Chapter 12: The Escape

As Adan made his way through the hallway, he could see the wall looming ahead with doors flanking it on either side. Instinctively, he tried the door on the left, only to find it locked. Undeterred, he turned to the door on the right, thankfully finding it unlocked. Hastening his steps, he heard the singing creature approaching from behind.

Entering the room, he found himself in a vast two-story library, with a staircase at the far end. It struck him as odd how such a large library could exist beneath a simple house, but he pushed the thought aside, focusing on his immediate need to escape. Rushing to the other end, he ascended the staircase, peering down from above just as the grotesque creature entered the library below.

The creature resumed its haunting song, its melody somehow beguiling. Yet, Adan, driven by sheer willpower and survival instinct, pushed through the enchantment and, upon reaching the top, discovered no door—only a dead end. Panic and despair threatened to overwhelm him, but he refused to give in. Reminding himself of the countless hours spent training, a glimmer of hope ignited within him.

Realizing he held the high ground and armed with his bow and arrows, Adan quickly equipped a shaft and aimed down at the creature below. However, to his astonishment, the arrow bounced harmlessly off the creature's skin, prompting mocking laughter from its lips. "Is that all you have to defeat me? Your equipment is truly pathetic," it taunted.

Adan, stunned by the arrow's failure, pondered his next move. Concluding that the creature could only be vanquished through his own powers, he steeled himself to protect his life, despite never having taken one before. Drawing upon his inner light, he imbued the arrowhead with his radiant energy, causing it to glow intensely.

With resolve, he nocked the arrow, aiming it directly at the monster. Sensing the impending strike, the creature pressed a hidden red button beside it, triggering a brief alarm before proclaiming, "Even if you defeat me, my children will still kill you." Unable to evade the arrow, it pierced through its chest, striking its heart and instantly felling it.

As the creature dissolved into red powder, vanishing beneath the earth, Adan breathed a sigh of relief but remained vigilant for an escape route. Unable to return the way he came, fearing the creature's warning of its offspring, he scanned his surroundings. Amidst the dusty shelves, he noticed two books—one conspicuously untouched by dust.

Grasping the first book, he found it detailed various monsters from Greek and other mythologies. Thankful for his discovery, he pocketed the book before investigating the second. As he suspected, it triggered a secret passage behind the shelf. Stepping cautiously through, he emerged into a concrete chamber with stairs leading upward and an LED light on the wall.

Puzzled by the juxtaposition of antiquated rooms and modern lighting, he dismissed it as inconsequential. Sealing the secret entrance behind him, he ascended the stairs, finding himself before another wooden door obscured by leaves. Opening it cautiously, he peered outside, relieved to find himself in the forest. Determined to put the house behind him, he ventured forth.

As he put some distance between himself and the house, he couldn't shake the feeling of dread. With every rustle in the underbrush, his apprehension grew. "Oh no, why am I so unlucky?" he lamented, his thoughts urging him to hasten his steps. He wanted to leave the sinister place far behind as soon as possible.