Female NovelI anxiously searched but found nothing.
Just as I sat on the ground, consumed by despair and helplessness, I heard a distinct "click". It was followed by the sound of an iron door opening and footsteps echoing down the corridor. My nerves instantly tensed up. Did someone find the key and leave so quickly? Who could it be?
"Who is out there? Who has left? Please, help us! Where did you find the key? Help us!" The commotion outside grew louder as everyone began shouting.
The footsteps grew increasingly slower, as though he were attentively listening to something.
"Thud, thud, thud." Suddenly, the person outside started banging on the iron door with sticks. Everyone fell silent, curious to know what he was up to.
After everyone had stayed quiet, he called out, "Stephie..."
The voice was hoarse and filled with panic. It was Steven! He was searching for me.
I forcefully slammed the door. "Steve! Steve! I'm here!"
I heard the sound of his footsteps approaching, and soon he was sprinting towards me in a state of panic.
"Click." Another sound echoed as someone else had opened the iron door.
"Damn it! Enough with the hocus-pocus! You're going to make me late for my college entrance exam." The cursing voice belonged to Joel.
I felt an overwhelming mix of surprise and panic. With tears streaming down my face, I desperately banged on the door in fear. "Steve, I'm terrified."
Steven's anxious voice could be heard outside the door. "Stephie, don't be afraid. Take a deep breath and listen to me. Don't be scared. Calm yourself down."
I listened to him, took a deep breath, and remained silent.
"Hasn't she come out yet? How foolish!" Joel approached as well. His voice trembled slightly with concern, though he masked it with feigned disgust and indifference. "Click." Someone managed to open the iron door again.
"Steven," the person called out with a sneer.
"What are you doing? Are you still searching for that impostor? Do you honestly believe that if she were me, she wouldn't be clever enough to figure out such a simple trick and find a way out?" That voice belonged to Yasmin!
I felt uneasy. Even Yasmin found the key. She could find it, but I was clueless.
Steven completely ignored Yasmin and asked softly, "Stephie, don't be scared. What did you see on your room's wall?"
I took one look and quickly replied,novelbin
my voice trembling. "If I have been dwelling in darkness, please don't expose me to the light... If you choose to bring me into the light, don't then thrust me back into the darkness where I can't even see my own hands."
After a brief pause, Steven advised softly outside the door, "Check beneath the lamp, in the brightest spot."
I quickly understood his meaning. I ran to the lamp and tapped on the tiles. They were indeed hollow.
I successfully managed to pry up the tile and retrieve the key from it. I tried to open the door, but my hands were shaking and I failed a few times. Eventually, I managed to open the door.
As soon as the door was opened, I caught sight of Steven. Without hesitation, he reached out and enveloped me in his embrace, holding me tightly.
I couldn't breathe for a moment. It was like I could understand the words written on the wall. "If I have been dwelling in darkness, please don't expose me to the light."
What was written was absolutely
correct. If I were to find myself
crawling in fear through the
darkness, I would undoubtedly feel
immense gratitude and heavily
depend on the individual who
illuminated my path, granting me the
ability to perceive the light. Content
"Click." Another sound resonated through the long, narrow, and deep corridor, signaling the opening of the door.
Our attention was immediately captivated by it. The person who walked out was Michael. He stood there with a frown, his expression exuding displeasure, and emitting an icy air.
I was utterly astonished. If Steven and I were both players in the game, Joel was the implicated outsider, and Yasmin herself was on the Death List, then what about Michael? Why was he present as well?
Was the murderer planning to kill every single one of us? Were we all just pawns in this twisted game? How many secrets lay concealed behind this serial murder case?