Sharp iron thorns shine in the dark, drawing nearer and nearer as the ceiling continues to move downward, or perhaps it is everything but the ceiling that continues to move upward. Either way, we’re in a life-threatening situation.
I hold my line of vision back from what’s on top and turn to the guy next to me. His yellow shirt is so bright that even a glance at it makes my eyes ache, yet I tell myself now is not the time to think about his inappropriate choice of clothing.
Just when I am about to talk, he forestalls my attempt by spitting out a full sentence first: “Victory is mine.”
“Why…” I want to interrupt, but his disdainful attitude make me swallow my words, which decompose and turn sour in my stomach.
“I refuse to listen. You will die and I will triumph. It’s simple as that.”
He takes a leap downward. My eyes follow his movement and see him landing perfectly onto a rectangular stone step beneath the one we originally stood on together. Then he continues to jump from one step to another, avoiding the ones made of iron thorns.
I know I must take action too, or the thorns on the ceiling will soon pierce hundreds of holes in my body. According to my estimation, the closest stone step is three meters below where I am. This is not good, but again I don’t have a choice.
A deep breath. A run-up. Then one, two…! I jump. Oh, God bless, it is a successful jump. I bend down on my knees to rest for a few seconds, and after that I move on, trying to catch up with the guy in yellow. Fear motivates me to keep track of my progress, so I begin counting, “Two, three, four, five…” Step after step.
When I re-encounter the man on my 32nd stone step, both of us are panting like dogs. I have this feeling mixed with relief and disappointment the minute I see him, for he’s still alive. The guy stares back at me with the same arrogant look he had earlier, so I suppose he isn’t pleased to see me again either.
As I turn around to look for my next stone step, through the corner of my eyes I notice a vicious smile spreading on the guy’s face. No. No. I turn back to defend myself but find it too late, for he runs toward me with a speed so fast that I have no time to react. He pushes me down the opposite side of the step, where no other steps are built underneath, and he jumps onto the one I planned to jump on.
”Ahhhhhhh!” I hear the man scream during my fall. Perhaps he’s landed on a step with thorns by accident, haha. What a fool. I’ve gone unconscious before I can have any further thoughts about his stupidity, nor am I able to smile with satisfaction in the end.