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Red light started to glow around the edges, then came the THUMP, THUMP, THUMP like a pounding drum echoing through the woodland.
My skin prickled with fear, but it didn’t stop me.
The THUMP, THUMP, THUMP got louder the closer I stepped.
What was under there? Monsters? Demons? Ghouls?
The undead? Zombies about to claw their way out…
The terror kept rising, but it didn’t matter. I forced my steps steadily, in time with the thumps. My feet kept on moving in tiny little steps, and I knew I was sinking deeper inside my subconscious. I looked behind and the path was growing misty, taking me further and further away from the places I knew. The thought of turning around and running back to safety was so strong I could barely take it. But still I inched forward.
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP.
I wished I had a weapon for when the demons burst out. Even a pathetic little tree branch to put up a tiny bit of a fight. The glow of red around the edge of the wooden lid grew brighter, the thumps getting louder. The trapdoor rattling.
What the hell was in there? What was trying to get out?
It didn’t make any difference what was waiting under there, I had to keep walking and face it. For once, finally, I had to face it. I was going to do it, whatever the cost.
THUMP.
I moved closer.
THUMP, THUMP.
The beats were in line with my heart.
Then I heard something else underneath the thumps. Something I’d never heard before…
Screams.
Screams coming out from underneath the wooden slats, and they were frantic. The thumps were the fists of something –someone– desperate to escape.
I froze, glanced behind, the path had gone, nothing but a wall of mist.
Another high-pitched scream and the trapdoor rattled.
THUMP. THUMP.
I’d never felt so terrified. Once I opened that door and whatever was in there ran free, I knew there was no way I’d ever get it closed again. It would be open for all time.
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
I arrived at the trapdoor and crouched down, reached out for the round iron handle and I wasn’t sure I could do it. I wanted to bolt and run.
But that’s what I’d been doing my whole life, wasn’t it? Bolting and running instead of facing up to whatever was going on underneath.
I was going to open the trapdoor and face whatever was inside.
Do or die!
I turned the handle and it clanked. The light around the edges was no longer red, it was white. The screams were from a solitary voice in need of saving, rather than a chorus of demons baying for blood.
“HELP ME! PLEASE! HELP ME!”
“I’m coming!” I yelled. “Don’t worry! I’ll get you out!”
I struggled because it was so damn heavy. I had to get to my feet and brace myself hard, wrenching up that door with everything I had. I gritted my teeth and strained, every muscle taut in my body until I managed to pull it up and push it back where it landed on the grass with a thud.
