Take the right passage

You all pause at the fork, considering which path to take. Nell holds the torch up, illuminating each tunnel in turn.

"I say we go right," Adi declares. "It's wider and seems to slope downwards. That might lead us closer to whatever treasure we're looking for."

You nod in agreement. The right tunnel does seem more promising. Still, something about the narrow left passage nags at you.

"I don't know," you muse. "Shouldn't we at least take a quick look down the left tunnel before deciding?"

Jon shakes his head. "That left one looks too tight. We'd have to crawl through on our bellies. Let's try the right first."

Nell considers a moment, then shrugs. "Majority rules. We'll head right."

He leads the way down the wider, sloping tunnel. You follow close behind, one hand trailing along the damp cave wall. The air grows colder as you descend. After several twists and turns, the tunnel opens into a larger cavern.

You step into the cavern, the light from Nell's torch barely reaching the distant walls and ceiling. The space seems massive compared to the narrow tunnel you just emerged from. Your footsteps echo as you walk slowly forward, peering into the darkness.

Suddenly, Nell stops and holds up a hand. "Wait. Do you hear that?"

You all freeze, listening intently. At first, all you hear is the steady drip of water somewhere in the cavern. But then, beneath that, you make out a faint scuttling sound.

"What is that?" Jon whispers.

The scuttling grows louder and is joined by another sound - a strange clicking or tapping. You glance around nervously, unable to tell where the sounds are coming from in the dark vastness of the cavern.

Nell takes a cautious step forward, raising the torch higher. The flickering light falls upon a nightmarish sight.

Several three-foot-long creatures with shiny black segmented bodies like giant centipedes or millipedes swarm across the rock, their tiny chitonous legs tapping and scuttling.

At the edge of the light, some of the creatures rear up, revealing pincer-like mouths that open and close with an audible click. They seem to be reacting to the light and warmth of the torch.

"Back, back!" Nell hisses, stumbling backwards. But it's too late. The creatures begin surging towards you, moving as one.