Did You Know?

City under the Shadows


City under the Shadows
As Anna drove through one increasingly deserted village after another, she thought she would never reach her destination. Beside her, in the front seat, Andrew was unfolding a paper map because the navigation had broken off somewhere halfway. It was approaching seven o'clock in the evening, the sky was dimming and the lights of the cars glanced off the low walls of the cemetery they were passing. There was apparently only one road leading to the town they had read about on the internet. They were told not to stop until they saw the old iron gates. As they passed a crooked sign with the name 'Rosenheim', the car engine gently trembled. Anna's eyes widened, Andrew tightened his hands on the map. Emptiness - no people, no lights, just rows of grey, squat buildings whose windows resembled empty eye sockets. - 'Are you sure you want to stay here for the night? - Andrew asked, in a voice that echoed with doubt. - We have to find that underground entrance. After all, that's why we came,' Anna replied, although her voice was breaking. They found a small guesthouse, where faded curtains hung in the windows. There was silence inside, as if time had stopped many years ago. They decided to leave the car against the wall and set off on foot - they were looking for signs of an underground route that supposedly led to the city centre, under the market square. Each step echoed off the walls of the empty houses. Shadows lengthened and shifted beneath their feet. Suddenly Anna stopped at an old well. The metal cover was covered with rust, but handprints were visible. Andrew knelt down and lifted the lid. A cold breeze gushed from inside, and a rhythmic, quiet sound came from below - as if someone, or something, was moving deep underground. They looked at each other in silence. They knew this was a moment from which there would be no turning back. Anna pulled out her torch, and Andrew trembled in the light of its beam. Together they took a deep breath, grasped the edge of the well and began to descend the ladder into the depths. When they were far from the surface, the torchlight danced on the walls of the narrow corridor, revealing strange symbols and imprinted hands. The sound from below became clearer and clearer. Suddenly, a whisper came from the depths of the tunnel - someone, or something, was waiting for them....


Author of this ending:

Age category: 18+ years
Publication date:
Times read: 31
Endings: 2
Category:
Available in:

Write your own ending and share it with the world.  What Happens Next?

Only logged-in heroes can write their own ending to this tale...


Share this story

Curious What Happens Next? Here's What Others Wrote!