Lost

It was dark.

I closed my eyes for a couple of seconds to get accustomed to the darkness. I could barely see anything except for the dingy patterned walls that make up the narrow corridor.

Unfazed with the environment, Jared moves on. I recall a familiar horror movie scene where the football jock charges carelessly into the dark, only to find themselves at the wrong end of a sharp kitchen knife. Scenes as the perpetrator twists the metal object deeper and deeper deliberately making the victim scream out for dear life.

I ran my hand along the walls trying to distract myself from my terrified state, I noticed eerie patterns which wasn't obvious before. Looking closer, I suddenly realised that the patterns themselves were actually symbols of witchcraft and the occult! "What could do they possibly mean?" I thought to myself.

With the faint light available, I could barely make out the staircase as we approached the end of the hallway. I gave Jared my "Are we going up?" look hoping to back out as early as now. But without as much as a hesitation, Jared tests the first step. As he gradually puts all his weight down in one foot. I could hear the board creak as it groans from the massive weight. Pleased that it didn't give way, Jared continues the climb but stops halfway when he saw that I wasn't following. Giving me a stern look, I immediately read his thoughts associating me with a feathered farmyard animal.

"Nobody calls me chicken." I say to myself. Frowning as I reluctantly follow.

The next floor was rather curious as the flight led directly to three doors. All identical except for the colours. We tried the first one in front with no luck as it just led to a small unlit storage space with nothing in it. To save time, we decided to try each door on both sides. We opened them simultaneously and found both leading to long dark seemingly endless hallways. I took a deep breath and went in. I walked a few meters forward before looking back just to see the door close behind me. It's too dark. Too dark to see anything.

I suddenly heard a scuffle behind me. Knowing that I wont see anything, I still look back anyway. My eyes gave nothing away but strained my ears trying to pinpoint where the sound came from.

Then I see a faint glimmer of red just beyond the reach of my eyesight. It seemed to be floating towards me complemented with the slow scuffling sound. The red dot separated into to two as I finally saw an outline of a semi-humanoid form I could barely make out. Then I realised that they were eyes. Eyes atop this hideous creature's head!

I froze in terror. My feet heavy as and held in place by an invisible hand. I could see the flames of hell burning in his eyes as he came closer and closer. The stare alone could shatter a man's will and let him scream for mercy.

It snarled and made a low unearthly guttural sound. Somewhat growling and rumbling, shaking the plaster on the crumbling walls. I knew it was the sound that most predators make just before they jump atop their prey.

And then I ran. I ran like a crazed loon never even looking back. I eventually found my way out and saw myself standing in the sunshine again with Jared shortly coming out, panting.

"Did you see it?" I exasperatedly said. "Did you see the big ugly creature running after me???"

"..."

"That was ME you dumbass."

It hit me hard as it all it all made sense. The red evil eyes was just Jared's irritation for getting lost looking for the food court. The loud rumbling was, of course, his stomach protesting.

The whole thing was my fault as I told him we'll try the back door to find the food place Rayana recommended.I know it's silly to get lost in the same building where the food court is but the signs were really really misleading.