Doors - A story

Here I come

By the time Elina had finally stopped crying, and they were walking once more, the clock read twelve o'clock sharp and everyone was in a bad mood. Mimi had a look on her face that forebode coming danger; Immy looked bored half to death. George was staring out of a dusty window and Elina herself was still bleeding from her injury.  Mimi had promised her a way to heal it if they made it far enough, but at this point they were all starting to doubt how far they would actually make it. After all, if they couldn't make it to Door 30 without being duped, how were they to survive the remaining 70 doors?

Hmm. I suppose I should stop being so negative. 

As George opened the next door, the lights flickered drastically. He cursed upon seeing no closets, and Immy instantly pulled out an unusual bottle, preparing herself to devour whatever substance was within it - when Mimi spoke. She spoke calmly, and with authority. She hadn't even moved from the door. 

"It's not Rush," she stated simply. "It's just them."

They all turned towards where Mimi was pointing. On the walls were eyes. They weren't just ordinary eyes, either. Whatever those eyes belonged to, it clearly wasn't human, to say the least. "Come on." Mimi started walking towards the next door; Elina gazed up at her curiously. How had she known?

George seemed even more unsettled now they were being watched. The eyes followed their every move, watching them intently; with unwavering interest. He shivered. Something just wasn't right. It wasn't just these eyes, though. It was everything to do with the existence of the hotel. How had it even gotten here? Even that question, I cannot answer. I just simply don't know. Heck, if I would find anyone who could tell me the origins of this place, I would give them a medal. And don't even ask how I got here, because that's just a different story altogether. But enough nonsense. I have a story to tell. 

Eventually, they reached a large corridor with large glass windows that reflected the raging storm outside. However - the eye had disappeared. George smiled triumphantly. It had just been a trick. Just a trick to throw them off course. We'll be home in no time, he thought proudly. Of course, he was wrong. Without warning, Mimi stopped halfway down the corridor. "Listen to me, all of you," she said sternly. "When we reach the end of this corridor, I want you to run. Ok? Run like your life depends on it. Because it does." Immy nodded grimly, as if she knew what was about to happen. "Here," she said to Elina, passing her the bottle of vitamins from earlier. "They'll make you faster." Elina stared disbelievingly at the bottle, but said nothing. 

Mimi nodded to them all, and walked towards the next door. George was about to make a retort, but all that left his mouth was a gasp. 

Eyes had begun to rupture from the walls, and the whole room turned a distinct, menacing shade or red. He turned, and was met with a one-eyed cyclops with the slender figure of a man. It was covered in the same sticky, inky substance as the alien turd - as George called it. The entity emerged from the ground, and its single, eye met his. Its eye flickered with hate, and George turned, stumbling for the door where the others were already running. This was no longer a circus of  tricks. This was life or death.

Run.

Following the others, George watched in disbelief as bookshelves and furniture, which had remained dormant for years, toppled and fell with resounding noise. He ducked under a fallen bookshelf, and leapt over a sofa. Nearly falling, he stumbled and kept running, heaving for breath. As he neared the next door and threw it open, he was met with a fork. Dazed, sprinted towards what he thought was a shimmering blue glow, watching the others disappear around the bend. Another room with falling bookshelves - when would it be over...

He flung yet another door open, only to be met with another long corridor. Noise filled his ears as he plodded on, he didn't dare look, just blindly following Mimi's voice from in front. Giant arms came crashing through the glass and ripped the chandeliers from their holds, causing fire to spread across the musty carpet. Coughing on smoke, George pushed onwards. He was faintly aware of the heavy footsteps behind him, but he focused his aim on the last door. Ducking under an arm, he made his way over. 

It was Mimi who made it first, shortly followed by Elina, who had consumed the vitamins as instructed. Then Immy, running headfirst towards them. And finally, George, who was wheezing, the entity only a few steps behind him - 

But the second George was through, Mimi thrust her hand towards the door, her eye glowed silver beneath her dark bangs, and the door slammed shut in its face. 

Bang. Bang. Bang.

The door, however, withstood its force, and they all just sat there, contemplating what they had done. George's vision was still blurry, and he glanced feebly at the locked door. He didn't even know if he was dead or not. All he did know was that whatever it was they had just been running from, it was gone. At least for now - it was over.