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The University
**Chapter 22: The Ritual's Descent**
Nora, her dark hair wild and eyes gleaming with malice, motioned to the corner where Ryan, along with the cloaked figures, stood. “We need four,” she said coldly. “Time is running out. Father will bring the last one.” She turned toward the group. “Ryan, keep them ready. The ritual must be completed.”
Her voice was sharp and commanding, a grim reminder of what was at stake. The Dean, looking uneasy but determined, nodded. "I'll bring someone. They trust me," he said hurriedly and left the room, locking the door behind him.
The sound of his hurried footsteps echoed as he moved toward his car, disappearing into the night. Meanwhile, inside, Nora's presence loomed ominously, her confidence suffocating the air.
---
Mira’s chest rose and fell rapidly as she lay on the cold stone altar. She had been paralyzed by fear for what felt like an eternity. But something shifted. Gathering every ounce of courage, she opened her eyes. The flickering torchlight illuminated the room, and she noticed Matthew, Ann, and Yasmine watching her, their faces pale and frozen in fear.
Her body reacted before her mind could catch up. She pushed herself off the stone and dashed toward the torch lying nearby. Matthew, Ann, and Yasmine stared in shock, their terror mingling with a glimmer of hope.
Nora, Ryan, and the cloaked figures turned at the sound of Mira’s movement. Nora's sharp voice pierced the tension. “You? You’re alive?”
Her disbelief quickly turned to rage. She screamed to one of her men, “Grab her!”
Mira didn’t wait. She lunged at the man, swinging the flaming torch. The torch...
Nora, her dark hair wild and eyes gleaming with malice, motioned to the corner where Ryan, along with the cloaked figures, stood. “We need four,” she said coldly. “Time is running out. Father will bring the last one.” She turned toward the group. “Ryan, keep them ready. The ritual must be completed.”
Her voice was sharp and commanding, a grim reminder of what was at stake. The Dean, looking uneasy but determined, nodded. "I'll bring someone. They trust me," he said hurriedly and left the room, locking the door behind him.
The sound of his hurried footsteps echoed as he moved toward his car, disappearing into the night. Meanwhile, inside, Nora's presence loomed ominously, her confidence suffocating the air.
---
Mira’s chest rose and fell rapidly as she lay on the cold stone altar. She had been paralyzed by fear for what felt like an eternity. But something shifted. Gathering every ounce of courage, she opened her eyes. The flickering torchlight illuminated the room, and she noticed Matthew, Ann, and Yasmine watching her, their faces pale and frozen in fear.
Her body reacted before her mind could catch up. She pushed herself off the stone and dashed toward the torch lying nearby. Matthew, Ann, and Yasmine stared in shock, their terror mingling with a glimmer of hope.
Nora, Ryan, and the cloaked figures turned at the sound of Mira’s movement. Nora's sharp voice pierced the tension. “You? You’re alive?”
Her disbelief quickly turned to rage. She screamed to one of her men, “Grab her!”
Mira didn’t wait. She lunged at the man, swinging the flaming torch. The torch...
