The sky was a dark, purplish-gray, low in the sky, as if it were about to rain at any moment. Liz walked through the metal gate, which lay bent over, like an odd smile. The old building stood there; nothing but stone and wooden bones, like it had been forgotten. Its windows were like empty eyes just staring, looking at nothing at all.” This place gives me the creeps,” Beth said, wrapping her jacket tightly around herself as if hugging herself. Her voice felt too loud in the still air. Liz didn’t say anything. She was familiar with quiet – the kind of quiet that happens after questions are asked, and nobody is willing to answer. This case was a buried secret, hidden within piles of papers and lies. Liz wasn’t the type to walk away.. They pushed the main door open. It made a loud creaking noise, like an older adult’s knees, as if the place didn’t want them to come in. The hallway went on and on, like a long, dark tunnel, skinny and full of secrets that had been swallowed down. The paint on the walls was peeling off like old, dry skin. A broken chair was lying on its side in the corner, like someone had stood up really fast and left. Beth’s flashlight shone through the dusty air like a knife cutting through smoke. Liz’s fingers touched the edges of a burned folder. Empty. Was this another dead end, like running into a wall? She remembered Jeff’s voice, smooth and sure, when he told her about this place. “You might find what you’re looking for,” he had said, his eyes not really looking at her. It sounded like he was helping, but it felt like he was tricking her. They walked farther into the building. The air felt heavy, as if it were full of things nobody was saying. Somewhere far away, something made a clattering sound, like shaking bones. Beth jumped a little. “That wasn’t just the wind!” Liz only nodded once, her hand moving into a pocket – her small recorder was always on. At any moment, it could be truly critical. Then, in the basement – damp and cold, like a forgotten grave – they found it. An old and rusty cabinet that was locked up tight. Only one word was scratched on the cabinet. Truth. While Beth knelt to unlock the cabinet, the light flickered like a cheap candle about to go out. Footsteps followed behind them, growing considerably closer, much like a heartbeat that was beating faster. Jeff was positioned at the top of the staircase. Calm. Very much too calm. “I hoped you would’ve just left it be,” he said softly, like a gentle breeze. “But you always need to dig too deep, don’t you?” Beth looked over at Liz. Her face was all confusion! Liz just looked at Jeff, the pieces of what was happening clicking together in her head – but it was too late, like missing the bus. Then the power went out. Darkness ate up the room like a hungry animal. The only thing left was the sound of breathing in the dark. When the light came back on, only quiet was left. Beth was gone. Liz was gone. Only the cabinet door was wide open – and empty. Some people whisper that Liz disappeared while trying to find the truth, like chasing a ghost. Other people say she saw it, and it was like a big hole that swallowed her whole.
By: Aleeza Abid-8th Diamond
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