Ominous clouds swarmed the sky as the wind howled in a mournful cry. The rain pounded and the wind whipped at the tightly bolted windows which held fast against the brewing storm. The air was moist with the smell of damp wood and rotting flesh.
It hadn't been long since this warehouse had been shut down and put out of use after discovering the decaying bodies of many, stashed away in a room below the cellar due to a terrible odour that just wouldn't disappear. Although the murderer hasn't been identified yet, the suspected candidates for the murder were all currently held in custody, even though many knew they definitely weren't the murderers.

I slowly dragged my rain sodden coat off and hung it on the rusty door knob of the warehouse. I had only just entered, and already, a feeling of eeriness crept up inside me, causing my stomach to knot in anticipation. "Better than nothing..." I muttered to myself as I glanced around the dark lobby, flicking my torch on and swinging it around. There were blistered lockers aligned across the torn walls, and a gaping hole a few metres ahead of me. Good thing I brought along a torch, or I would have most likely fallen right through it. I advanced a couple of steps forward to get a better look into the hole; the old and splintered floorboards creaking below me, warning to collapse at any moment. I pointed my torch towards the whole, but to my dismay, it was only a couple of centimeters in depth - nothing exciting. Just then, a loud thump overhead interrupted my disappointed sigh. I listened carefully, a brow raised as the same thud sounded a little further away. "There shouldn't be anyone in here", I muttered, panic sweeping through me with a strange, inticed curiosity edging me to venture further. I gripped onto my torch as I took a slow, steady step onto the stair and began ascending up to the higher level.

Thump

I heard it much clearer now as I neared one of the doors with '666'- carved near it's handle. "The devils number? Which idiotic kid thought this was a funny prank..?", I felt a cold dread sprout inside me as I lay my hand on the handle, retracting it at the icy touch. The whole level suddenly plunged into minus as my body shivered in an attempt to warm up, my mind puzzled at the sudden occurrence. I shook the worry out of my head, dismissing it as an act of nature, and drew in a cold breath before swiftly twisting the knob and forcing it open, ready to run at the sight of danger..

Nothing.

I looked around questionably at the room; no signs of intrusion, or life. A thick coat of dust had settled in, undisturbed. Strange. I took a few steps in, but immediately regretted it as the door slammed shut behind me, not budging despite my efforts at trying to pry it open.

Creak.

I stopped moving, my breaths coming out ragged as I strained my ears to listen to what was behind me.

Creak.

I knew I looked at the entire room - the chances of someone hiding here was very slim. There were no closets, nor cupboards, and certainly nothing to hide behind. So then... who is it? A strange, eerie whistle broke the silence, as I slowly turned around, trembling. There stood a boy, no older than my daughter, a smile plastered on his face and his eyes black with agony. My heartbeats quickened at the sight, as if trying to escape from what was to come. Strange though.. he looked familiar.

Thud.

"W-what are you?" I asked with a shaky voice.

It didn't reply.

Thud.

"What do you want?" I yelled louder.

The boy continued staring. Hunger, anger, terror embedded in his eyes. Yet.. He had a strange air of loss, of an expressionless face.

Thud.

I edged back, a pointless move however, only to press against the door. The boy opened his mouth, as if to cry out.

It was only in a matter of seconds.

Thud.

Only a few words. 

But enough to send terrors seizing me, like a trapped mice in the paws of a cat.

"Your soul".

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.

The boy reached out and grasped his hands around my throat, forcing me down onto my knees. I gasped, his grip tightening ever so slowly, my lungs burning for precious oxygen.

Thud.

My vision began to blur as my limbs drooped, and my eyes threatened to close.

The boy threw me across, onto the wall, causing my last few breaths to escape me as I gasped, and writhed in pain.

Thud.

As my deprived body slowly went limp, the boy uttered, with a hissing intake of breath, the last words I'd ever hear, the very words that decided my doom for eternity.

"Go join the rest in the depths of hell.
I won't be far behind"

The thudding stopped.