This choice: They get off on that floor • Go Back...Chapter #5This isn't a Hallway... by: t. jay   David shrugged, "Might as well see where this leads."
Jake squinted. "It's the third floor, we already know what it looks like."
The seventeen year old grinned. "Yeah, but it's closer to my class, anyways."
Jake relaxed his expression. "Of course it is."
David gave him a cheeky grin before opening the doors.
The button glowed slightly, and as the elevator doors separated the boys braced themselves for disappointment. Instead of being greeted by the fluorescent hallway, though, the two were surprised to find that their destination was shrouded with darkness. It seemed smaller than the school's corridors, cramped even. The sounds of students mingling carried through to this room, although the voices were strangely muffled. David took a step back.
"This...isn't what I expected." He looked to Jake, worried etched in his friend's features.
"You and me both," he answered, unmoving.
David huffed. "So...this is the fourth floor?"
"I don't know - it sounds like the hallway's beyond this room or something."
The elevator doors began to shut again. Neither boy made a move to prevent it. David attempted to take the edge off the situation.
"Do you have the time?" He asked, and hesitantly Jake pulled out his watch.
"We still have 30 minutes until class ends," Jake said.
David sighed. "It's less for you, isn't it?"
Jake nodded.
"Damn - okay," he said shakily. The teen was beginning to have second thoughts about this floor. But it was too late to back out now. David took a step forward.
"Alright, then," David managed, straightening himself. "Let's go."
Jake gestured to the room with a hand. "After you, explorer."
David rolled his eyes. "Just call me Dora."
He walked out the elevator, and Jake hesitantly followed. As they waited for their eyes to adjust to the light, Jake pulled out his phone.
David whipped his head towards the light. "You had your phone the whole time?"
Jake shrugged. "Duh. Don't you always keep it on you?"
David didn't answer. Jake patted him on the shoulder. "Don't worry golden boy, you'll understand when you're older."
"I'm older than you."
"Yet you still keep your phone in your locker." He responded, searching the device for a particular app.
"Actually..." David said, glancing around, "I keep it in my backpack."
"Wow," Jake deadpanned. His eyes lit up, "Gotcha."
A beam of light shone from the back of the phone. "Flashlight!"
Jake grinned. "It's okay, no need to thank me."
"Good - 'cuz I wasn't."
The sophomore gave him an exaggerated pout, to which David snickered. Jake reset his face instantaneously.
'What?" He asked. David stifled a chuckle.
"Nothing - you're good," he dismissed. Jake held his stance for a moment longer before giving up to explore.
After a glance around, David was pretty certain they were in a storage closet. If the cardboard boxes and rows of shelves were anything to go by, this was probably recently moved into. Jake leaded the way, stopping occasionally to read the box labels or push things to the side.
"Has this always been here?" Jake asked, and David shrugged.
"Beats me. This is a faculty elevator. I never used it before."
"Kinda surprised it worked like the student ones."
David nodded his head in agreement. As he trailed behind his friend, a purple vial caught his eye on one of the shelves. It wasn't bubbling, he'd known enough about weird acting substances to stay away, but it reminded him of soda. The light wasn't quite hitting it though, half of it was shrouded in darkness.
"Hey Jake?"
"Yeah?"
"Could you shine the light a little to the left?"
Jake shrugged, complying with David's request. David left Jake's side temporarily to wean the vial off the shelf and into in his hands. The weight of the liquid sat comfortably in his hands. It felt like it was alive - beating, somehow. David stared as with the utmost care he sloshed the liquid. Jake noticed his friend was captivated by this vial and called out to him:
"Don't drink it!"
David scoffed. "I'm not twelve."
Jake shrugged. "Could've fooled me."
David ignored his friend's jests. Although, there was definitely something mesmerizing about the vial.
A light bulb went off in his head. Maybe he could bring this back with him? As Jake continued exploring, probably searching for the exit, David warmed up to the idea of bringing it. Sure, a supply closet was underwhelming compared to the rumors the school had about the fourth floor, but at least the freshman might be interested to find that there was something being hidden.
"Alright, we're done here." Jake said, rejoining his friend. "Still playing with the vial?"
David smirked. "It's evidence, Jake. The freshman were still right."
"Even though it was some closet?"
"Even though it turned out to be a closet without a light switch or second exit," David agreed.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night," Jake said, swiveling his body so the phone's light illuminated a path to the elevator. "What are you gonna do with that thing, anyways?"
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