No Exit Signs

No Exit Signs

Seemingly just another day of mundane noises and routine for James—office and home—that’s the fixed pattern for him. Yet, unbeknownst to him, the very place where he works day and night, a stray exit which seems normal will be going to be one of the fatal exits of the life of James.

A fine Monday morning in his workplace, the office smelling like coffee and stale toner. James was just working on his desk, completely in his work when the fire-alarm started to ring violently. Being utterly clueless about what has happened, suddenly he saw a large surging wave of fire in front of him and he panicked his way to the stray exit along with other staff members. They were all pacing down the stairs to the exit which more or less was useless and no one till now knows what is down there.

James was inside the exit door and he began to hunt for that door which could ultimately lead him outside. But it seems that fate had other plans for our James. James wandered aimlessly around the platform and he realized one thing—the platform was a geometric lie, like a trap intentionally set by a wolf in a lamb’s clothing. But apparently, he doesn’t know who is the wolf amidst them.

The atmosphere was quite suffocating, as the paranoia really started to settle in his mind. The air was really thick from the fear and palpitation of James and he is clueless right now. "How strangely disposed time is," articulated James. "Indeed it is peculiar to note that other exits were blocked by that orange predator," replied Nathan. "Most of us are flabbergasted because this orange predator surged out of nowhere like an outswinger in the middle of a test match," replied back James.

"Something is not right here, either this stray exit is hiding an insalubrious secret which is yet to be unveiled or it is just a portal to death," muttered James, as some of his co-workers died in the exit, but the peculiarity in the fact that their deaths were so insidious that no one yet knows how they died. This specific thought made him feel more insecure, and the fact that when the bodies were found, it was around a time during a solar eclipse, and today a solar eclipse is going to occur. The air smelt like terror and all of a sudden, the external noises of other panic-struck people dipped, as for James, the only noise truly audible is the rhythmic tap of his fingers on the metal rod of the staircase, the only though raging in his mind is the eccentric repetition of a pattern, the fire, which also had occured during the last solar eclipse, resulting in the death of his co-workers.

A deep paranoia began to settle in the insight of James, as he can finally connect the dots which were sitting in his mind for a quite long period of time. "Hey James, are you okay man?" asked Nathan. "You were lost in a world of doubts or what?" enquired Nathan. "Nothing, brother, I was thinking of our way out," replied back James and then again the rumpus resumed, and everyone started to move wildly like a whirlwind.

Everyone then started to move frantically in a meander, some running down the stairs, some back to the door, and some people are watching the nuisance unfold sagaciously. This whirlwind continued for quite a few minutes. While on one hand, everyone moved in a frenzy, on the other hand, a salient contrast came in the view of James: Nathan was unusually calm and composed, like not just calm, but precariously composed framing just the opposite picture of the ruck.

The group finally calmed down and gathered to form one unit. "What is wrong here in this platform?!" enclaimed Cole. "We would not had been stuck here if we took that exit by the staircase in the first place," articulated Adam. Now the scenes were such that all fell prey to the orange predator. "The fire forced us to take this exit like a defender forcing a striker to the sidelines," explained Leo. "The solar eclipse has already started," sighed Jacob.

James just felt a huge shock in his riis as if he has been hit by a 140km/hr bouncer on his chest. He knows what is going to happen next because he already noticed something no pair of eyes has noticed. Jordan’s body, sprawled just a distance away, as if he has been hunted down by a pack of hounds. Blood drizzling from his body, it is a primitive display of a ruthlessly done murder lacking even the rudimentary sense of mercy, carried out with a sadistic desire. "GUYS, BE CAREFUL, JORDAN IS NO MORE".

The group startled and they were shocked to see such an offense in front of their eyes. The women started to shout in the dismay of the murder which stood as a perfect example of wrath in death and envy afterwards. The unit became renascent and now the only way out is collaboration. "That was a repugnant murder," added Nathan cynically.

"Alright guys, listen up!" commanded James with the frequency of a leader. "We have to be a single unit and continue our expedition. If there is a way in, there is surely a way out," motivated James. "We need to measure each step and make sure, especially the tail-end, to not fumble at any cost, or else you will be hunted. Any mistake, let it be the most subtle one also, will lead you to the portal of death," commanded James.

James took the lead and ordered to assemble. "Wouldn't it be better if we split?" suggested Nathan, hiding his own demonic smile. "It will be equivalent to carrying coals to Newcastle," replied James. "Your reason of this question is gratuitous," snapped Nathan. James silently grasped his hand and placed him amidst the group, at the tail-end, a silent gesture resembling pure dominance. "Don't be so much engulfed in pride, James," intervened Nathan. James silently gestured everyone to follow him.

The paranoid chill is biting through every person’s skin in the platform, the rhythmic tap of their foot is the only audible noise. Terror seized every single brain, every step, a deliberate tap which is screaming 'let me go' and every ushering a blind hope in the spirits of the group. The unusual calmness of Nathan, the tranquility of that person who used to get angry so often, is really precarious—and alarming—for James, as it portrays a sharp contrast between the group and Nathan. The fact that Nathan is the only person who is tranquil among the vociferous crowd, is making James feel a peculiar suspicion about Nathan. "Silence is never his element, I don't know why his silence is making me feel his intentions are going to be pernicious," articulated James as he is walking by.

