Chapter 7 - Seven
"In you go," the guard grunted, shoving her roughly towards the opening.
Suzy stumbled forward, catching a glimpse of a small, dusty room before the door slammed shut behind her, plunging her into complete darkness. Panic surged through her. She was alone, locked away in a cold, dark room.
Claustrophobia, a primal fear she thought had left came back and clawed at her throat. She whimpered, her voice lost in the oppressive silence. "No," she gasped, her voice barely a whisper. "I can’t stay here. I can’t breathe!"
Tears streamed down her face as she stumbled around the small room, her hands outstretched, searching for an escape, just anything. But there was nothing. Just cold, damp stone walls and a thick layer of dust under her feet.
Suddenly, a loud screech echoed through the room, making Suzy jump. A large rat, its eyes gleaming in the faint light, scurried out from a dark corner.
She let out a loud scream. "No," she said, her voice trembling. "No, no, no. I have to get out of here."
But how? The door was locked, the windows were barred, and there was no way she could overpower the burly guards. A wave of despair threatened to engulf her.
Suddenly, a memory surfaced – a childhood prank gone wrong, a locked closet, and the frantic pounding of her heart. She’d calmed herself down then, focused on her breathing, and eventually, she’d remembered there was a latch on the inside of the door.
Taking a deep breath, Suzy closed her eyes and focused on the sound of her own heartbeat. Slowly, the frantic pounding subsided, replaced by a sense of calm determination.
—————————
The afternoon sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in fiery hues of orange and purple. The oppressive darkness of the storage room felt like an eternity to Suzy. Time seemed to stretch and contort, each minute an agonizing test of her sanity. Her breaths came in ragged gasps, the weight of the enclosed space pressing down on her chest.