Marcus stood frozen on the spiral staircase. The stone steps were cold beneath his boots.
Another scream tore through the air. It was ragged and high-pitched.
It sounded like an animal dying in a trap.
His hand gripped the rusty iron railing. His knuckles turned white.
"Just keep moving," Marcus whispered to himself.
His voice trembled in the damp air.
He stared at the darkness above. The stairs spiraled up into the gloom.
'This is not my business,' he thought. 'I am not a hero. I am a life coach. I am just a powerless normal guy'
He squeezed his eyes shut.
He tried to block out the sound. He tried to focus on his breathing.
In, out. In, out.
'I cannot save everyone,' he reasoned internally. 'I barely saved myself from that cell.'
He was physically weak. He had no magic. He had no weapon.
Going up there was suicide. It was illogical.
He lifted his foot to take the next step. He steeled himself to ignore the horror above.
