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I rose to my feet, my fingertips tracing the walls with deliberate care, tapping lightly in search of hollow spaces or hiddenpartments to no avail. The hallways still echoed with sobs, screams, and curses.
Some people couldn''t keep their cool, but I knew I had to.
As I gently knocked against the wall, hoping for a sign of a secret passage or loose panel, the lights in the room began to flicker, dimming as if the electricity was unstable.
I searched frantically but found nothing.
Just when I felt utterly hopeless and sank to the floor,
"Click." The sound of a metal door unlocking reached my ears, followed by footsteps in the hallway.
My nerves instantly tensed up. Had someone already found the key and made their escape?
Who was it?
"Who''s out there? Who got out? Help us, where did you find the keys? Help us," the voices outside grew frantic as everyone shouted for help. The footsteps slowed, as if listening intently.
Then, suddenly, someone outside began tapping on the metal door with a stick, silencing everyone. We all strained to hear what was about to happen.
When everything fell silent, a voice spoke up. "Phoebe..."
The voice was raspy and panicked.
It was Colin!
He was looking for me.
I pounded on the door with all my might. "Colin! Colin, I''m here!"
I heard him running towards me, his footsteps echoing in the panic.
"Click." Another door unlocked.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.
"Dang it, cut the crap. Don''t freaking dy my SATS," a voice cursed loudly. It was Bran.
I was both relieved and terrified, crying and banging on the door. "Colin, I''m scared."
"Phoebe... don''t be scared," Colin''s anxious voice came from the other side. "Phoebe... take a deep breath, listen to me, don''t be afraid, calm down."
I did as he said, took a deep breath, and tried to stay calm.
"Is she still not out? How dumb can you get?" Bran approached, his voice shaky, as if he was worried but trying to sound disdainful and indifferent.
"Click." Another door unlocked.
"Caleb." The person emerging called out Caleb''s name, then scoffed. "What, still looking for that fake? Do you think... if it were me, I''d fail to see through such a simple trick and find a way out?"
That voice was Melody!
My body tensed up; even she had found a key.
And she managed to...
Yet I had no clue whatsoever.
"Phoebe, don''t be scared," Colin ignored Melody, his voice lowering. "Tell me, what''s written on the wall of your room?"
I nced at it and quickly spoke up my voice trembling. "If I''ve always lived in darkness, please don''t show me light... If you grant me light, don''t thrust me back into pitch darkness."
After a moment of silence, Colin spoke, "Check under themp, where the light is brightest."
I realized what he meant and rushed to themp, tapping on the tile floor beneath. Indeed, it was hollow.
I managed to pry the tile open and retrieved a key from inside.
My hands trembled as I tried to unlock the door, failing several times before finally seeding.
The moment the door opened, Colin was there...
He pulled me into his arms, holding me tight.
My breathing hitched.
As if the words on the wall finally made sense to me.
If I''ve always lived in darkness, please don''t show me light.
Yes, if I too had been crawling through the darkness in fear, I''d surely feel grateful and dependent on the one who lit the way, allowing me to see the light.
"Click." In the long, eerie hallway, another door opened.
Our gaze shifted towards the sound.
Emerging was Dexter.
He stood there, frowning, his demeanor cold and unweing.
I was shocked.
If Colin and were pawns in the
game, Bran an outsider dragged in this mess, and Melody already
ed for death, then what about
Dexter?
Why was he here too...
Was the murderer nning to kill us all?
Were we all pawns in the game?
Behind this series of murders, how many more secretsy hidden?