Paper Bags

Paper Bags 16

Underground meant underground.

The darkness as they descended the stairs was almost akin to being embraced by the shadows before they broke away when a bright, red door appeared, almost looking orange underneath yellow illumination circling it. Adam didn't even hesitate to reach out and knock on the metal door twice in rapid succession and then a short pause before he slammed his fist against it.

Haru jolted, taking a small step back at the sudden introduction of aggression. The hand intertwined with his tightened its grip, forcing him to take in a deep breath and remind himself that he was fine. He glanced at Jason, who merely returned the sideway look and then continued to look ahead.

The door rumbled, a sound so loud that it bounced off the walls and amplified in a way that had him, and judging by his friends' tensed backs, and everyone around him anxious at what was happening. It was only when a shriek followed after the rumble and the door slid open did everyone sighed collectively.

But that was only the beginning of his apprehension.

Once the door opened, it led into a wide area of metals and rusting, dangling chains before introducing to them stairs leading downwards to what seemed like an elevator. An elevator or a cage — Haru wasn't entirely sure, but it definitely didn't look sturdy enough to carry their weight.

It was almost apocalyptic.

Reds and brows were dominating colours as Haru walked down the squeaky metal floors. Each time their feet hit a panel, the entire hanging bridge, and it was definitely hanging when Haru glanced upwards and saw chains hooked to loops on the bridge railing, the entire structure creaked. He couldn't even see where the bottom was, covered in what seemed like smoke and wispy mist.

It smelt awful too and indescribable.

"Are you sure you're not leading us to a murder house?" Fatima asked, her voice pitched higher than usual, and she huddled close to Rain.

Adam laughed, his voice reverberated in loud echoes that spooked Haru further. "It's supposed to look like this. The entrance. It keeps intruders away." He raised a finger and spun it around in a tight circle. "It's disorienting and if you don't know where to go, you can easily get lost."

Now, if that didn't make Haru think thrice about his decision to continue on this journey, then he didn't know what will. It was funny how he had been adamant on finding Edward Sparkle and the origins of the rumours that had dictated their society for years at first, and now he wanted nothing more but to abandon this search.

He didn't think his friends would appreciate that sudden change of heart, however.

"And have people gotten lost in here?" Rain asked.

"Oh yeah," Adam said, stopping right in front of the cage-like elevator. He grabbed the metal crisscrossing each other and pushed it aside. It folded like an accordion, revealing a small square interior. "Bodies were never found."

"Great," Haru whispered under his breath. But even the smallest sounds here got amplified, which earned Adam glancing at him over his shoulders with an amused glint in those eyes.

Stupid man and his stupid ego.

Anyone would be scared to be here.

"You seriously don't think that can hold our weight, do you?" Jason asked, voicing out his worries.

Adam waved a hand at him and walked inside as if to prove a point. He turned around to face the group. "It'll hold," he said. "Come on in, don't be cowards now. We're close to finding out who's Edward Sparkle."