Overwhelmingly Shadowed
My back hit a hard surface, and I lost all the air in my lungs. The violent expulsion of air was so sudden that I couldn’t refill my aching chest.
Just when the edges of my vision started getting fuzzy, I was able to take a long, deep inhale, which led to a coughing fit. After regulating my breath again, I decided to think over what was happening.
Lying on a hard, unforgiving surface, I looked up and saw the ceiling of what seemed like a hallway, but I didn’t remember anything from before I ended up here.
When I felt steady enough, I sat up to get a better view of the place.
Just as I thought, I was confronted with a long, dark hallway. It was long enough where I couldn’t see the end of either direction and it was only lit by bulbs that hung every twenty or so feet. Under the light of each bulb, there were doors that resembled an apartment complex.
While standing up, something brushed up against the nape of my neck. I was almost able to convince myself that it was just my imagination until I felt it the second time. It felt as though someone was blowing ever so lightly on me, causing a ripple of shivers to roll down my body, leaving goosebumps in its wake. Though I swore the shadows shifted around me, when I turned and saw nothing, a strange wind blew by that almost echoed a harrowing laugh.
Frozen in fear, I had a sudden urge to bolt. I don't know what was there with me, or why I couldn't see it, but I knew I had to get out.
I ran down the endless hallway, screaming, hoping someone was in one of the many rooms I passed by and would come to rescue me.
Looking back, I saw in the distance the shadows shifting, almost as if they were attempting to morph into a new form.
After running down the hall for what felt like an eternity, and the scenery never changing, I realized that I needed to attempt a different way of escape. Deciding that going into one of the rooms was my next best plan, I opened the first door I saw. As I turned around to shut it behind me, I saw a glimpse of the shadow. It continued to move and twisted into a shape that seemed inhuman as it moved closer.
After shutting and locking the door, I was able to take a much-needed breath. I looked around and saw what appeared to be a classroom.
There was a whiteboard at the front of the room with desks pointing towards it, and a few beanbags in the back next to a large bookshelf. If I had been in any other situation, the bright, cheerful room would have felt almost cozy.
I was brought back out of my head when I heard a large crash coming from the door I stood in front of.
My heart started racing again as I tried to think about my next move. Seeing a door that looked just like the one I came in from on the other side of the room, I decided that it was my best bet to get out of here. I ran to the door, relieved to find it unlocked. That happiness was short lived when I stepped in and found that it looked exactly like the one I had just left.
I ran across the room and through the next door, just to find a replica of the last two I ran out of.
I continued to run from room to room, chest heaving and sweat dripping, as all I could do was run.
I ran even though all I could see was the path in front of me.
I ran even though the blood rushing through my ears was so loud I couldn’t hear anything other than my own heartbeat.
I ran until I realized, too late, that each room had gotten darker and darker, until the room I ended up in was almost pitch black.
I could barely see my hands in front of my face and couldn't see the door I came out of.
I realized then that there was nothing I could do to get away.
I couldn't run.
I couldn't fight.
So, I sat.
I found my way to the beanbag in the back of the room.
I felt the darkness circle me.
And as it surrounded me, I closed my eyes, leaned back, and melted into its embrace.
A single tear slipped down my face.