What If... Part1C

“Uh, I guess I'll see you later?” He says as you shove the old door closed. You ignore his implied question and lock the door behind you. With a sigh, you slide to the floor. What a day.

A few short seconds later you dare to peek out the window. He's gone, and you finally feel secure. Then you remember you're in a strange dilapidated house that is probably haunted and dusty among other things. Oh well...you definitely are not driving back to Phoenix. A sudden creak and rattling of the windows sends you flying to your feet. You're not sure, but you think you might rather be outside freezing your toes off with your much too friendly neighbor. Taking a few deep breaths, you decide to investigate the sound. It's probably nothing, but you like to know for sure.

Before you can convince your shaky limbs to move, the eerie sound sets that ball bouncing in your chest again. You're know that if you lay a hand across your heart right now, you would see it jump with every heartbeat. Forcing your worries to the side, however, you put one foot in front of the other. And then the other. You repeat this process, until you run smack-dab into a set of enormous double doors. Great. Where are the door knobs? You glare at the tiny swirls in the wood, wishing them to evaporate or sprout a handle. But they don't. You take a step back, bumping into a giant sheet-covered couch. Maybe the doors are automatic and malfunctioning? Is there a switch somewhere? 

Then it clicks. You let out a nervous laugh and place your hand in the grooves where it looks like a door knob should be. Pocket doors. You had heard Mom and Dad talk about these but you had never actually encountered them. Pulling to the right, you awaken your dormant muscles. The door groans, but slides into the wall a few inches. Natural lighting streams in from the other room as the door budges a bit more. Muscles aching, you squeeze through the opening.

Aaah! A stained-glass window! Impractical, but gorgeous. The colored light paints a pattern on the dining room table, adding a bit of cheer to the dusty surface. You turn to examine the rest of the room, and panic builds in your chest. What is up with all the doors? You know there were at least two sets of doors in the other room, but here there are four. At least they aren't pocket doors.

Creak! You jump again. That was definitely right above your head. One of these doors has to open up to a stairwell. You swing open the first door on the far wall. Yuck. It only leads to more doors. You try the next. Perfect. Taking another deep breath to calm your thumping heart, you mount the first couple steps. Creak! Creak! Creak! Well, you certainly won't be sneaking up on anyone.

By the time you reach the top of the second landing, you're legs are burning. That's what you get for sitting in front of a desk day after day. Maybe you will apply for a gym membership here. If this town even has a gym... 

"Good afternoon, Miss." 

The warmth rushes out of your limbs, and your body grows cold with fear. You stumble backward. Thwack! Your body smacks the stairs, but still you tumble. The scarred wood of the dining room floor rushes back at you. Your head slams the finish first, and searing pain paralyzes your body.

"Miss! Miss! No! Can you hear me? O please, God, no!" You hear footsteps pounding down the stairs. A white clad figure bends over you, his voice haunting your fears. His face is terrified, ghostly looking, staring over your broken body. You try to say something, reach for something, but the world fades black.

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I felt bad doing this to you all the first time around, but I'd designated C as the "bad choice" ahead of time and told myself I couldn't change. Sorry!

Anyway, looks like we're back at the beginning already. Since you just read it last week, I'll just re-post the choices here (well, the two that are left). So which do you want?

A. Fly out the door and catch up with your neighbor. Maybe he'll check the house for you.

or

B. Ignore the sound. It's probably just the wind.