As everyone were walking down the pavement, Miller dropped his phone by mistake, he lagged behind. As he went to pick it up, he only felt a warm breath on his neck, and at the next instance, a 'loud slash' was heard. Everyone stopped dead on their tracks and looked behind, only to find a be-headed Miller, dying on the floor with blood flowing out like a fountain with a hundred sprouts. Everyone were silently dismayed by the horrid sight in front of their eyes. "The eclipse strengthened him," said Jacob. "It's the evil's day, Jacob. What do you except? peace?!" replied Cole.

"He is punishing for even the subtle mistakes," said James. Meanwhile Nathan's composure now has started to feel eccentric for James. Their eyes met, for a fraction of second, but James noticed a demonic lustre in his eyes. As James was about to turn, he noticed a note written with blood which read; "Who's next?" James went pale, and Nathan just smirked.

They decided to move on, the tension thick enough to be sliced by a knife. The demeanour of Nathan, the sudden eccentric change in his nature, is now haunting James. He is now leading, but a feeling that the walls are watching them, or the winds whispering down his neck. It seems to James that every non-living components are watching their steps, unfolding terror in tranquility.

Moises, forming the tail-end of the group suddenly felt a cramp, and what followed was just the loud cry of Moises piercing down the corridor. Everyone, in their terror-struck mind decided to continue moving. They thought ignorance would be the solution, but it was a mere illusion. Some distance later, again, a sharp cry was heard. This time, they turned and what they see traumatized them from head to foot.

They saw Moises and William, stacked over one another, an example of a statement without words. Blood flowing out gushing out, it seems that it is the evil's eminent, a murderous slumber. "Eclipse is still on," rasped Cole, "so is our doomed fate" added James. Nathan didn't add any comment, he was too quiet. This silence ain't a normal one, it is that silence that follows after a pernicious act.

Nathan deftly rubbed off little bit of blood from his sleeve, and James eyes caught him mid-act. The reality hit James like a perfectly timed yorker, but he was unsure whether it is Nathan, or someone else, for Nathan had a cut on his forearm, and it could be possible that he was rubbing that blood. Anything can be possible, yet James sagaciously continued walking.

The group continued to walk, so is James. According to him, our mind is a whirlwind of thoughts. The murmurs of the people are still on, opinions which are rather a man's own thoughts are being exchanged. They are still going, hoping for an exit. "Are we trying to fathome an unfathomable sea?" asked Cole. "If not an unfathomable sea, maybe we are on an unmeasurable land" replied James. The whispers, however, were slowly starting to die, as if a sudden realisation struck them.

The silence followed, but James felt eccentric. He turned, and the truth is standing right in front of him. A massacre, a river for the evil to bath in, and there, some distance away, the silhouette of Nathan is sprawling over the dead. The truth is now unequivocal to James, he has to fight a fiendish Nathan.

Nathan approached, like an apex predator to its prey who has nowhere to run to. But if your prey is a porcupine, you have to be careful. They are now face to face, a silent confrontation, shattering as Nathan spoke up: "Really James, you thought a herd can save you, I cannot believe your common sense. You are trying to avert an end which is purposed by the mighty gods" rasped Nathan.

"You monstrous visage, the almighty is not standing by you, he is standing against you. The evil's demise occurs when it is at its apex!" exclaimed James. Nathan struck a jab at James' bicep. James held his bicep, the blood overflowing. "Disarm to defeat," James muttered and in the next second, he swept his feet, a kick, a fall. James immediately tore a piece of cloth and tied it against his wound. Now, the undeniable truth stands, and James, of course, is unerring of the truth.

The dagger was a few feet away from Nathan. He goes to pick it up, but James lands a crushing punch on his scapula. Nathan screams and James plant another one on his back. Nathan falls, but he deftly trips James and landed a punch on his ribcage when he was mid fall. Nathan gets up, and grabs James by his collar and plants another blow on his collarbone. James is down once again. "The eclipse is his catalyst but the almighty is with me" whispered James.

James is back on his feet and now its do-or-die. James immediately punches Nathan on his jaw, and then lands a whacking blow on his face, followed by a couple of kicks, and some hooks to make short work of him. Nathan finally falls, but not ready to yield. He trips James and starts to land continuous blows on his ribcage.

James, acquiring all his might and power, plants one last brawny blow on Nathan's jaw. Nathan, on ground, utterly powerless, humbled, and finally demised. "You really think you got over me?" enquired Nathan. James draws out his revolver, "I fight fair, and people like you don't deserve to live" said James and shot Nathan. James then ran to the exit door, hoping to be free, only to find a dark room, and a sign lightened by fluroscent lights which read it was just a sign, and James disappeared in the darkness.