceful in Richard's chest. But Jake voiced what they were all thinking: "This is too quiet." They emerged into an enormous dome-shaped cavern. Unlike the fiery chambers before, this space was alive. Lush green vines crept along the stone walls, glowing slightly with a soft bioluminescent hue. A waterfall trickled down from one corner into a crystal - clear pool. Trees with pale silver leaves swaying gently, though there were no wind. shocking how leaves, swaying without wind. Forces, truly are real. Bird-like creatures with translucent wings flitted from branch to branch, chirping in a language that felt just beyond human understanding. For the first time in what felt like days, the group exhaled. "Is it over?' Loret asked, his voice hushed. "No," Richa

The weeks that followed felt both unreal and too real. The four friends returned to their normal routines - school, chores, meals with their families - but the Deep never left them. It lingered in their dreams and shadows, in whispered winds and strange silences. At night, Richard would lie awake, replaying the moments again and again - the blast, the fall, the whispering voice, the glowing creatures, and that final choice. He had changed. They all had. And somehow, the world had sensed it.One afternoon, as they gathered again beneath the mango tree, Jake arrived last, breathless. "It's happening again," he said, clutching a folded newspaper. "One of the site workers disappeared. They said he wandered off into the forest after hearing a 'calling'.' Richard snatched the paper. That sounds strange. The headline read; "Mine Worker Vanishes Without Trace - Locals Blame Spirits of the Land.' Loret stood. "That means... it's calling to others now?" "It knows we're out here," Davis muttere