The air was damp. The footsteps in the dark corridor echoed in a muffled way. Fred tried to calm his breath. He had been here once before, but now he was back—alone, in the depth of the night.
As he moved forward, familiar smells filled his nostrils—the scent of aged wood, dampness, and a hint of rust. Everything around him was silent. Yet, in the darkness, he could feel something watching him.
He reached the corridor that led to the old cells. He ran his hand along the wall as he moved. He wasn't sure why he was here. Maybe he was searching for answers, or maybe he was trying to confront the fear within him.
Suddenly, he heard a faint sound behind him—like someone's footstep touching the floor. Fred immediately turned around, but saw nothing but darkness. He took a deep breath and continued on his way.
He tried to open the door to one of the old cells, but it was locked. Then, his attention shifted to a door at the end of the corridor, one he hadn't noticed before. He walked cautiously toward it, stopping in front of the door. He placed his hand on the cold metal handle and slowly turned it.
The door creaked open. Inside, it was completely dark. For a moment, he hesitated, but then he took a step forward and entered.
Just then, the door slammed shut with a sharp sound behind him.
Fred's heart raced with fear. He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to look around, but he couldn't see anything. All he could hear were whispers and footsteps. The iron walls seemed to echo back every sound.
Finally, he felt the sounds drawing nearer. He froze, but struggled to move, as if his body was wrapped in a heavy layer.
When the footsteps came closer, Fred suddenly pointed his flashlight upward. The light illuminated the surrounding walls and the old stones of the ceiling. But he couldn't find any trace of anyone.
Then, the sounds stopped.
Fred turned his head, staring blankly at the emptiness. Everything became eerily silent. No footsteps, no whispers... only his own breathing.
He raised the flashlight a little higher, but his eyes struggled to make sense of what they saw—the unsettling colors of the light flickering before his eyes.
A few seconds passed, and then he noticed a breath. Fred realized the sound was much closer this time. Slowly, without rushing, he turned.
He saw that no one was there. But something was…
A presence, very close, as if something was watching him.