RANDOM WRITING PROMPTS

TORTURE CHAMBER

The lights turned on suddenly and the rest of the room was revealed. My eyes stung from the transition but I was starting to adjust. There were multiple levels and I was on the very top one, however, I was not alone. Two other people sat next to me, Jack and Emily. Neither of them were close enough to touch but I could see and hear them just fine. I don't remember much of what happened before this point but I had a feeling that everything was going to be alright. I was dead wrong.

Suddenly a very low, monotone voice came over an intercom. "Greetings visitors. You probably don't know why you are here but you all did a very bad thing and must be punished. Let me explain. Over the next 48 hours the bottom level will be filling up with water, five gallons an hour. It will soon reach the top level. In the water there are three very hungry crocodiles, you can either jump now and be put out of your misery or receive a very slow, painful death. I suggest the first one. If for whatever reason the beasts don't get you, you will drown. If you are good, we will pick your death and it will be quick. Have fun!"

Emily stared at me in horror, she was barely breathing and her face was practically the color of paper. I couldn't process what was going on but I felt almost as scared as Emily. But when I saw Jack's face, that's when it really hit me. Jack was never worried but at this moment he looked like he was going to pass out. I ran to him, he couldn't fall or he would die. I needed him here for his and my own sake. I hurried and sat Jack down and looked over at Emily. She was hyperventilating and looking over the edge, she was going to jump. I ran as fast as I could over there and pinned her against the wall. We were going to find a way out of this.

Emily and Jack were both passed out against the wall, neither of them were ever really good under pressure. I sat there wondering what I could do and doing my best to stay awake. I hadn't slept in the longest time and it was really starting to wear on me. I looked over the edge and the water was already up one level and I could occassionally see a tail or a scaly body come up to the surface. There were only three more levels and they would be able to easily get us. I couldn't do this alone but I knew that it was best if Emily stayed asleep.

I slapped Jack to wake him up, I felt bad but I needed him here. I've hardly been able to breathe since the announcement came on but I'm the only one who has been able to handle the stress. He woke up startled and held his face. I could tell that he didn't know what was going on but the expression he made when he realised chilled me to the bone. I hugged him for a little while and we both cried.

"I don't remember how we got here but I need to go home and see my mom, she can't take care of herself anymore." Jack sobbed.

"I know Jack. I know. I'm scared too but if they got us in here then there is a way out. We have to get out Jack. We have to. We have to." I said solemnly. He nodded and we slowly got up. Carefully, we walked around and around the circular level and looked all over the room for any way out. The water was rising fast and we were running out of time. What felt like hours went by and I finally noticed something different.

"Jack!" I yelled and he ran to me,"Look over there!" I pointed to the extremely small grooves in the rock level. We hurried to the other side and carefully leaned over and touched the grooves.

"A ladder." He whispered. He got up quickly and woke up Emily. We couldn't calm her down so Jack slung her over his shoulders and did his best to start climbing down. The water was getting so close it was making me so nervous. I knew that Jack was scared too and he started climbing faster. He made it to the bottom and yelled back up to me, "There's a door! But there are things in front of it! I think we could all move it if we hurry!" I climbed as fast as I could while still being cautious and I thankfully made it to the bottom safely. He was right. There were giant things blocking the door so that we weren't able to see it from the top level.

I grabbed Emily by the hair and pulled her close to my face. She was hysterical so I had to yell for her to hear me. "Emily you have to pull yourself together! We are all scared but if we want to live then we have to actually work together!" Emily was still sobbing but she stood up and we pushed as hard as we could to move these giant blocks. We managed to move one and were working on the second to last block. They were so heavy and we were all pushing as hard as we could to move them. I was sweating so hard and I could tell that I was not the only one that was almost passed their breaking point. Suddenly, my hand slipped. A large, deep cut gushed warm blood all over my arm. I'm used to blood but this felt different. It felt like it was killing me.

Everything was becoming quiet and my legs weren't strong enough to support me. All of the sudden I was laying on the floor. I only heard someone say my name. But I didn't recognize the voice. "Kayla!" They yelled.