1.
The louvre, Paris
22.30 Pm.
"Damn it !" she muttered as the stupid hair pin got stuck in the key hole once again. For the past twenty minutes she had been trying to unlock the door.
Three hours, three BLOODY hours, she had been stuck in this stupid toilet cabin! Yes, she was going to kill Fanny when she got out of here. If you get out of here. Her conscience mocked her. Biting her lip, she shook her head. Of course she was going to get out of here. Keep telling yourself that and maybe you will start believing it.
She ignored her negative thoughts and continued turning the hair pin in different directions, hoping to hear the CLICK as the door opened.
Flashback
Hastily, Ellen opened the door to the toilets. Breathing heavily, she leaned against the door. Finally, safe. At least, she thought so.
Quickly approaching footsteps made her duck into one of the cabins and close the door. Wait a sec, where is the key? She panicked, noticing the empty keyhole. Oh god. What to do, what to do? She stepped on the toilet, hoping Fanny would think no one was inside this cabin, and would continue looking for her somewhere else.
Holding her breath, Ellen heard the door open once again. Glancing at the slight opening under her closed door, she saw the black leather boots. Black spots started to dance in front of her eyes as she tried to breathe as silent as possible. It was as she feared, Fanny had found her.
"I know your here somewhere, red." The low female voice sounded cold and mocking. "You can run, but you can't hide."
Thump Thump, Ellen watched the boots as they took several steps forward. "I know you're in there." Fanny chuckled, a sound that made the hairs on Ellen's neck stand on end.
"You didn't give me the money, little girl. And I don't like waiting."
Pushing herself completely against the wall, she watched in horror as Fanny approached the door once again, scraping her nails against the wooden surface as she went.
"But I'm a forgiving person so I'll give you another chance. Bring me the money next Friday or I'll come and find you again. And then I won't be as forgiving as I am today." Ellen heard a slight "click" as Fanny distanced herself from the cabin. "Let this be a warning for you." Fanny cackled and a moment later there was another "Thump." signalling that Fanny had left the toilets.
Ellen frowned. What had she meant by, "Let this be a warning."? Calming herself down, she went to open the door, it wouldn't move.
"What the,...?" She pushed the handle again, it didn't budge. Panicking slightly, she tried it again, this time throwing her weight against the door. Nothing.
She gasped as realisation struck her, Fanny had locked the door! Looking at her watch, she noticed they would soon close the museum. At that moment, the lights went out.
Fear gripped her and she started yelling; "HELP, HELP, anyone, PLEASE HELP"
No reaction. Oh god. This couldn't be happening. "HELP ME, PLEASE. I AM STUCK IN HERE."
Still nothing.
She sighed in frustration. "CAN ANYONE HEAR ME ?" "HELLO ?"
End flashback.
She was just about to give up, when she heard it. The freeing CLICK, at last, the door was unlocked.
A sigh of relief escaped her as she opened the door and stepped into the dark room that was the ladies room. The happy feeling quickly vanished, it was pitch dark in here. She couldn't see a thing. Panic struck her once again as she fought to control her breath. It wouldn't do any good to start hyperventilating right now. Carefully, she took a step forward, stretching her arms in front of her, trying to find a wall, anything she could grip.
Finally reaching the hard surface, Ellen felt her way to the door and opened it, entering the long dark corridors of the Louvre. She swallowed. The place looked pretty creepy at night. She waited a few minutes until her eyes got used to the darkness before starting to walk. The faces of the paintings looked dark and sombre, their eyes staring emotionless at her.
She shivered, thump thump thump. Her pulse was racing. What should she do now ? She hadn't got her mobile with her,...maybe there still was someone in the building. There must be guards somewhere, no ?
With renewed hope, she started walking a bit faster., reaching the end of the corridor and turning left.
That's when she heard it.
A cold threatening voice; "Don't move !"