The Staircase to Floor 12
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I looked nervously at the number on the wall. Floor 12. It’s Floor 12 again.
I took a deep breath. Don’t lose your cool now. It’s probably just a joke. A cruel, unfunny joke.
I push the door open and pursed my lips as the familiar staircase loomed before me. With little else left to do, I started ascending the steps to the next floor.
As I climbed, I counted the steps carefully. 13 to each little landing, with 3 landings until the top. Handrails lined the right side of the stairway’s dark stony walls, and the lights from above shone brightly, ominously.
Once I got to the last step, I turned to the left, only to be greeted by a plaque with the words “Floor 12” embossed on it. The lights flickered as I stared, and a shiver ran through my body. I looked at the black door labeled “Exit” that loomed before me, and pushed it open.
It was the staircase again, with its snaking handrails and unfading lights.
Panicked, I ran up the stairs, hoping against hope that this was just a silly trick to scare those who dared take the stairs. 39 steps, 3 landings. I turned to the left, Floor 12. The lights flickered, and I gasped. I opened the door – the same staircase again.
I ran up once more, hoping this was the last time I saw that dreaded number. 39 steps, 3 landings, Floor 12, black door. The lights flickered as I pushed it open excitedly, and I immediately cried out in frustration.
It was the same staircase again, with its same handrails and its same lights.
Screaming, I turned to exit the door I came through, but it quickly slammed shut. I tried to push it, pull it, slam myself against it, but it wouldn’t budge, just like the last 10 times I tried.
Feeling defeated, I sunk to the floor, crying. What was happening? Was I stuck in some sick experiment? Was this all in my head? Will I ever be free from this? What did I ever do to deserve this? Sobs racked my body as I cried on the floor, freely, passionately.
After what seemed like a long while, I wiped away my tears and looked up at the staircase again. Maybe this was hell and this was my eternal punishment: to forever ascend a staircase that went nowhere.
I took a deep breath and shook my head. No, I refuse to believe it. It can’t be. There is a way out. There’s got to be.
Resolutely, I picked myself up and began to climb the staircase once more. 39 steps, 3 landings, Floor 12. The lights flickered as I stared at the door, determined. I will get out, I will get out.
I pushed the black door open.
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Image source: images.unsplash.com/photo-1499838542682-657cae71ab8e
First written January 6, 2018.
#97