Faster, faster!

I kept urging myself as my heels clattered against the stone path. My heart thundered in my chest, the suffocating weight of fear pressing down on me. Finally, I burst into the brightly lit hall, gasping for air.

That suffocating feeling of being watched disappeared as soon as I entered the brightly lit hall. I stopped, catching my breath. After looking around and seeing no one, I quickly walked toward the main hall.

Relief washed over ...