Noxious

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

“You made that up,” spits Harry, snatching my shirt collar and twisting the material round my throat. “Just because you’re scared.”

He lets go, shoving me away. I sink to the ground, panting, the rock wall digging into my spine. My teeth chatter as the damp seeps through the thin cotton material, goosebumps crawling across my skin.

“What’s that?” I whisper. “Listen.”

I hold my breath, leaping to my feet as rock fragments patter to the floor, water trickling down the sides of the tunnel.

“This was your idea, he says, sloshing his trainer through the puddle. “You wanted to find it and now you’re wimping out. Pathetic.”

I nod at the door: “Do you think anyone’s still in there…”

“… Just ghosts, wooooooooo,” giggles Harry, shining the torch under his chin. “You know everyone died.”

I blink as the torch beam blinds me: “Harry, don’t.”

I step forward, recoiling as cobwebs cling to my hair. My fingers slide across the door and brush the peeling yellow sign: “They entombed them,” I whisper. “After the accident, after the chemicals…”

“You going in or what?”

“I...”

"Pathetic."

Harry rolls his eyes and reaches for the handle. I sway, my head spinning, the air’s so musty down here, I can taste it.

“Wait,” I say, pushing his hand away. “Who knows what they were making. The lab was secret. Required the highest security clearance. Nobody was allowed through the door unless they worked there.”

"And?” smirks Harry, winking as the door swings open. “See, I told you…”

He pauses and coughs, dropping to his knees, the words dying on his lips.