As I reached out to touch the walls to
get my bearings, the dimmed light brightened. I turned again, and saw now not
two, but three passageways before me…had I counted incorrectly? I squeezed my eyes
shut and tried to keep myself from shaking. Moments later, the eerie silence
was shattered by an unearthly shriek that filled the air. My breath caught in
my throat, and I feared that my chattering teeth would give me away to
whomever, or whatever, had caused the shriek. Its echo died away and, hearing
nothing more, I slowly exhaled.
I turned again, but each corridor looked
exactly like the others. Which way had I come? My disorientation increased and I
no longer wanted to find help—I just wanted out. Realizing that
I simply must choose a way, I elected to make my way through the middle
passage, its dank and chilly walls causing me to shudder each time I brushed
against them in my haste to find an exit. As I reached the end, the dim light
fading with each step, I found myself standing in front of yet another entranceway,
through which I could see a flight of stone steps twisting upward.
Taking
another deep breath and keeping close to the wall, I began my ascent. I glanced
back as I climbed, only to find that total blackness had swallowed up its space.
There was no choice but to keep on my path.
[TO BE CONTINUED.]
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