**Chapter 4: Shadows of Truth**

The moment the group crossed the university gate, Nora spun on her heels, fury etched across her face. “Mira, what were you thinking?” she yelled, her voice trembling with anger. “You put all of us in danger!”

Joseph, Matthew, Anna, and Yasmin, who had been quietly catching their breath, now joined in. “Yeah, Mira!” Joseph shouted, his face red. “What were you trying to prove? That you know better than us?”

“What made you think it was okay to wander off like that?” Yasmin added, her voice laced with both fear and frustration.

Matthew crossed his arms, his expression hard. “You could’ve gotten us all killed. Do you even realize how close we were to...” His voice trailed off, unable to finish the thought.

Anna, usually the most composed of the group, snapped, “This isn’t a game, Mira! You don’t just ignore warnings like that!”

Mira, overwhelmed by the onslaught, tried to speak, but her words were drowned out by the cacophony of accusations. Tears welled up in her eyes as she felt the weight of their anger pressing down on her.

“Guys, stop!” Ryan interjected, his voice firm yet calm. He stepped in front of Mira, shielding her from the others. “Give her some space. Let’s hear her out first.”

The group fell into an uneasy silence, their anger simmering just below the surface. Mira wiped her tears and took a shaky breath. “Sonia... I don’t understand. She was with me. She led me there. We... we can’t just leave her behind! She must be lost! We need to go back and find her!”

Nora’s face turned pale, her eyes widening in disbelief. “Mira, stop. Are you crazy? None of us are going back in there. Not now, not ever!”

“But she could...