Ch. 2 Through The Door...

I have chosen to take part in this game, since there appears to be no other decision for me to make. I study the clue on the back of the letter intensely trying to figure out the answer.  That can't be... I think to myself, It would be just too easy, "..knock and the door will be opened..", could this really be as simple as it gets? Well, it does seem to be my only shot at getting out of here, won't hurt me trying. Again, I head towards the door, to my "freedom", the beginning of what I do not know exactly has started. What lays behind the door I don't know, but the only way to figure it out is to find my way through. I stand facing the gateway leading to a place I dare enter with no knowledge. I clutch my fist together and raise it, knock knock knock, three simple knocks. I wait for a moment then hear a small click from the other side. I glare at the knob, judging whether it's worth my efforts to start the journey that lay ahead of me, What if I step out this door to the impossible? What if I have no chance of defeating this game?  .....Wait, what am I even talking about? I can do this! Who is this jerk telling me what to do and keeping everything I have a secret. It's not right! I'll prove him wrong! He can't just take and keep what's mine! I don't know who I am, but I've made up my mind. Whatever is past this door I promise myself I will overcome it! For my sake...  

I grasp the cool knob in my hand and twist slowly, this time the knob turns with ease, and carefully, I creak the door open. My heart skips a beat and just about leaps out of my chest in anticipation of the unknown. I shut my eyes and expand the door wide open. After a few seconds, I open my eyes to discover another room.

I step inside of the place and now examine the new area. This room looks almost exactly like the one I just came from, the only difference is that there is no chair and table, only two doors stand parallel to each other on the wall. Both look exactly like the door I just opened as well, both painted red, the only differ is that each door has a label. I walk further into the room so that I may get a better view of the labels, then like a clap of thunder SLAM! The door behind me shut unexpectedly, I turn around and reopen it as fast as I can...but all I find is a brick wall plastered where I had just came from. A chill runs up my spine, There’s no going back now...  

Without hesitation I turn back around to face my new trial. Each of the doors bear a label. The one on the left reads simply “What You Want ”, and the one on the right reads “ What You Need ”. Set out plain and transparent, this appears to be quite confusing to me at first. Ah! but I have already thought of a loophole, Right now all I want is what I need, so I can get out of this place alive! Thus if what I want is what I need, then what I need is what I want. I have successfully confused myself, but it still makes sense. Wait.... I don’t even know what lays behind these doors. Well, I’m just going to choose what I want because obviously I want what I need so either way I win! Almost to confident of myself I run towards the door bearing the label “What You Want ”, and quickly seize the new doorknob in my hands. The door isn’t locked and swings wide open.

I step through my next gateway and find a hallway, it’s not very long because I can see the door is about fifty yards away from where I stand. The walls are still the dull grey they have been like in the first room, but on one side of the hallway are five large glass windows lined up one after another, each with a red button on both sides. They kind of look like interrogation cells... I peer into the first one, I only see darkness. Suddenly a light shuts on the other side of the window revealing a white room. A silver platter shines as it sits on a table in the center of the room, and placed on the platter is a note card that reads, “Choose Wisely ”. Giving just enough time to read the note, the light shuts off. The window placed after the first now illuminates with light and reveals another table in a white room. This time there are two platters on the table each holding a different object, one a gun and the other a pencil. I think I know what I have to do.... I believe I will have to choose between the objects showcased in the rooms. I’ll probably be able to use them throughout the labyrinth, so I have to take note of the message and really choose wisely if I want to escape.... A gun and a pencil... two totally different items.. I have to be clever, hmmmmmmm.......  what will a pencil do me any good in here, any person would obviously choose the weapon... wait, but what if I choose the gun and it comes with no ammo? Then I’d be a sitting duck! I’ll just have to go with the pencil, I don’t want to take any chances with the gun considering I won’t be able to use it... so, pencil it is! The pencil is placed to the right of the gun so I reach for the button on the right of the window, and press it. The light shuts off simultaneously to my press of the button. The light in the third window now turns on. Two different items are featured in this one, and I assume I will have to decide which of the two options I’d prefer out of each window in this hallway.

***

After a few minutes I have chosen items out two more windows, the decisions I had to make were very peculiar for everything showcased in the windows you would never think to come in handy for anything. I have chosen a small red ribbon over a simple worthless rock, and I have also decided a deck of cards over a lemon. Finally I have reached the last window in the hall, but what I see pierces my heart and makes it sink deeper like I have never felt before.

In a chair sits the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, though having no memory of any other human in my life she looks strikingly familiar. So familiar in fact I’m sure I know her! She’s conscious but bound to the chair, despite her beauty her face shows intense terror as she looks around the room in fright. She doesn't notice me because I am sure the window is tinted from her side. A table placed near to her has a rolled up piece of paper and a label reading, “Map of the Labyrinth”. ....Wait, I have to choose between her and my sure way out of here?!...... This is... terrible... even if I choose her, how do I know we’ll both get out of here alive? She could be a hindrance to me, and with the map I can find my way out just like that... but, I’m sure she doesn't know why she’s here either... left alone, what will happen to her? I shouldn't just leave her, it’s not right of me... I know what I will do, I’ll choose the map so I can find my way around and then figure out exactly what is going on in this labyrinth and I’ll save her! I’m sure she’s not going to be moved from here, at least I hope not... and with the map I’ll come back here and make sure we both get out! My plan made up on the spot, and determined to save the both of us I press the button corresponding to the map. The light goes out, previously like the other windows. A moment I wait, then I hear something that I’m sure ran the color out of my face. A blood curdling scream, then silence. I stand frozen glaring into the dark window. Then, out of no where and only for a split second the light flashes on....and.... I see.... the most morbid image.

Blood. Splattered everywhere around the room, so much.... it about gives the walls a new coat of paint. The woman lay twisted on the floor. Almost impossible to recognize her beautiful face of only moments ago..her eyes illuminate a deep black and they stare back at me intensely. The lights flicker off and back on for another split second. This time a dark figure stands over her body, the face demented I can barely make out who.... or what exactly is responsible for for her demise. For what I can make out, the features of the man appear vulgar and crude, as if he had just clawed out of his coffin seeking any life that would please his soul. Petrified from the gruesome terror displayed before me, I realized I had stopped breathing. I gag because my body wants to vomit but my stomach is empty. ....Th-there is nothing I can do about it n-now.......... I have to....continue.... And that is exactly what I do, I continue.

I trudge towards the door at the end of the hall, my exit to the next realm of unexplained events to come ahead. I clutch the knob in my trembling hand, and open.

To be continued...

Reviews

[Nwanna Onyeka Benedict]

nlce piece. Keep it up. You are doing great