Don't move.

Vesper kept thinking that over and over.

Their eyes were closed, breath held, as the rummaging continued. They were scared out of their wits, and they loved it.

They felt the hot, wet breath of the creature against their skin and resisted the urge to gag at the awful stench. It was like something had crawled into the monster's mouth and died. Probably had.

Ash and Jagger were waiting on them outside, so they were determined to not die yet.

The creature dragged its too-long nails across Vesper's mid-riff, and they managed to not squirm, even though it tickled a little.

This was the most immersive challenge yet. Most of the time, The Terrorium hosted boring ones, like exploring "haunted" buildings, or seeking ghosts or something. Vesper preferred more involved challenges, where there were terror and thrill.

And this was exactly what they had asked for.

Vesper noticed that all noise had disappeared. They peeked out of one eye and the monster was gone. Must've been twenty minutes already. They sat up, a little disappointed. The previous adrenaline had slipped away.

"Well," they said aloud, "ought to get moving."

They navigated the cluttered space to the doors.

And found it locked. They tried the handle, but it didn't budge.

"Ash?" They called through the doors. "Jagger?"

No reply.

Vesper raised a brow. "This isn't funny, mates. It's annoying. If the challenge is over, open the bloody door."

Still nothing.

"Vesper. . ."

Vesper froze. The voice had come from behind them, a faint whisper, and when they turned, fully expecting Jagger to be behind them, they found a shadowed figure, head bent to the side.

"Bloody hell." The words escaped them before they could catch them. "What happened to you?"

The figure dropped to all fours and Vesper's heart jumped out of their throat.

They banged on the doors.

"Jagger! Open the doors!"

Vesper could hear the skittering of the figure, but they didn't dare turn around.

"Ash!"

The doors swung open and Vesper stumbled through, getting several strides away before they finally turned around, heart racing, breathing hard to find Jagger and Ash. No shadow figure on all fours.

Ash was frowning, like always, and Jagger looked genuinely concerned, which was unusual.

"You alright, mate?" he asked.

Vesper forced a laugh and mused their hair. "Yeah. Sorry, just thought I saw something back there."

Ash raised a brow. "You don't sound alright."

"I am," Vesper snapped, unwilling to admit they'd been truly scared. And maybe still were.

Jagger held up his hands. "Right. Well, Terrorium's called twice tellin' us we're past our time. Ought to get back now."

Vesper swallowed and nodded; glad their heart had calmed a little.

The three of them piled in Ash's four-door saloon.

As they drove away, Vesper could have sworn they saw something in the rearview mirror.

But when they looked back over their shoulder, there was nothing.

The hairs on their arms stood on end.

There was nothing there.

Nothing.

. . .Right?