The tension, thick enough to taste, finally began to recede. With a deep breath, Theo took a step forward and **shoved** the heavy wooden door inward. **CRRREEEAAAKKKK!** The sound was a long, drawn-out screech, a mournful lament that ripped through the suffocating stillness of the valley, each echo amplifying the oppressive silence. He steadied his flashlight, its bright beam a defiant spear of light, slicing through the inky gloom within.