Minutes had passed (or had it been hours?) since her lantern`s flame had guttered out, leaving her in complete darkness.
But still she ran blindly forward, fear spurring her on.
A million thoughts race through her mind as she sprints forward, praying to a god who she doesn`t even believe in.
She has to stop eventually, and she collapses against the wall when she`s forced to, breathing heavily, but as quietly as possible.
Her vision starts to distort as her sanity starts to flee, and she slides down the cold stone wall, wrapping her arms around herself.
She hears a noise, like... footsteps. Relatively quiet, shuffling footsteps.
She continues to catch her breath until the last possible minute, and then she runs again, terror spiking in her as she finally processes that she`ll never find her way out of here without light.
She stumbles into a door, and opens it quickly, sealing it behind her.
There are candles scattered about the room, luckily already lit, and oil sits in the corner.
She runs to it and fuels her lantern, not lighting it, but breathing a sigh of relief that she found oil.
She sighs, and relaxes, leaning against a wall, slumping forward, and just hanging there tiredly.
She sits, and rests against the wall, turning her head to the side, the chill of it a relief to her furiously burning cheek.
She must doze off, for when she opens her eyes the candles are all out, and she is in darkness yet again.
She lights her lantern, and as the light penetrates the darkness, she notices the figure standing in front of the door.
She knows what it is, and knows to run, or hide, but she can`t move.
She`s paralyzed by fear, and even as it shamble towards her, she can`t make herself move, although she`s panicking inside.
And then, only as it raises a hand, does she let loose a scared squeal.
Seconds later, and her screams reverberate throughout the pitch-black cellar.
And then, later, when another tired, scared victim happens across this room, they`ll find nothing but relit candles, and a burnt-out lantern.