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I had forgotten the feeling of being lost— truly lost, like how a child gets lost in the middle of a grocery store, spending minutes fumbling around in the hopes of finding their mother. But this isn't as simple as dawdling through a Walmart or a Meijer. There was no one here, no aisles— just endless yellow walls and the faint stench of something I couldn't place. Unfortunately, the putrid smell was the least of my worries. If going insane from the constant hum of the lights won't kill me, the never-ending walls will.
When I said that this place was endless, I meant it literally. Every single twist birthed a new doorway, an identical wall, an infinite stretch of yellow. This place stretched on, the monotonous pattern of the walls blurring my vision, my steps dragging as if the ground were pulling me under. If you had asked me hours earlier that I would spend the first day of my class trip in a never-ending office building, I would have called you crazy.
I glanced at my phone, the only thing keeping me sane in this place. According to the time, it would be around four, that is if time even exists in a place like this. My phone was essentially useless in every category except for two: time and a flashlight. Unfortunately for me, it will only be good for a few hours before my phone dies.
So here I stand, in a seemingly never-ending building. Whatever this place is, it isn't natural, nor does it adhere to any logic or reason. Hell, I haven't seen a blink of life since stepping into this place.
No animals, no plants, and most importantly: no people.
Which brings me to my next problem— food and water. If I'm going to be here for hours, days, weeks, or even months, I'm going to need it. Starving to death is not on my bucket list.
I lean against one of the walls in one of the smaller rooms, resting my hand on my head to soothe the ache. Slowly, I slide down the wall until I feel the cold damp carpet cushioning my body. Pulling out my phone I continuously refresh the messages I sent to my mom, ironically, the only one that did manage to send was right before coming to this place reassuring her everything was going fine.
Unpleasant thoughts plagued my mind—what would she think of this? How she would panic if she knew where I was—if I could even call this a 'where.' My mind rushes back to before the incident took place, the dusty old house I stepped in. It made me wonder if any of my other classmates fell through this horrid place.
The crooked, half-rotted walls of that house would be a comfort compared to the sea of yellow that makes my stomach tighten.
I should keep moving, but where? Every step felt pointless, and every turn was the same. Maybe this was a dream and I just needed to shut my eyes. I felt the weight of my eyelids grow heavier as my vision blurred.
---
My eyes snapped open, heart racing. The fluorescent lights buzzed, mocking my return to the waking world. The dim light of my phone glowed against the floor, my stomach dropped. I clutch my phone, my heart pounds against my chest as I check the battery: fifteen percent.
"Shit, Shit! Damnit!" I cry out, almost dropping my phone in the process. My last connection to the outside world is slowly being snuffed out.
I choke back a sob that threatened to escape. The walls of this place feel suffocating, slowly closing in on me, each percentage indicating my tether to the outside world. It's only a matter of time before it snaps.
These floors, this place, everywhere I looked, it all taunted me. I needed to get out, there had to be a way out. My hand trembled as I slide my phone in my pocket. My body screamed at me to stop, and rest for just another day, another minute, another second. But I knew that I had one chance at this.
Blurs of yellow flew past me as I sprinted away, trying to find a sense of anything. The continuous buzzing grew louder, echoing. My stomach twisted into knots. It didn't take long for the feeling to crawl up my throat and out of my mouth, forcing me to stop.
My eyes watered as I gasped for air, my legs shaking, hardly able to support my own weight. Fear ran down my spine as the reality hit me. I was dehydrated, I was dehydrated and slowly dying.
Bitter laughter echoed around the room, this is how I die? Seriously? Falling into a random mase? All of this felt absurd. I just want to go home.
The smell of vomit infested my nostrils, forcing me to stand again. When I stood, I gasped. The room wasn't yellow, instead, a light baby blue paint covered the walls. The carpet that once irritated my ears, is now replaced with wood.
Cautiously, I spin my head around. How far did I run that I didn't notice the room changed? That's when I noticed something brown in the corner of the room. Slowly I approached the object. It was, clay pottery, what the hell is that doing here?
Grabbing the ceramic, my eyes widened at the sounds of the sloshing of liquid. A part of me knew this was a stupid idea, no sane person would drink a random liquid that's been setting out for god only knows how long. But, I didn't care all I knew is I needed anything in my body.
Quickly putting the rim to my lips, I tilt my head back allowing for the liquid to run down my throat. It was unpleasantly lukewarm but it was better than nothing.
Leaning against the wall, I look around to gather my surroundings. Before rooms were only segmented by walls, but this felt more like actual rooms. The room itself was relatively small with a small window looking out to another room. In the center was a staircase leading nowhere.
For the first time, I felt something I'd almost forgotten: hope.
---
The deeper I explored, the more things changed. More ceramics, more objects along with things I don't recognize. While water wasn't a problem anymore, food was running short. This world still lacked any food and any water had a weird almond aftertaste.
It was like this world was trying its best to replicate the real world. Every once and a while I would stumble across a signpost planted in the ground like a tree with text that lacked any cohesion.
Though, all this change brought in the feeling of being watched. It didn't help that one time, I encountered a plastic tree, its eyes followed my every movement.
That's when it happened. It was a sound I never expected: a human voice. But it was screaming, muffled, and warped like it was drowning. It boomed across the room, causing my heart to jump. The ground shook with a thud, slowly growing closer.
