My mouth went dry from the fear, but I some how managed to scream. My mind in total shock, I started to try and burrow my way out to the other side. But, as I soon realized to my horror there was no getting through. Standing back, I tried to regain my composure and took a few sharp deep breaths. I needed to calm myself, or I would be panicking for ages. I tried to think about any other route I could possibly take, but the darkness made everything seem strange and abnormal. It almost made me feel like I had stepped into a horror film. Alarmed I decided the best way was to continue going down the aisle until I reached the end and then I could chose an alternative path which hopefully would bring me back to where the stairs began. Walking down the aisle, my eyes began to get accustomed to the light, I could make out the outline of a gas lamp, and as I approached it I begged and pleaded with for it to work. I reached out, and grabbed it, being careful not to overturn any more stuff. As I did, a rat scurried out from underneath and headed straight towards my feet. Screaming, I side stepped out of the way, and tightened my grip on the light. I was not going to lose this in a hurry!
Calming myself down, I focused my attention on the light. Would it work? Would it stay alight for long enough? Deciding that I needed the light more now than later, I decided to turn the little switch that ignited it. It worked! My eyes squinted, trying to get accustomed to the new bright light that encircled the room and squeezed itself into every nook and cranny. It was such a relief to finally be able to see further than in front of my nose, I became inquisitive. Excited, I slowly swivelled around and noted everything I could see: A rocking horse from when I was little slowly rocked back and forth from where I had just hit it, its mane tangled and dusty. Books that I had forgotten I had in my possession called out to me, wanting me to open their pages and take part in their adventures. But then I noticed staring straight at me was the family portrait we had had done when I was little. Four sets of eyes stared at me unblinking as if absorbing all my secrets and knowledge. The photo showed my dad wearing a smart suit, my mum wearing a dress and her special earrings and necklace, my sister and I were both wearing jeans and grinning toothless at the camera man. Scared at the memories that seeped into my mind, I turned away and left the unblinking eyes at the back of my head. My main goal was to leave the cellar and return to the world I knew best.
A short while later, I still hadn’t reached the end, and starting to panic I realised that ahead of me was a brick wall. What was I going to do? Feeling tired, hungry and thirsty, I decided to try and break down one side of the wall. It was then I noticed something lying on the floor. It looked like a letter, and as I bent down to pick it up I knew almost instantly what it was. It was a letter from my mum just before she had died. The tears stabbed my eyes, forcing themselves to tumble out and roll down my cheek leaving their salty memento in the corner of my lips. It wasn’t fair, why was she taken away from me when I was so young, why didn’t I give her a chance after that argument we had had? Deciding that this was not the time or the place, I wiped my eyes dry with the end of my sleeve and let out all my pent anger on the wall to the side of me.
My hand slightly grazed and throbbing, I decided to walk down the aisle that ran directly to the outside wall. I started to desperately search for any means of escape, hopefully, there would be a window that I would be able to scramble out of.
All of a sudden, the light started flickering and then gave one last pathetic beam of light before going out. Frantically I tried to find out what the matter was, only to discover to my horror that the gas had run out. My patience wearing very thin, I decided to walk quicker, and to keep my eyes open for any sign of exit. To my relief, I noticed a window that was situated close to the top of the wall. I carefully quickened up my pace, watching out for any obstacles that may easily fall or hinder my quick escape. As I neared the window, I noticed a thin beam of light being cast down through the window and breathing a sigh of relief, I hastily began to find boxes that would withstand my weight.
Five minutes later, I had managed to pile three boxes on top of each other, and had reached the top of the pile. Struggling, I tried to wrench open the window but found to my utter horror that the window was jammed shut. Deciding that it was a matter of getting out now or trying to find another way, which could take ages, I grabbed the nearest thing possible. It was an old rusted candlestick, which I thought I had thrown away years ago. My heart pounding, I threw the candlestick as hard as I could possibly try at the window.
Smash! The glass shattered all over the lawn outside, the candlestick bouncing away and rolling under a nearby bush. I hurriedly scrambled out of the windows opening, being careful that I didn’t cut myself on the shards of glass that remained in the window. Breathing heavily, I passed over the freshly cut lawn, my bare feet getting tickled by the short strands of grass and crept up my front porch. Back in my house, I breathed a sigh of relief. I looked around at my familiar surroundings. I was safe.