Desperate Escape

Two teenage girls clung to each other as they stumbled down a dim, narrow hallway. It was so dark they could barely see a few feet ahead, and the slightest sounds had them nearly jumping out of their skin. The girls frantically looked from side to side, their eyes searching desperately for any sign of danger. The tall, brunette teen stepped forward, only to be met with a squelching noise that made her stomach flip.

"Oh, God," the teenager turned to the shorter blonde gripping her side. "Is...Is this blood?"

"Please, Len, let's just keep going. It doesn't matter if it was blood or piss, whatever. We have to get out of here!" The petite blonde exclaimed, a look of pure horror on her face.

"Yeah...You're right, Ana. Let's just move on, and try to stay calm."

"Pfft. Yeah, I'll try my best," scoffed Ana.

After that, the girls were quiet for a while, continuing down the dark passage until they came to an opening. It branched into a large, spacious area. It was better lit, with several lanterns dangling from the low ceiling, and with a quick glance around, the two friends could tell they had entered some kind of workshop. Various tools, all honed to peak sharpness and stained with a red, dried substance, lined the walls. Ana took in their surroundings, a shiver wracking her frame.

"Jesus, this is insane," she muttered.

Len sighed, "Come on, Ana. Let's just keep going."

"Yeah."

The girls were almost out of the room and into the next passageway, when a strange, rumbling sound emitted from nearby. The consistent buzzing came closer with each passing sound, and finally, realization dawned on Len.

"Is...Is that a chainsaw!?"

At the same moment, a huge, burly man burst through the wall behind them, revving chainsaw in tow. Wasting no time, he charged forward. The girls spun around and sprinted down the hall, both yelling, "Run!"

Len and Ana huffed onward, breath punching out of their lungs. Their assailant was still a ways behind; it seemed his imposing build and the chainsaw had slowed him a bit, but one tiny mistake could still spell death. Suddenly, Len heard a garbled yelp behind her. She glanced over her shoulder to see Ana collapsing to the cold, cement floor, terror plain on her oval face.

Immediately, Len turned, ready to help her friend. But Ana frantically shook her head, screeching a plea of, "No! Just go!" The man thundered ever closer, and although it deeply pained her, Len twirled back around and ran. Guilt clawed at her chest knowing she'd left her best friend behind, but Len charged forward regardless. When she'd just made it to a wood door, a blood curdling scream erupted from behind. Begrudgingly, Len looked back. The chainsaw man was still rushing down the hall, Ana's body lying motionless behind him.

A part of Len wanted to cry, but she knew Ana would want her to escape. She had to be strong and keep going. With a stilted gasp, Len threw the flimsy door open, and just like that, she was surrounded by crisp autumn air, the luminous moon shining above. Len leaned over and placed her clammy palms on her trembling knees, sucking air back into her lungs. The sound of the chainsaw faded and ground to a halt. About a minute later, Ana burst through the door wearing an exuberant smile. She jogged over, slinging a sweaty arm around Len.

"So, Babe, how was your first haunted house? Fun, right?"

"Um...Yeah. But, maybe a bit too much for me," Len chuckled.

"I can't believe you left me behind, though!" Ana snickered.

"I'm sorry, I felt really bad about it. But in my defense, you did tell me to keep going," reasoned Len.

"True enough. I can't argue with that, Babe." Ana pressed a gentle peck to Len's crimson cheek, and with a fond glance exchanged, the two girls walked into the night, hand-in-hand.