Instantly, my mind went into overdrive as I glanced at any spot I could use to hide. Quickly, I slink into a corner, covering my mouth to lower my breathing.
It was humanoid but grotesquely distorted, its shape unnatural and unrecognizable. The shadow halted just outside the doorway, releasing another ear-splitting wail. Then, a hand—made of the same material as the carpet—slid into view, gripping the doorframe.
It dragged itself into the room, pulling the rest of its body behind. My eyes widened in horror.
The creature’s lower half was missing, replaced by a twisted tail where its legs should have been. Its faceless head swiveled, searching the room as it slithered across the floor.
It was massive—easily large enough to crush me. My legs trembled beneath me, threatening to give way under the sheer weight of my fear. All it took was a misstep, and my life would be cut short.
I stood still, watching the giant carpet monster drag itself across the room. A shaky sigh leaves my mouth as I take a single step, the floorboard creaking underneath me. I froze, my heart pounded against my chest for the hundredth time as I watched the monster halt.
Its head twisted toward my direction letting out another wail, its hand outstretched, reaching for me.
"Oh fuck!" I yelped out. My legs kick into overdrive as I dart out of the room. The wailing became nonstop, hands thudding against the wooden floor.
I didn't bother to look behind me; the sound was obvious enough: thud, thud, thud. The room itself trembled with the might of its hand. My breaths became ragged as I skidded between doorways and rooms.
The walls helped stall it, but I could hear the walls crash behind me. Wood and drywall fly outward, narrowly stabbing the back of my head. Hands outstretched, I jumped out of the way of an incoming attack. I turned the corner and then—
Before I knew it, I ran straight first into a pink blur. My body slammed against the walls as searing hot pain shot through my back. "Shit!" I hissed.
"ACK! Arcshei!" the voice called out. My eyes cracked open. It was a person, an actual human. Full body and everything. Her red eyes gleamed as she glared at me. I couldn't help but stare at her pink hair, something that stood out from the rest, not that her clothes were any better.
"Y-You're— I can't believe it... You're a real person, how did you... What are you doing here?" I asked, exasperated. Pressure from everything that I had witnessed and went through dissolved in an instant. Was I finally getting rescued? Hope weighed its way into my heart. I went to grab her hand but to my shock, she shoved me back.
"KAir Karshlvik!" She barked out, a slender shape arching over her in front of me— wait was that a tail? That's right, her black tail pointed at me, threateningly.
"W-What?" I asked, backing away slowly.
"Karshlvik!" She demanded once more.
"I-I don't understand you!" I stammered as she marched forward. Quickly, I raised my hands in defense.
She blinked, pointing to herself, "Meshiva?"
Quickly I nodded, shrugging my shoulders. Slowly, she backed away. Her hand outstretched, a bright blue glow formed around her. I stood in awe at the scene, half of me wanted to run but my body was planted on the ground.
My head felt light as everything dimmed. She sighed before glaring at me once, "Now you can, so once I again I ask, who are you?"
"W-What!? I mean, does it matter right now?"
Her glare sharpened as her hand reached for her pocket, pulling out a knife. "Who are you, where did you send me, are you part of the purest raid?"
I stood there, awestruck at the accusations. "Does it matter!? This—"
Another wail echoed through the room as the ground shook once more. "Ah shit! We gotta go!" Without a second thought, I grabbed her unarmed hand, dragging her along.
"What are you doing!? Unhand me you fiend!" She shouted.
"Shut up, you'll thank me later!"
"What was that sound!? I can feel it, something big is coming!" Her eyes shift as her fists fly into my face, pushing me back before the wall crumbles as a hand shoots outward. Debris flew in the air, blocking my vision as I saw her shadow disappear.
"Fuck!" I shouted, I gasped for air before kicking my legs into a sprint. The horrific wails continued, echoing down the halls as I sprinted forward. I knew that I had to act fast, or we both would die.
To my relief, it didn't take long to catch up to her. She glanced back, clicking her tongue, "You again... Why do you continue to follow me!? Are you the one who is responsible for summoning such a beast?"
"If I did, it wouldn't be attacking me now, wouldn't it!?" I snarked back. "Just run!"
We ran as the wall crumbled, the ground shaking. My feet stumbled over each other as I tried to keep up with her pace. "It's persistent! I'm going to try something!" She twisted her body around before a circle of red light formed, around her. Fireballs formed around her before shooting outward.
The thing wailed, as it flipped over, charging blindly in the walls. The flames engulfed it. "It's not stopping!" I called out.
"But it slowed down, let's go!"
We continued to sprint past halls, climbing up a set of stairs leading to another balcony: halls, alleys, and other rooms. Everything became a blur.
My eyes widened when I saw a room made of decayed, rotten wood. "There! That's where I came from!"
"What!?" She shouted.
"Let's go!" We both sprinted, the distance growing closer. My hand stretched outward before the wall to the side of the door exploded, revealing the creature.
It stood in our path, crawling toward us at a rapid pace. "On three, jump to the left!"
"Are you crazy!?"
"Just do it, unless you want to die!" She glared. "Three... Two... One... Jump!"
Without hesitation, I jumped to the side as it charged past us, narrowly missing.
"Now go!" She shouted. We both sprinted to the door. The thing's wails grew agitated. The ground trembled as we made the final stretch. My hand gripped the door and swung it open.