The Wolf's Den

Path 2: Ryland, Chapter 11

        They were one hallway to go until they made it to the room they were told to go to, and as Ryland opened the door, she stared into nothing. There was a blankness ahead of them, even with multiple flashlights in the room. There were four flashlights, four people, and an eternal darkness. Stepping in, Ryland looked behind her and watched the door shut behind her. Shaking her head, she glanced around frantically, knowing what to look for. Mr. Wolfe said that this was the right room, but he said he wasn't sure where to find it.

        Her footsteps echoed as she walked, and gulping nervously, she stepped forwards, listening footstep by footstep as to where to go. She was looking for an echo, and when she found it, reach down, grab the item, and get going immediately. It took the longest time to find it, of course, but once she did, she stopped, fearful of the bare feet and the cold of the floor. What awaited her, and why did she have to run?

        Whatever it was, she reached down, grabbed the object, a bag, and winced at the feeling of water. Water. There was a surge of water approaching her. Turning her back to the water, she ran forward, the light of the flashlight making her shaky grip helpess, and at some point, it dropped. That caused her to trip over it, and the door had no handle on the inside. But where was the door? What triggered this water? Where did it come from, when previously the floor held no water, it now did. When the door opened, she scrambled through it, slamming it behind her breathlessly.

        "Don't—Don't open that door. Do you hear? Don't you dare. That's a death trap."

        "Ryland, relax, you didn't drown like Mr. Wolfe said you might. You did the first part fine. C'mon, we gotta open the right door in this hallway to open the bag," Tom said.

        "Okay... Let's go. Tom, make sure the bag doesn't drop," Levi said.

Red opened the door two to their right and waited for Ryland to step in, noticing the lack of her flashlight. "It has to be just two people. Ryland, who do you want to join you?"

        "I... I want all of you to. You're my friends."

        "I'll go with her," Levi murmured. "Tom, make sure Red's safe."

        Without protest, Red shut the door behind them, the room becoming lighter, only a table left. It was there Ryland set the bag, waiting for Levi to join her.