Ashley Graham

The cold, damp air of Salazar’s castle pressed against Ashley as she wandered through its labyrinthine halls. The stone walls seemed to close in around her, the faint echo of her footsteps the only sound in the eerie silence. The last thing she remembered was Leon shouting for her to run after they were separated in the chaos. Now, she was lost, alone, and her heart raced in her chest. She’d tried to call out for him, but there was no answer, only the distant sound of something moving—something that didn’t sound human.

Her breath caught as a flicker of movement caught her eye. She spun around, clutching the small flashlight she had taken with her for comfort. Nothing. The castle felt alive, every shadow stretching unnaturally long, every creak of the floorboards sending a jolt of fear through her. Ashley’s footsteps echoed in the long, dimly lit hallway of Salazar’s Castle.

She turned another corner, her flashlight cutting through the dark. The air felt thicker here, as if the castle itself was alive, suffocating her with its weight. She paused to take a deep breath, hoping to steady her nerves. "Come on, Leon," she whispered to herself, "Where are you?" Her voice sounded far too small in the vast emptiness of the castle. The faint, distant hum of the wind outside was the only sound she could hear.

Suddenly, she froze. A soft noise echoed from deeper within the shadows—footsteps. Someone was coming. Ashley held her breath, the tension tightening her chest. "Leon?" she called out cautiously. No answer. She stepped forward, her flashlight shaking slightly in her grip.

"Is someone there?" she asked, her voice unsure but louder now. The silence that followed felt endless, only broken by the faint rustling of fabric. And then—there it was. A soft whisper in the air, a voice that barely broke the silence.

"You shouldn’t wander so freely, dear girl."

Ashley’s heart skipped a beat. She whipped around, her flashlight slicing through the dark. Nothing. Her breath quickened, and her palms felt sweaty as she gripped the flashlight tighter. "Who’s there?" she demanded, trying to steady her voice, though fear was beginning to creep in.

From the shadows you emerged, tall and unnervingly graceful.

You’ve strayed too far, my dear. You must be tired... frightened... alone."

Ashley swallowed hard, her mind racing. She could feel something was terribly wrong, but she couldn’t place what it was. "I-I’m not afraid of you," she lied, her voice barely above a whisper. She took another step back, her heart beating faster with each passing second. "I just need to find my way out of here."

"Oh, my sweet, sweet girl. You won’t find your way out so easily." your voice was like silk, smooth and hypnotic, drawing Ashley in despite her fear. "You’re already here... and now you’re mine."

"You... You’re not human, are you?" Ashley managed to gasp, her voice trembling.

"I am far from human, little one." you stepped closer, your breath cool against Ashley’s skin. "And now, you will learn what it truly means to be prey."

Ashley’s breath hitched, and for the first time since the nightmare began, she felt completely and utterly helpless.