Choices

"There was only one rule: don’t open the door.”

Right, don't open the door (he read the weathered note in his hand twice). Don't open it.

But which one?

The research Dr. Cornelius had only led him to the house; it did not tell him how his escape would take place. After various traps - booby and otherwise - he wanted to end this and just take Bedelia in his arms, and...

Focus, focus...

He looked down the long hallway.

Every single door looked the same.

The stairs behind him was now block off by a sheet that came down and slammed metal teeth into the wooden floor, so that was out. He could only look ahead.

He could only take a guess.

'Don't open the door...'

He tested the first handles...and his suspicions were confirmed.

Unlocked.

His heart sank.

Dr. Cornelius tried every door as he walked down the endless hallway, and every single one was unlocked.

He could leave whenever he wanted to...

...and yet...

He could not decide which one to avoid.

If the final message received and decoded was, 'do not open the door,' then which one was the bad one?

He knew what happened to the others (the missing colleagues and lost friends were still on his mind). He knew that they all entered the chamber with their expertise and his advice.

His advice...

All his studies; all his hard work, and he never considered what the message really meant.

He knew what his fate would be.

The hallway beckoned him to entered deeper and deeper into itself. And he would soon find his own way out.

- Word Count: 272

*

Thank you for reading!

If you liked this, you can add your Insights, Comment, leave a Heart, Tip, Pledge, or Subscribe. I will appreciate any support you have shown for my work.

You can find more poems, stories, and articles by Kendall Defoe on my Vocal profile. I complain, argue, provoke and create...just like everybody else.

Give it a look...