The Tunnel

I N T R O

You walk down the dark alley on your way back to your apartment. It was a very cold night and you regretted not bringing your jacket along with you. The journey to your apartment is quite long and all you could hear while you're on your way back is the sound of your footsteps thumping lightly on the ground, shuffling against the uneven cold damped asphalt. You stop on your track as soon as you reach the tunnel where a lot of stories had been told. It is your very first time using that tunnel, especially at night, but you're in a rush to go home so you decided to use the tunnel since it's the only shortcut to your apartment. In the morning, the tunnel look less creepy, you could see the green plants growing on it's brick walls stained with dirts and vines hanging by the entrance of the tunnel. It looked just like an abandoned old tunnel. At night time, the tunnel gives out a creepy feeling to it, the vibrant colours of the plants could no longer be seen, the vines hanging looks like long strands of frizzy messy hair hanging freely from the top of the tunnel, sticking out of the brick walls. Only god knows how many times you had imagine a head sticking out of the walls, scaring the soul out of your small body or even a monster jumping out of the abandoned place and devours you into the darkness. It's too creepy for you to stare so long at it. The more you think about how eerie it is, the more you want to turn back around and regret your decision, but you try to gather up your courage and decided to think it through again.

"You're tired, you wanna go home fast, so use this way. Nothing is going to jump out of the darkness. You'll be just fine!" You talked to yourself. You're about to take your very first step forward, but you pull your foot back in and think through again. You sighed then said,"No no no, this is too risky."

You stood infront of the tunnel for nearly 5 minutes debating whether you should use the tunnel or turn back around and use the longer way back to your apartment. The clock is ticking and time is passing, the more time wasted by you thinking which decision is right, the more you grew annoyed over how a coward you can be. You groaned in annoyance and ball a fist,"Come on (Y/N), You can do this!"

You took a few steps getting closer to the entrance of the tunnel, as you were about to step into the tunnel, the light bulb that lit up the whole tunnel, went off with a spark and you could hear the small broken glass pieces dropped to the ground one by one. You jumped out of shock and back away from the entrance. Now the tunnel is pitch black and you could only see the entrance to the other side of the tunnel. You bit your lower lip and cold sweats are forming on your forehead and balled fists. Your heart is racing due to the shock you've just experienced. You are totally spooked out and now you're thinking whether your decision is right and whether this is not a very decent time to act brave and it's better to turn back around for the sake of your safety.

"Okay now, calm down..." You paused and took a deep breath then exhaled. You continue,"It's just the electricity blows up, so it's fine, it's cool, you got your phone remember?!"

You try to encourage yourself to wash off the scared feeling you're experiencing. It took you a few moments to recover from your fright and finally, your heart is beating normally. You stuff your hand inside your handbag and rummage for your phone then took out your phone to go to the flashlight application. You click on the app and light came off from the back of your phone, flashing to the ground stained with moisture. You lift your phone up and flashes the light into the tunnel. Dust particles could be seen flying around the area and short grass grew at the sides of the tunnel's interior. You stare at the poor condition of the tunnel for a moment or two, worst case scenario the tunnel seem like it could fall apart in a second if you walk into it. For the very last time, you're giving yourself a chance to gather back your courage and heave a deep sigh, you said,"It'll be fine, make a run for it and you will reach to the end of the tunnel in no time!"

You took your very first step into the tunnel. Suddenly, a gush of wind passes through your body, the temperature instantly dropped and all of the hairs on your body stood up straight, you shivered as soon as chills was sent down your spine like an electric static. Your heart pounding vigorously against your chest. Now, not only you could hear the silence background being interrupt by the sounds of crickets singing, but the sound of your heart pounding is also playing in your ears. Puff of vapors could be seen coming out from your mouth every time you exhaled, without you even realizing the fact that your body is already shaking in fear. You tighten your grip around your phone and whispered to yourself,"There's nothing to be scared about~". You took a few more steps into the tunnel with cautious feeling playing in your heart, your instinct tells you that something bad is about to happen, but you shake all of the bad thoughts out of your head and replace it with the feeling of wanting to get out of that dark place as soon as possible.