★ＨＡＵＮＴＥＤ ＭＡＮＳＩＯＮ★

★58

As the door slammed shut, a final echo of Tayla's panicked screams resonated through the basement, filling the air with an unbearable tension. Jaxon and Amber stood on the other side, hearts racing, trapped in a cycle of guilt and fear.**"What have we done?"** Amber whispered, her eyes wide with horror. Inside the basement, Tayla struggled against the relentless grip of the creature. Its cold fingers clawed at her skin, and she felt a searing pain shoot through her body as it pulled her closer, its breath a rancid, sickening stench.

**"Help! Somebody, please!"** she cried, her voice cracking as she fought against the darkness closing in around her.

But her pleas were swallowed by the growls and guttural sounds of the creature. It lunged at her, and she felt its teeth sink into her flesh. The shock of pain was immediate and overwhelming. 

**"No! Get off me!"** she screamed, but the sound only fueled the creature's frenzy.

Tayla thrashed, trying to pry herself free, but every movement seemed to draw her deeper into its clutches. The world around her began to blur, the edges of her vision darkening as she realized the horror of her situation. She could feel the life draining from her, replaced by an all-consuming dread.

**"Somebody help!"** she shrieked one last time, but the only response was the echo of her own voice, fading into silence.

Outside, Jaxon and Amber could only stand frozen in place, the weight of their decision pressing down on them like a physical force. They exchanged terrified glances, knowing they had abandoned their friend to whatever fate awaited her in that cursed mansion.

*"We have to do something!"** Amber shouted, her voice trembling with urgency.

**"What can we do?"** Jaxon replied, his mind racing. **"We can't just open the door! It might come after us, too!"** They stood there, torn between the desperate need to help Tayla and the primal instinct to survive. Each scream that rang out from the basement sent shivers down their spines, filling the air with the haunting reminder of the horror that lay just beyond the closed door.**"We can't leave her!"** Amber insisted, tears brimming in her eyes.

**"What do you want me to do? Break the door down?!"** Jaxon snapped, his frustration boiling over.

They exchanged a few more terrified glances, but they both knew there was nothing they could do. As the screams grew quieter, replaced by guttural sounds of something that resembled chewing, they finally succumbed to their fear and guilt, backing away from the door.**"We need to find a way out of here,"** Jaxon murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, **"before whatever that is comes for us next."**With heavy hearts and minds consumed by regret, they turned away from the basement door, knowing they had to survive, even if it meant leaving Tayla behind.