Lantern

The flames in my lantern flickered, casting dancing shadows on the stone wall. The tap tap of my feet smacking the stone was the only sound. The enormous stone staircase wound downwards in a seemingly endless spiral. Finally, it opened up into a long corridor.

I made my way across the corridor, iron cell bars were littered throughout, making up about ten cells before the stone walls continued on. One of the last cells I passed by I saw a flicker of movement that looked like a skeleton shuffling in the corner. I lifted my lantern towards it, there was nothing but scraps of fabric, an overturned bucket, and some scattered rocks in the cell.

I cranked up the flame on my lantern. I didn’t want to get lost down here, but my curiosity pushed me onward. There were openings in the stone that led to new passageways on either side of me and the corridor continued to extend forward. I looked down all three options, when a shadow moved across the right pathway. I followed it. 

The dancing flames served as my guide as I crept forward. I saw a glimpse of the shadow again, it abruptly went left and disappeared. As I got closer, a hefty wooden door came into view. It took all of my strength to push it open, the door protested with loud creaks. My lantern’s light filled the room, and inside was a dusty old cot, a small dresser barely staying upright, and a filthy chipped longsword propped up in the corner. 

I tentatively stepped inside, with one foot over the threshold a gust of cold wind flew towards me, seemingly trying to put out my lantern flames, but they were not quelled. Suddenly I heard crying behind me, far in the distance. Choked sobs that made my skin crawl. Time to go.

I turned and ran back the way I came, the tap tap tap of my bare feet slapping on the stone echoed above the wailing. My lantern flames moved fervently as if in warning. Ahead of me, and what would have waited for me had I turned left earlier, was a hunched over figure with long hair obscuring any features, the figure lurched with each sob. I turned and ran down the original corridor away from the figure and past the cells. Skeletal figures blinked in my peripherals, but I ignored them and flew up the winding stairs. 

At the top of the swirling stairs was the original doorway I had come through, sprinting through it I slammed the oak door behind me and hefted the large wrought iron bar into its locking position. I took a brief moment to catch my breath, then slinked my way back into my bedroom, locking that door behind me as well. I placed my lantern on the bedside table, leaped into my bed, and pulled the soft comforter up to my nose.

My parents were historians, but I still didn’t understand why they bought this place for us to live in. I hoped nothing from below followed me. I kept my lantern burning.

…

What did you think of the story? Would you explore a place like that on your own? Let us know in the comments below!

Thank you so much for reading!

–Clever&WTF