The workshop doors slammed shut at midnight. Liora’s lantern flickered, casting long shadows on the walls. Master Veyra stood frozen, his face pale. "She’s here," he whispered.
The breathing clock’s pendulum swung wildly, its chimes echoing like a heartbeat. Liora pressed her ear to the clock’s case and heard a voice—her own name, whispered from inside.
The door behind her creaked open, revealing a narrow staircase descending into darkness. Veyra grabbed her arm. "Don’t go down there," he pleaded. But the clock struck once more, and the door began to close on its own. Liora slipped through just in time.
To be continued...