Apartment #13

03 Out

She spun around, recovering from her shock; her instincts told her to scream for help.

But as much as she screamed at the top of her lungs, no one could hear her.

Her fear intensified.

No, I can't... I can't! I need to get out! No!

She then found herself pounding at the door wildly, in the hope of opening the latched door by force. Her breathing became quicker by the second; the only thought occupying her mind was to get out of that wretched room.

It's only the first day, she thought. First day... And this.

She knew something wasn't right with that house, the very moment she stepped into it.

But why, why did I buy it?

A chilling thought then came into her mind.

It was as if some kind of force... So strong that she could not resist... Dragged her into this place.

Her pounding ceased as her hands shook at the thought of that. That means...

It was... It was all inevitable.

Could that be possible?

It wasn't. She decided. Impossible. Must have been delusional... All part of her own imagination.

She stood before the door and took a deep breath.

Calm yourself, she thought, hands pressing down on the door for support.

It's nothing... she assured. Nothing...

Clink.

Her eyes widened.

God, that same sound.

The door latch opened. By itself.

That sent another shiver down her spine.

All part of her own vivid imagination... she recollected what she had thought of earlier. So it actually was her illusion...?

She couldn't think, at least not logically. She felt queasy and nauseous; most definitely from the time she spent inside the room, shut in it alone. And her throat was sore from all the screaming.

She really needed to get herself some water.

Not in the kitchen.

Slamming open the door, she sped down the hallway and out of the house, refusing to look back.

There's no way I'm ever stepping into that kitchen again, she thought as she strapped herself onto the seat of her Mini. Not ever, not without someone accompanying her.

The candle flame went out, the candle itself neglected in the kitchen cupboard.