-1-

It's dark here. Where's the light? I can't see it. Was there ever any here?

It's quiet. Too quiet.

I wish there were other voices to be heard, but I can't even hear my own. What do voices sound like? I can't remember.

I vaguely recall what laughter felt like. I want to hear it again. I miss it.

My hand almost reaches out to grasp at a rope hanging from above. No. That will only create more problems. That's all I was even good at creating. That's why I'm here.

I am where all the problems go. The below.

I ache all over from the fall, but I force myself to get up. I have no reason to stand up, yet I do.

A creak comes from behind and a dull red glow seeps under my feet.

I turn to see the outline of a scratched door. The marks stretched from top to bottom, far higher than I could ever hope to reach.

1

2

3

4

Four steps and I pulled it open.

The room ahead was incredibly large and empty.

Floorboards.

All I could see were floorboards, wet floorboards.

I stepped inside.

SLAM!

The door shut aggressively and I jumped.

I'd heard the below was a place for unwanted problems, but this was the last on my list of expectations.

Jeremiah once told me the rope was your only hope in the below, but I don't believe him. He'd lied to me many times before.

I hated the way my bare feet stuck to the floor. Every step was difficult and cold.

My breath was visible in the red glow.

CRUNCH.

I quickly moved my foot to inspect.

An egg? A very rough hard egg too.

I carefully grasped the sharp eggshell shard in my foot and began to pull. It made a squelching sound as it slid out at an agonizingly slow pace.

The cut was deeper than I thought. 

1

2

3

4

Four agonizing steps left a trail of blood behind.

The door opened, but nothing appeared to enter. It then slammed shut like it did before.

Hoof prints appeared in the wet slime near the door and drew closer.

A chill ran through me and I felt something like a finger slide down my back.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

I hobbled as quickly as I could toward another door in the distance.

8

9

10

11

12

Something gripped me by the ankle and pulled quickly. My thin clothes grew wet as I struggled on the floor against the nothingness that held me.

I hit and scratched at whatever it was until it released its hold.

13

14

15

16

17

I clawed my way off the floor and rush to the door.

18

19

20

21

I grabbed the door knob as it screamed with seemingly two voices, one childishly high pitched, and other a deep roar.

I slammed the door shut and pressed myself against it while desperately looking for anything to block it.

THUD!

It hit the door with great strength that almost opened the door.

I was too weak to keep it closed for long.

My eyes caught sight of a sturdy looking chair that sat a short distance away. I reached a foot out to pull it closer while still leaning on the door.

Once it was close enough I shoved it under the door knob to keep it closed while I looked for something else to fully seal it off.

A nearly empty bookshelf was reasonably close. I pushed it with all the strength I had left to block the door.

I wasn't stupid enough to wait and see if it would hold and began to search for safety in the hallway.

The floor here was dry and covered in scratches. I had to be careful to avoid splinters.

After a while of limping I found an unlocked room with a soft rug inside. I closed and locked it.

Tired hands tore off a piece from the thin clothing and wrapped it around the injured foot.

Now was time for rest.

Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top