eye : words . There are words painted beside a door just ahead of me , but my eyesight is blurred from the blood dripping down my forehead . The hum of the generator charges the room with tension , but something ’ s off . The clanging has stopped , but there ’ s another sound . A low , intense growl knots my stomach , vibrating my bones . I look back , thinking my mind is playing tricks on me . Down the end of the hall sits a monstrous black dog . Long , filthy fangs threaten to tear me apart as it launches itself at me with immense power . The guttural growling mixes with the heavy blows as its paws trample the ground . My instincts take over . My fight or flight . As I watch the beast speed towards me , an image forms in the back of my mind . The worded room . I tear towards the door , my mind racing . I look back again as I stumble through the door and watch as the brute sinks its teeth into my leg . The sharp pain momentarily takes over my body before I wrench my leg out of its jaws and slam the door shut , barricading myself into the room . I slump down on the door , the dog growling and scratching on the other side . Exhaustion grabs me , pulling me closer and closer to darkness . It ' s only as I close my eyes that the words outside this door become clear . “ Kill Room .”
Human limbs dangle from the ceiling , blood pouring from the severed ends of the fresh cuts . I can see arms and legs and hands and feet . The acidic taste of vomit creeps up my throat . I have to get out of here . In the middle of the room , a blood-stained surgical table sits beside a trolley covered with tools . I can see pliers , a saw and a scoop all covered with dried blood . I use the freezer beside me to get to my balance as my head spins at the gruesome sight and for a split second , curiosity takes over . I open the lid and am suffocated by the most putrid stench I have ever smelt . I jump back at the sight . Dozens of mutilated human heads stare back at me with fear in their eyes . I slam the freezer shut and collapse , vomiting . There ' s another door at the other end of the room and , shakily , I stumble to it . It opens to another hallway that looks exactly the same as the one before . Using the door frame and walls to support myself , I take a few steps . My head pounds and the room begins to spin . I see a bright green sign as I hit the floor .
I do what it takes to survive on the streets . I have no family , no money , no home . I do what I have to do to make it through the week , so I ’ m not surprised when a dark van pulls up beside me , honking its horn . I peer through the open window . In the driver ' s seat sits a man . His face sags slightly on the right , dirt sits in the creases of his forehead and around his thin , cracked mouth . Two coal-coloured eyes look me up and down with an edge of disgust . His leg bounces rapidly , his fingers twitching with anticipation . A calloused hand waves a $ 100 note and he motions for me to get in the back door . I hesitate . People have been disappearing off the streets for a few months now but the money between his wrinkled fingers latches onto my desperation .
My entire body throbs as I come to , instantly confused by my surroundings . I ’ m still sprawled in the hallway . The memories of this past night come flooding back all at once . The man , the glass , the dog , the bodies . A blood-curdling mixture of anger and fear flows through my body when I see something odd : a green light reflecting off of the floor . I groan as I strain to see where the light is coming from . A sign . I try to get up but my strength fails me . I crawl across the floor , ignoring the relentless stabs of pain shooting through my body as I inch towards a door . I reach up and tug on the handle , falling back onto the ground as it swings open . A few metres ahead of me , I see an opening , natural light illuminating the room . This is it . This is my chance to get out of here . I keep crawling ; freedom just metres away . But there ' s something in front of the door . I blink a few times and my stomach knots as my vision clears . Shoes . At least fifty pairs of shoes sit before me , displayed in perfect rows . Slowly , the dots connect in my mind . I ’ m not the first . Others have been here before me and are still here , dangling from the ceilings , staring at the lid of the freezer .
Beams of sunlight shine through the door , illuminating the hallway with a hopeful glow . The sun beckons me as it peeks over the roof of the building next door . Extending my arms , I pull myself closer to freedom . Just a few more metres . To my horror , the door lets out a strained creak and slowly begins to swing shut . I use every ounce of strength I have left to inch towards the door . My entire body is throbbing but I have to get out . My heart thumps against my chest . My head spins with exhilaration and panic as I desperately drag myself towards the door . I can do this , I ’ m almost there . But all I can do is watch in helpless horror as it slams shut right before my face ; my hopes of getting out of this hell-hole disappearing with the sunrise .
A weathered hand grabs my arm , yanking me out of my self-pity . I turn to see two dark eyes looking at me with a malevolent glare . “ Times up , tramp ,” he growls . He grabs my hair and pulls me back towards where I came from , back towards the room with the words .
Jena Gregory
Year 13
115