This is a serialized story – be sure to read in order: from A (afterthought) to Z (zealous).
After what seemed like hours, they arrived at the opposite side of the room. They looked at each other and Nash asked, “Are you still with me?”
Courtney took a deep breath and nodded. “Let’s go. I can deal with anything after this.” She looked down at her soiled clothes and dirty hands. She pulled his left hand into hers as Nash grasped the doorknob in front of them. He twisted the knob and slowly opened the door.
They were blinded by the glare from a battery of overhead bulbs. It appeared as though the entire ceiling consisted solely of the lights and they were there for the purpose of blinding anyone who stumbled through the door.
“Dang, Nash. I can’t see a thing.” She squeezed his hand tighter.
“Me, neither. Let’s give our eyes a minute to adjust.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever see again.” She put her other hand above her eyes to shade them.
“No, you’ll be fine. Just keep blinking. It’ll get better.”
After about ten minutes, both could see again and took in the scene around them. Whereas the last room was full of garbage, this one was empty. Or at least it appeared to be. The white walls, white floor, and white ceiling seemed to be designed to enhance the effect of the blinding lights.
They took a step forward and the floor moved, or rather swayed, and they dropped to their hands and knees.
Courtney sniffed. “What do we do now?”
“Take deep breath. Remember the engraving, 2RTHN3L.”
“But there are three more doors!”
Nash thought a minute. “We need to base it off the one we just came through. We can’t allow ourselves to become disoriented. The next door will be on our left.” As they stood, he pointed to a bright green door.
This time, the floor shook and once again they found themselves on their knees.
“Yeah, okay, fine. But how do we get there? The floor keeps moving.”
“Maybe it’s a timing thing. Let’s see how long between the movements and maybe we can move in between the–“
Another wave interrupted them and Courtney looked at her watch. “Okay, timing started.”
It took them another hour to figure out the pattern of movement and required them to crawl to the door. Once there and the next movement passed, they stood, stared at the green door and then back at each other.
“Ready?” Nash asked.
Courtney nodded and Nash turned the knob but the door didn’t budge. He tried again. Nothing.
“Help me push. It won’t open.”
Together they put all their weight against the door and pushed but it still didn’t give.
“Are you sure this is the right door?”
Nash looked around the room at the other doors. “If I interpreted the engraving correctly,” he turned back to the door in front of them, “then this is our next step. On the count of three, push!”
Together they counted. “One, two, three!”
Without any effort, the door opened.
To be continued…
Thank you.
Okay, they’re making progress… I’m still blinded by the light, and wondering what’s going on.
Until the next, I’m sending smiles your way, Jenny @ Pearson Report
Thanks for the smiles – it’s a damp, chilly, overcast day here. Smiles are always welcome!
Blinded by the light. Nice touch on the day of the eclipse!
Absolutely, 100% unintended. LOL!
Oh, this is fun! I’m not sure I’d have made it through the filth, but the swaying floor is a nice touch.
I am scared for them!
Me, too!
So that’s where the light from the solar eclipse went to! One mystery solved, another – who knows? I suffer from occasional vertigo and that room would have been the end of me. Happy your protagonists aren’t giving up, though! Alana ramblinwitham
I’m with you on the vertigo and I had light sensitivity, too.