Elena's POV
The door creaked softly as I pushed it open.
A long corridor stretched ahead of me, disappearing into the distance. Burning torches lined both sides of the walls, their orange flames dancing strangely despite the cold. Above us, snow drifted endlessly from the ceiling.
I tightened my hold on Hazel's hand and stepped forward.
The moment we crossed the doorway, a loud slam echoed behind us.
I jumped and spun around immediately.
The door had shut itself.
My heart pounded painfully against my chest.
For a moment, I stood frozen while staring at the door. Then I forced myself to turn away because there was no point going back. The only path left was forward.
My feet moved softly against the thin layer of snow covering the floor as Hazel and I continued down the corridor. The flames from the burning torch flickered across the walls and every now and then, I thought I saw something moving in the corners of my eyes.
But whenever I turned to look properly, there was nothing there. Only empty stone walls illuminated by the light.
I swallowed hard and kept walking. Eventually another door appeared ahead of us. I felt relieved.
I hurried forward and pushed it open. The moment the door swung inward, my relief vanished. I was greeted by darkness.
The room beyond was enormous, yet I could barely see anything except the burning lamps hanging along a narrow path.
The light didn't spread very far. Everything beyond it remained hidden.
The hair on my skin stood straight.
I glanced at Hazel. She said nothing. Her head remained lowered. Her grey eyes stared blankly on the ground. So I took a deep breath and stepped inside.
The door closed behind us once again. Hours seemed to pass as we walked. The darkness never ended.
The lamps continued stretching forward endlessly.
Sometimes strange noises echoed around us.
Each sound made my stomach tighten.
I began walking faster. I gripped Hazel's hand and pulled gently.
"Come on," I whispered.
But her body felt much heavier. It was as if invisible chains had wrapped themselves around her feet.
I struggled to keep moving. Every step became harder than the last. Yet I refused to let go, no matter how exhausted I became. No matter how frightened I felt, I kept pulling her forward.
Eventually another door appeared. Then another. And another. Each room looked almost identical. The same dark corridors and burning torches.
By the time I opened the next door, my arms felt numb and my legs trembled from exhaustion.
Then I froze.
The room was filled with people.
My breath caught.
Dozens of them stood silently throughout the room. Some sat on the floor. Some stared at the walls. Some looked toward nothing at all.
None of them moved or blinked. They looked exactly like the people I had seen outside in the snow..The same empty faces and lifeless eyes.
I carefully guided Hazel through them.
As we passed, I couldn't stop myself from glancing over my shoulder multiple times.
Every time, they remained exactly where they were, perfectly still like statues.
I hurried away to the next door. The next room was no different. It was filled with more people with empty eyes and thick silence.
By the time I reached the next door, I was almost running.
My hand grabbed the handle and pulled. The glass door opened.
This room was different. It was much smaller. The walls stood close together and glowing torches illuminated every corner.
There was nowhere for shadows to hide. Nowhere for strange figures to watch from the darkness.
For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt a small sense of relief.
Then I noticed the door on the opposite side.
I quickly led Hazel toward it. Hope fluttered weakly inside my chest.
Maybe this was finally the end.
I turned the door handle and it refused to move. I frowned and tried again. Still it didn't open. The door was locked. My shoulders dropped.
Then something caught my attention.
Beside the door stood a large hourglass. Golden sand poured steadily from the top chamber into the bottom.
I stared at it quietly.
The soft sound of falling sand filled the room. I let out a slow breath.
Then I carefully helped Hazel sit on the floor.
The moment I released her hand, she remained exactly where I placed her.
My chest tightened painfully then I lowered myself beside her.
For a while, I simply stared at the woman who had once laughed with me. The woman who used to tease me. The woman who never stopped caring for me.
Now she looked like a shadow of herself. I swallowed the lump in my throat.
"Do you remember when we first met?" I asked softly.
Hazel didn't answer.
The sand continued falling.
I smiled weakly.
"You complimented my dressing."
Silence.
"You told me I looked beautiful."
A small laugh escaped me despite everything.
"You said we were going to be best friends."
Still no response.
I lowered my gaze to my hands.
"I never told you this, but I was really happy whenever you came around", I said softly.
The room felt strangely warm now.
"I always felt less lonely when you were there."
My eyes burned.
"We went through so much together."
The words came out shaky.
"I don't know who Ophelia is."
I looked toward Hazel.
"I don't know what this place is."
My fingers tightened slightly.
"But I know one thing."
I reached over and gently brushed snow from her hair.
"I'm not leaving you behind."
The hourglass continued pouring grain after grain of sand.
I rested my head lightly against her shoulder.
"It'll be okay," I whispered.
"I'm going to get us out of here."
Hazel remained silent.
I slowly lay down beside her and pulled part of the blanket over both of us and my eyes fluttered shut.