Beyond Heaven and Hell

Chapter 8 - The Hallway

*Nate's POV*

I stepped through the door, removing the scrap metal and putting it in the edge of my underwear, I could use as a makeshift weapon if I needed to. Not that I particularly wanted to, but it's better to be prepared than not. I cautiously stepped into the hallway. I needed to act natural, to not appear suspicious.

The hallway was long, in both directions from where I stood. The hallway to the left stretched along, with double doors at the end, and what appeared to be a light coming from beyond. There was another hallway branching off, just before the double doors at the end. Glancing right, it was also a long hallway. This one only had a single door at the end. That door had a glass window in the top half of the door. It also had a hallway branching off it, also on the left of the hallway.

The air seemed murky, an unpleasant atmosphere of darkness and danger. I couldn't decide which way to go – towards the double doors, or the single door with a window – but I felt a tug towards the single door so decided to go that way. I could at least look through the window, the first window I've seen in this place.

Pressing my back to the disgusting wall, I inched along towards the door. My heart was racing, and my knees were weak. But I needed to press on. To find SOMETHING to escape. Anything. I picked up my speed, noticing the further I got from my room, the worse the hallway appeared. I was starting to notice the grout between the tiles on the floor was becoming this disgusting colour. It seemed to be a cross between red and brown, not that I wanted to question why.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, I managed to reach the corner wall, right beside the door. No one had noticed me at this point, no one was around. Not even up the hallway I just passed.

I peeked around the edge of the door frame to look through the window. ROSCO! I was so close to leaping into that room and grab him but that was when I noticed that something was off. It wasn't Rosco. This boy wouldn't have been much older than Rosco, if at all. In fact. He looked identical to Rosco. And not just similar but could pass for Rosco's identical twin if he had one. The look in the boy's eyes were in a haze and that's where I could tell it wasn't him. I was so caught up in staring at this boy that I didn't realise Sophie had caught me.

"Nate! what are you doing out here? Surely you are cold. Let's get you back to your nice cosy bed." She said, making me jump. Grabbing my waist, she directed me back to the room I had just escaped, her hand almost brushing over the spot I had the metal tucked away. Good thing she didn't feel that.

Her touch was... wow. Took me by surprise and sent me tingles of questionable feelings. How had she caught up with me though? I hadn't heard any footsteps. In fact, I hadn't heard a single thing until she spoke to me. How had I not heard that? Even listening now while she was walking beside me, I still didn't hear her footsteps. I could hear my own, but not hers.

This place is getting creepier by the second. I didn't want her to think I was planning anything, so I just let her guide me back to the room, tried to play dumb. One thing I did notice, on the way back, however, was a door I didn't see before. This door was painted the same colour as the hallway. The glass – and even the handle – had been painted over. No wonder I didn't notice it. Sophie noticed me looking at it, she switched sides with me, so I was only looking at her face. "Isn't this a much better view now, Nate?" She spoke softly to me. She winked at me, before guiding me into the cell-like room and helped me into the bed. My bed. My room. Again. I let her put the blanket over me as I waited for her to leave. It was like I was mesmerised. Enchanted by her beauty. Paralysed, if you will. She whispered "You're safe and sound now, back in your room. I'll see you later, Nate" in my ear, before planting a kiss on my cheek. I heard her leave the room, the lock clicking shut behind her. My mind was zooming around.

How could you let her bring you back here? What are we doing, why aren't we moving? Get up, Nate! Get up! Legs – MOVE! Arms- MOVE! Anything.. MOVE!!!

Nothing would move. I was stuck, lying on my back, looking at the same ceiling I had seen for what felt like an eternity.