"Fuck! Fuck!" she muttered, her voice a panicked whisper. "Breathe, Evelyn. Breathe!" But the air was thick, suffocating, as though the walls themselves were collapsing in on her. Every inch of her screamed for her to run, to hide, to do something—anything—to escape the inevitable.

Her pulse quickened, hammering against her chest like a wild animal trapped in a cage. This can't be happening... not now, not like this.

Sweat beaded on her forehead, and she pressed a trembling hand to her mouth, trying to stifle the rising tide of terror. Her mind raced, spinning out of control as fear gripped her, squeezing tighter with every beat of her heart....