The Catacombs Project

Part 3

Felix awoke in a puddle that had collected from his drenched body, but he was able to see no more than when his eyes were closed. He searched with his hands for the helmet with the light, and found it to his left. He turned the light on and looked around the room. It looked just like the halls, human skulls covering every inch of the walls, only there was a desk and chair in the corner. He stood up and walked to it. A piece of paper was on the desk with a pen next to it.

    If you have any last words, now’s the time, Felix. Make them count.

    He stared at the paper. “Why do you even care?” he whispered. The voice was silent, to Felix’s surprise, but mostly curiosity. “Who are you?”

    Who I am serves no purpose to how you choose to survive.

    “How did I not drown?” he demanded. “Who pulled me out of the water?”

    It wouldn’t be much fun if you knew all the answers.

    “What if I don’t live to find out?”

    The voice was once again silenced.

    “I will… won’t I?” he said, looking up towards the ceiling. “You won’t let me die.”

    Don’t be so sure.

    Felix looked back down at the paper. He turned around and spotted the knife to his left on the ground. Holding it in his hand, sturdier than it had been since he entered the Catacombs, he left the room and ran down the hall, preparing himself for the terror that awaited him.

    He slowed to a stop when he came to where the wall on the right opened up into a round room. A man stood in the center with his back towards him. He took a few steps closer, beginning to familiarize himself with the man. He recognized him as his own self. His doppelganger turned around, a menacing look plastered on his face.

    “Hey, good lookin’.”

    Felix gaped at his twin, unable to find words.

    “Naturally, you’re shocked… confused… a little turned on?”

    “Who are you?” he choked out.

    Felix’s twin held his arms out and looked at him as if it were obvious. “I’m you!”

    Felix turned the knife over in his hand. “No… you’re not.”

    He dropped his arms. “You never really can know for sure anymore. Can you? How do you even know this is real?” With his head, he gestured to Felix’s hand. He followed his stare and found that his broken hand was free of any pain. He moved one finger at time and unwrapped it, turning it over in front of him. He then felt his face for the bite mark, only to find his unshaven skin was untouched.

    “You don’t have to suffer,” his twin said, only his voice was doubled, and resonated from the walls just like the voice he had been repeatedly hearing.

    The ground began to shake beneath them.

    “The paper… Why did you want me to write?”

    “I wanted you to write to those you would miss so you could be aware of who you are living a nightmare for.”

“Felix!” Marzia yelled, the sound coming from all around.

“Marzia…?”

“She can’t hear you. She’s waiting for you to wake up.”

The walls shook visibly as skulls fell from the walls and cracked against the ground.

“Running has always been a last resort when you can’t find another way to move forward in a game, but has mostly failed to allow you to escape alive. But now, you must only run to save yourself.”

“Me?” Felix said.

His twin’s expression turned soft and sad, resembling that of one of a child forgotten by his own mother. “I need you, Felix.”

The shaking grew more violent. Felix had difficulty understanding.

“You would die for Marzia, but what about me?”

“What about you?”

“You forgot about me!”

Felix began to understand as he watched himself crumble emotionally before him, much like the walls around them.

“Kör nu, din lilla fitta!”

Felix ran out of the room and down the hallway. Glancing behind him, he saw a wall that was closing in on him faster than he could run. He pushed himself, unwilling to let himself fall behind for even a second.

“FELIX!” Marzia’s voice echoed.

A white light presented itself at the end of the hall. He couldn’t bring himself to respond, to say anything that could reassure her. His mind was occupied only by the thought of moving faster.

Marzia was crying. “Will he be okay?”

“We’re doing the best we can,” an unfamiliar feminine voice responded.

She was unaccepting. She wanted immediate answers. But she held back.

The light grew, and all Felix could think about was reaching it. The wall was only a few feet behind him, catching up at a rapid pace.

“I love you,” she whispered.

Beep…

Don’t forget about me, Felix.

The wall was inches behind him. He closed his eyes.

Beep… Beep… Beep…

"I won't suffer!"