Trapped

Chapter 11: The Lockdown

Anastasia's heart fluttered as they parked and made their way to the old campus. The building was massive, a long stretch of brick and windows broken up only by the ends on both sides being shaped like massive circular bookends, there rooves ending in triangular points with high windows. The main doors looked just like the ones on their current campus, six large sets of doors surrounded by glass stretching its way up past the second floor into the ceiling so as to let lots of light in. Dust caked the window panes, leaves were littered across the ground, and ivy had began snaking it's way up the brick.

"This place has definitely been abandoned" Lindsay noted, kicking aside rubble as the group made their way up to the front doors.

"That end must be the theatre, and the one over there is probably a gym" Gavin was speculating, pointing to either bookend. They all stopped at the front doors.

"It's probably locked," Eric spoke up, "We're going to have to find a way to break in" but as he pulled on the doors they swung open easily and he almost toppled to the ground before regaining his balance. Eric looked around at the crowd, who were busy exchanging nervous looks. But no one said anything so they continued forward into the building.

Everyone was silent as they took in the scene around them. The main entrance was a large empty space that cut a hole into the second story so you could see all the way up. The lights had gone out a long time ago and the setting sun withdrew stealing with it any light the windows were letting in, causing the building to leap with shadows. There was a long hallway on each side leading down a line of classrooms, seemingly ending at the gym or theater depending on which way you took. A sign pointed one way for the stairwell and the other for the elevator.

Directly in front of them sat the library, dark shelves lined with forgotten books now being used as a home for spiders. Dust and cobwebs decorated the floor and walls along with the trash long left behind. Anastasia assumed it had to have been a minimum of twenty years since anyone had been in the building. She glanced up, the roof above them was flat which she knew was dangerous in the winter since the snow is able to pile up and up until it's too heavy for the roof. It was fall now and the roof seemed sturdy enough above them, but she still couldn't shake the idea of it collapsing down around them.

They realized they had formed a circle, everyone backed up against one another as they took in their surroundings. Anastasia took in a deep breath and gathered her courage.

"Well, I guess I'll call him and let him know I'm here." and before she could back down she began dialing. Everyone else looked around to make sure he wasn't here yet. They hadn't seen another car in the parking lot but they all knew they couldn't afford to miss this chance. As she talked they found hiding spots amongst the pillars and old furniture laying about.

"Hey Julian," she began. She noticed her voice was shaky and did her best to steady it, "Just wondering where you are. I got so excited to see you I got here early--" she got cut off. The others tried to figure out what they could by her nodding and facial expressions.

"Oh, yah uh, okay. I'll be right over." she hung up. Her heart was hammering, her hands felt sweaty. Eric popped his head up from behind a table that had fallen against its side,

"Everything okay?" He asked nervously. Anastasia spun to face him and he could see her color had drained out of her face. She was still holding the cell phone out and open in shock, although she had dropped it from her ear and it had gone dark.

"He's here already. He asked me to meet him in the gym." she said quietly. Everyone slowly came back out from their hiding spots and formed a huddle in the center of the room. Some exchanged nervous glances, others were looking around the interior for signs of Julian.