Elena (Sample 2)

This is another piece of Elena's story. I usually write stories in bits and pieces, which is probably not the best way to do it, but it keeps things interesting. :)

I heaved the door open, wishing I had spent some time at the gym recently.  These flabby arms of mine just weren’t cutting it. I turned myself towards the door and tried to see what was inside, but all I could only see blackness. I didn’t have a flashlight, but I had my cell phone.  I reached to my back pocket, pulling out my phone and directing the bright screen towards the doorway. I faintly saw the outline of a hallway and with some sort of light aiding my vision; I crept along the dark hallway. Keeping the phone at arm’s length, I could still see very little, but felt the air grow colder around me. The passageway dipped, and I found a small staircase leading further down. I felt something brush against my foot and hearing the faint squeaking sounds, I momentarily spazzed. I refused to point my light source at the mice because that would mean that I acknowledged their existence, and in this creepy, pitch black hallway, the last thing I needed to think about was the presence of furry little vermin. I moved on, carefully, making sure to land every step on the staircase and not on some mouse’s head, until I finally reached the landing. The air smelled different down here, earthy and ancient. I tried to think of who could have possibly been down here last. Rose?  Nicolas? Maybe I was the first person who’s set foot down here in ages. A grim thought flashed in my mind of the poor soul who could have been trapped down here, rotting away for who knows how long. Goosebumps rose on my already chilled arms, my breath hitched, I felt that any second now that a hand was going to grab me from the depths of the darkness and pull me to horrors unknown. I waited in the dark.

Nothing happened. Slowly, my breathing returned to normal and I vowed to stop watching old Twilight Zone episodes late at night. Where I stood on the landing, I saw a faint light coming from a slit near the stone floor. Upon closer examination, I saw that a wooden door stood between me and the source of light.  I expected to see mountains of  locks on this door, but to my surprise, no lock was to be found. I turned the rusty knob, and pushed, the door slowly creaking open. My eyes widened as I gazed about the room.