YOU'RE FUNNELED INTO A DEAD END. YOUR CHEST IS BURNING; YOUR HEART FEELS LIKE A LEAD WEIGHT. YOU GAZE REPEATEDLY AT THE WALLS THAT HAVE FINALLY SEALED YOU IN. YOU KNOW YOU ARE BREATHING, BUT IT FEELS LIKE THE AIR IS NOT... QUITE MAKING IT IN? A CHOKING SENSATION BEGINS TO DESCEND UPON YOU. AS YOU INHALE MORE DEEPLY, A COLD WISP OF AIR WRAPS ITSELF AROUND YOUR ANKLE.
YOU LOOK TO THE SOURCE AND SEE A STAIRWELL. HOW HAD YOU MISSED THIS BEFORE?
STILL NO FOOTSTEPS, BUT NOW YOUR EARS DO PICK UP FAINT SLOW SOUNDS OF THE FLOORBOARDS CREAKING IN THE HALL BEHIND YOU. THEY ARE SLOWLY COMING CLOSER.
THE STAIRS AWAIT IN FRONT OF YOU. YOU TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND BEGIN STEADILY WALKING DOWN, STEP BY STEP. HOPING YOU WON'T BE HEARD...
CONTINUE
