No Way Out

Chapter 24: Trio

Chapter 24: Trio

3rd Person's P.O.V.

Celestria stopped behind Cherry, the flickering light from under the door of Room 06 painting macabre shadows on the room. Her heart pounded a frantic rhythm against her ribs. Each breath felt like a gamble, a silent prayer against the unseen horrors that lurked within. She watched Cherry's hand hover over the doorknob.

"I'm hoping nothing jumps out at us," Celestria muttered.

Cherry paused, her own apprehension mirroring Celestria's. Before turning the knob, she looked back, her eyes searching Celestria's for reassurance. "I'm going to open it," she stated, her voice tight.

Celestria managed a weak smile, trying to project a confidence she didn't feel.

"Just do it."

Cherry took a deep breath and twisted the knob. The door creaked open, revealing a scene bathed in the erratic, sickly light of a malfunctioning fluorescent fixture. The light buzzed and sputtered, threatening to plunge them into darkness at any moment. Apprehension hung heavy in the air, a palpable thing that made Celestria's skin crawl.

"Should we really go inside?" Cherry questioned, her voice laced with doubt. "What if someone's waiting for us?"

Celestria hesitated. The fear was a tangible weight on her chest. But then, a sound pierced the uneasy silence — a muffled sob, coming from deep within the room.

"There's someone here," Cherry whispered, her eyes wide.

"Let me see," Celestria said, pushing past Cherry and carefully stepping inside.

The flickering light assaulted her eyes, promising a headache and blurring the edges of everything she saw. She could imagine spending even a day in this room would leave you blind.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" Celestria called out, her voice echoing in the confined space. The sobbing abruptly stopped. She felt Cherry's presence behind her, a nervous energy radiating from her.

"Are you sure about this, Celes?" Cherry asked, her voice barely audible above the buzzing of the light.

"Yes, I'm sure. I'm almost certain whoever's in here is one of us," Celestria replied, her determination fueled by the hope of finding another ally. She took another step, and her foot bumped against something hard on the floor. It felt like...an obstacle.

"C-Celes?" a voice called out, tentative and weak.

Celestria froze. That voice...

"Celes, is that you?" the voice continued.

"French? Is that you, French? Where are you?" Celestria asked, her voice rising with a surge of hope.

"I-I'm here in the corner," French replied, her voice thick with emotion.

Celestria scanned the room, her eyes struggling to adjust to the harsh light. She spotted her in the left corner of the room, huddled on the floor, knees pulled up to her chest. She rushed towards her, Cherry close behind.

"French!" Celestria knelt beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder in a comforting hug. "What happened to you? Are you hurt?"