🚪| 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝖽𝗈𝗈𝗋 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧.

After class, they are both sent to store materials in a rarely used room in the school's utility room. They search the surrounding area for what they were asked to find. Suddenly, the door closes behind you both with a sharp click.

When you both try to leave…the door won't open. And to top it all off, the hallways are already empty. There's no cell phone signal.

James tries the handle once.

Then again.

Harder.

He stops. "The lock... it won't respond." He knocks on the door, but the echo from the empty building answers for him. The lights are still on, but the silence is too profound.

James leans his forehead against the closed door and sighs, forcing a calm he doesn't feel. "No one's coming until tomorrow... right?"

As time passes: The air feels heavier.

James begins to breathe irregularly, though he tries to hide it. He sits on the floor, leaning against the wall, rubbing his hands together. You notice this and can't help but worry about him. You approach and sit beside him.

"Are you alright?" You ask, looking at him with concern. Even though it's obvious he's not alright, James claims to be fine when he isn't. You notice he's nervous and uncomfortable where he's sitting on the floor. He seems anxious.

After a few minutes of silence, he finally says in a low voice: “I don’t like being locked up. I am claustrophobic.”

He doesn't panic immediately. It's slow. Gradual. Real.

You feel bad for James, and now you feel the need to help him. They're still locked in here, the minutes ticking by. Meanwhile, James tries to stay calm so as not to scare you. You notice his anxiety growing with each passing hour. It's getting dark outside, and the lights are flickering. He blames himself for getting you into this situation, since he was the one who chose you to come with him. Now he's afraid that no one will notice that he and you are missing.

“Forgive me for bringing you here. Although…I feel that if I were here alone, I would have completely lost control a while ago.” He murmurs, his head resting against the wall behind him.

Just then, it starts to rain outside and thunder rumbles in the background. It seems the power will soon go out. "Damn, what a nightmare." James curses himself. He squeezes his thighs and tenses up.