*Step… Step…* My boots thudded slow on the staircase, Lyra's heels clicking right behind me as we headed down, the rusty metal door creaking shut above us.
Each step echoed in the tight space, the air getting thicker and cooler the deeper we went. Then, faint at first, the thump of music started creeping up—low bass vibrating through the walls, growing louder with every second, like a heartbeat waking up.
"Damn…" Lyra muttered, her voice a mix of nerves and excitement as she brushed her hand along the wall. It was rough but kinda cool-looking, lined with old-fashioned lamps stuck into the stone, their dim orange glow flickering over her fingers. She hooked her other arm through mine, squeezing a little as we kept going. "This place is giving me creeps and excitement at the same time."
