Short Stories

Story 2 - The Doors

{ Based on a prompt I was given in Creative Writing }

" Two doors are in front of you. You choose one and return the same, choose the second and you come back different.

       Both doors lead to the same destination. Will you go through the first, second, or a third door? "

" I don't give a damn about your doors, I just wanna go home!" a young blond shouted, glancing around as if he'd be able to see where the voice was coming from.

He couldn't.

The room was white, and only he and the first two doors were inside it. They were identical, stark black with golden embellishments. They faced each other, and Jeremiah never knew which door was which. Not that he even cared at this point.

He had been here for God knows how long. He was hungry and exhausted.

He'd already been through both doors. You know where they led?

Back to this damned room. No matter how many times he went through, no matter how many patterns he tried. He hadn't even bothered with a third door, sure that it would lead right back to this room once again.

He was in some kind of unending cycle, a circle of doors and white rooms he just couldn't escape. He was so fucking sick of it.

The blond, after contemplating it for several moments, decided to humor this bodiless voice that kept talking to him.

" The third door," he murmured, standing.

" what was that?" the voice asked, a bemused lilt in it, as if whoever was speaking to him was having fun watching him suffer.

" show me the third door!" he shouted, becoming frustrated. He knew that damned voice could hear him. It could hear everything.

" very well"

There was a loud clanking sound, the grinding of gears echoing throughout the room as a hole opened up in the wall opposite Jeremiah, revealing a third door that looked exactly like the first two. He hesitated, before walking towards it with unsure feet. When he reached it, the blond wrenched the door open, frowning when he saw the pitch black room before him. Just like the others.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair before stepping into the darkness and letting only his instinct guide him. The door slammed behind him, but he didn't even flinch, walking straight into the void.

The walk was the longest of the three doors, but he didn't turn back, even if he was stuck here forever, he would rather die than go back to that white room.

As he continued, a tiny, tiny dot of light began to appear and grow. He was soon running towards it, only stopping when he felt a soft breeze drift into the void. He hesitated, but went on, and was soon able to hear the so familiar sounds of nature. Bird calls, leaves rustling. Hell, as he went further towards the light, he was even sure he could hear a waterfall. Soon enough he was running again, becoming more and more desperate. He didn't stop until he could see what lay beyond the darkness, the square of light now large enough for him to get through.

Jeremiah didn't hesitate to step through, he could see familiar trees and mountains in the distance. He was home.

Could it be? Was he home?

It was gorgeous, trees that looked identical to the one's on his uncle's farm, a waterfall just opposite of the hole he'd come from. It fell into a huge canyon, forming a river below. He stood for a moment, having to wipe tears of joy from his eyes at the sight. This had to be it. It had to. However, when he turned to look at the hole he'd come through, he realized what was wrong with this picture.

He had come out onto a small ledge, the cliff behind him too tall to climb. The ledge didn't have much greenery, and only two trees. It wouldn't be enough to live off of.

Jeremiah looked back at the small opening in the side of the cliff. He then looked down into the canyon below. The choice was easy.

He prepared himself, saying a soft prayer just above a whisper.

Then he took a running start, tears slipping down his cheeks.

Then he fucking soared.

{ critique is welcomed !}