Game-Lock

Chapter 10: Level Four -- Trapped

The lights flickered, and for a few seconds it was completely dark before the elevator's lights turned on. I slowly stood up as Austin was still standing at the elevator door, his hand still crushed between the doors that were now closed. He was taking deep breaths in and out.

"It'll heal once we beat the level," I said.

"That's what I'm hoping for," Austin said, his voice strained. "Only problem is, how to beat the level with my hand trapped in this — freaking elevator."

I stood up and swallowed as I saw blood trickling from the door. Austin turned his head to look at me.

"Hello?!" I called out.

"We're not on the same floor anymore," Austin spoke. "It's why you fell. The elevator slammed shut and pretty much dropped to another level."

"So – Blake, Rey, Hayden."

"Right now, let's focus on getting my hand unstuck, and getting out of here."

I nodded and stared at the doors. Then I looked at the elevator buttons on the side.

"You still thinking this is a psychological game?"

"One with very lethal implications," I said. I knelt in front of the buttons on the right and observed each one. There were four floors available, and a button that should technically open the door.

"If I press this, I think it should open the doors, but there's no certain guarantee –"I said.

"You only live once right?"

"You did not just Yolo me," I said.

Austin chuckled. "What's it that Hayden said, coping mechanism, right?"

"Right," I said.

"I joke about Yolo, you joke about weddings — all rather tragic, isn't it?"

I nodded again as I slowly reached for the button and pressed it. There was a deep groan and rattle. Then the doors slowly creaked open and Austin fell back. I felt sick as I saw his mangled hand that was shaking.

"Can you tear a part of my shirt here? I want to wrap this thing up."

"Uh, of course," I slowly stood up and grabbed the hem of his shirt.

"Give it a good tear."

I tugged at the material a couple of times before it started tearing. I kept going until I had a good strip. "You need a hand wrapping it up?"

Austin looked me in the eyes. "Are you serious right now?"

I grimaced. "My bad."

"Just wrap," Austin took another shaky breath. "Just gently."

"I'll be as gentle as I can mister," I said slowly, wrapping the material over his hand. And tucked it in at his wrist.

"This will have to do for now," I said. "Maybe we can find a first aid kit even, that's a thing in horror games too."

"We'll keep an eye out for that then."

"How bad does it hurt?"

Austin slowly stood up and I followed suit. "Just a bit." I knew that was a complete lie, however, at this moment, I wasn't exactly going to argue with him. Considering that he just got his hand crushed. He was also trying to keep himself calm, so if I panicked it wasn't going to help him much either.

I turned to look at the dark, looming corridor ahead of us. It was more office spaces, lit up by murky green lights. Dust particles floated in the air, and I could still hear the eerie buzzing of electricity. Both Austin and I stepped off the elevator quickly.

We slowly walked through the corridor and noticed a piece of paper at the very end.

"What's that?" Austin asked.

"A To-Do list — something that we need to do to complete every level." I said. "Turn off all the lights, close the doors and check the cameras."

"That's it?"

"Most chores in horror games are simple, but it's because there is usually something lurking. One game I played, the only thing I had to do was place flyers on every door, and then go up the elevator."

"Ah," Austin echoed. "Alright, let's assume that the rest are still upstairs, it is possible, that if we complete all these chores, we should reach them again, and hopefully the level is complete?"

"I think it's possible, I think we got the rotten end of the bargain."

"Well, there's no room for speculating now," Austin said.

I slowly walked to the right. We entered the first room, switched off the lights and closed all the doors. Austin followed closely behind, clutching his hand. We entered room after room in complete silence, and I kept looking round and round, also on occasion looking up.

We reached the end of the corridor and as we entered, I noticed a singular monitor displaying the view of the camera. Austin walked towards the screens as I closed the door. I frowned as I noticed it had a lock, and instinctively I turned it.

"What you doing?"

I glanced at Austin. "Just being careful."

"Hope that it can also unlock."

"I think it should," I said as I walked to the monitor. I recognized where the screen was pointing now. It was a camera looking towards the elevator, its doors were still open. I clicked on the mouse and it changed to the corridors we were walking in, the furthest end from the elevator. Austin stared intently.

"What are we supposed to be looking for?"

"It just says to check," I whispered. "So – I have no clue." I clicked again then froze.

The camera was showing the door right outside the room we were in. Except, outside, there was a dark figure standing, looking at the door. I gaped as it reached it's hand towards the door.

We heard a scratch behind us and we both turned to look. The knob of the door was moving...