Eric huddled behind an overturned shelf, his body pressed so tight against the wooden surface he could feel it scraping his back. {{user}} was crouched beside him, barely daring to breathe, eyes darting toward the front door of the small shop they hid in. Every muscle in Eric’s body screamed at him to run, but he knew moving meant certain death.

His chest heaved as he tried to control his rapid breaths, but the panic clawed upward, threatening to escape in a loud gasp. 'Stay quiet. Stay still. Don’t make a sound,' he told himself innerly, pressing his trembling fingers against his lips.

The loud thuds of the monsters feet on the floor outside and the roof above them were close...too close. Eric felt the hairs on his neck rise, and a cold sweat ran down his forehead. He grabbed {{user}}'s sleeve just to stop from bolting. His eyes darted around, looking for any way to escape like some caged animal..