14

 

I wake up to the pitch blackness around me, "Of course..." I whisper. I get up to my feet, dusting myself off, but then I freeze as I realize what situation I am in. Shit. I look around in a daze, just remembering that my flashlight had died. I get to my hands and knees and search blindlessly for the handgun.

"Looking for this?" I hear a voice ask from above me. I look up, my pupils dilating as they try to see in the thick darkness. It's a girl, obviously, I can tell by her voice. My eyes adjust as I meet face to face with Jennifer.

"Jennifer?" I ask, completely oblivious. I take the gun from her hands and stand up once more. A light flickers from between us. It shines on her face, revealing her freckled cheeks and cheery blond hair.

"Here." She hands me a flashlight. I stare at it, rolling it in my hands. It's small, but it'll do.

"Thanks." I tell her. She nods.

"No problem, Daniel. Now go find them." She pushes me back lightly but I stop.

"Them?" I ask, hesitating. She gives me a look as if I have two heads.

"Uh ya. Cassie and what's his name....oh ya! Will." She says with a small smile.

"Will!" I look around me with wide eyes. I had completely forgotten about William. I am such an idiot. When I ran into the wall I must have lost him. I rub my face in my hands then look at Jennifer, "Are they both on the top floor?" I ask, slightly pissed.

She nods, "Yes. But I must warn you, you only have ten hours."

"WHAT?!" I yell. She nods.

"Ya. You were out for twenty hours. You are lucky that I was here to protect you." She holds up a bloody dagger, parts of the blade has dry blood. I raise an eyebrow at her, slightly amused.

"Tough girl aren't you?" I ask her, jokingly.

"Shut up, Daniel, and just get your lazy ass up those stairs." She takes me in for a hug, "Good luck....and good bye..." She whispers into my ear.

"What?" I try to pull away, but it is too late, the sharp blade pierces my skin, digging into my muscles. I howl in pain as Jennifer twists the blade in a full circle then pulls it out if my back. I fall to the ground, screaming, as the pain consumes me like a huge title wave. I look up, things getting hazy, but notice that Jennifer is gone.

The warm, red liquid trickles down my spine, curling over the bumps. I am thankful to say that the blade did not hit my spine. It did not hit any bone at all. I weakly get up with the gun and flashlight in hand. I need to find them.

"You are not going to die. You are not going to die. You are not going to die." I keep repeating to myself, my voice horse and raspy. I finally meet face to face with another set of stairs.

I drop to my knees, weak from blood loss, but I know that I have to save them...even if....I do die, I know, that it'll be worth it. My breathes come out wheezy and horse as I climb the stairs, flashlight unsteady because of my shaking hands. I look for a sign, indicating which story I am on.

Story eight out of ten.

Great. I get to the top of the stairs, tripping over the last step, unable to move, "Get up..." I whisper, "GET UP!" I lift myself up, weakly, getting off the stairs and to my feet. I need to survive, at least just to see Cassie one last time.

Eight hours.

Okay...Okay. I can do this. I limp, almost lifelessly, over towards the corner, to where I can find another doorway to another flight of stairs. It's strange...this hallway is completely silent and empty. The only sound now are the muffled screams from down at the bottom floor.

I get to the corner, relieved, but soon it is eaten away by fear. My eyes widen as I am greeted by a fire blaring in front of me. The flames lick at the walls and they grow bigger as they come towards me. I start running, the pain engulfing me, the flames at my heels. I get to the stairs, running back down to the seventh floor, flames still trailing behind.

As I run, I realize, that I just may not make it in time to save them.