The Abandoned Building

The sun’s morning rays light the sky pink and blue above the awakening city. The birds chirp and cars begin scurrying over the bridge. Normally this would mark the beginning of a new day, but for us, it was the end. Looking over the city, I still remember every trip, here, to the abandoned building.

            “What’s the abandoned building?” I curiously ask. All of the guys’ faces drop, serious.
            “Oh! Y’all have never been to the abandoned building?” Hershell said with this goofy smile on his face, “We’re taking y’all to the abandoned building tonight.” So, Hershell, Sierra, Brittany, Dalton, Kendrick, and I all pile up in Dalton’s truck and head to Memphis.
            We come to this large, busted building and Dalton parks alongside it. We walk around it and have to climb up this half-wall to enter the first floor. Dalton and Kendrick go up first, then Sierra, followed by Brittany and I (with help from Hershell), and finally Hershell. We walk across this damp grass level to reach the opened garage door.
            The slowly setting sun’s light beamed through the windows, lighting the first floor of the building. It looks like a scene from a scary movie- mysterious cars and busted glass fills the room.  Every floor has its own surprise. Hidden rooms, mysterious objects, gargantuan columns, it seems as someone or something could pop out and get us at any moment.

            “Come on Heather,” everyone calls, “you have to keep going.”
            “Or you can just stay down there and let that guy I saw get you.” Hershell heartlessly yells as he continues climbing the fire escape. Everyone continues up, but me. I stand frozen at the second case of stairs. My extreme fear of heights prevents me from taking one step up. I know that I have to go, but I just can’t. I can see the light from Dalton’s phone going higher and higher, leaving me floors below, alone in the dark. Just when I begin to believe I would be stuck there all alone, I hear footsteps coming down the steps. It’s Dylan. The person I’ve known the least actually came back to help me. “It’s okay. Don’t tell anybody, but I’m afraid of heights too. We’ll make it up there together, okay?” he holds out his hand, wanting me to grab it. I slowly lift my hand and take his. We slowly crawl up the stairs together foot by foot, step by step.

            Dark. Nothing. That’s all I can see. The only light to guide all six of us is from Dalton’s phone. All crowded together, we slowly walk down the stairs into the basement. Total darkness. The phone only lights a mere few feet in front of us. Anyone in their right mind would have left, but none of us do. I feel like I’m in some scary movie, about to die from some monstrous creature or vicious killer. The whole time walking, I make sure to stay in between all of the guys, like that would do something, but it makes me feel a bit safer./Then the guys, Brittany, and Sierra decide that they want to explore the tiny rooms in the basement. It’s like their just asking to die or something. I’m too afraid to walk into the bizarre rooms, what if the doors fall close? I’m not going and Kendrick decides he doesn’t want to go in either, so we stay outside the doors. Now, we have no light and we’re both scared. Tall, strong Kendrick was actually scared, he grabs me and yanks me to his side, we both wrap our arms around each other and hold each other like babies.

            The sun sets and the city lights come on, lighting the darkness. The view is breath taking. Looking down upon the city gives me this sense of awe, and I think to myself “Wow, I did it. I made it to the top.” I’m so high up, it’s like I’m on top of the world, and nothing else matters. As the moon and stars come out, lighting the dark night sky, another journey begins.