Maki's POV
..It was a different hallway. Bedroom doors on one side, windows on the other. It looked as if it were a private hallway. I was no longer in the Louvre.. That much became obvious. The hallway was bright, clearly because of the chandeliers. But strangely, it felt as if it were nighttime rather than daylight.
I approached one of the windows and pushed back the floor-length crimson curtain. Innumerable stars flecked the midnight-blue sky. Like paint flecks on a canvas; it was a portrait of a laughing crescent moon. "..How can it be night?" I mumbled. I couldn't even discern what time it was. Pulling out my cellphone, the time read 2:20 p.m. exactly. But that couldn't be.
I checked my phone once more. 2:21. Then the window. Clouds were passing over the silver moon. But there must've been an explanation for this. There just had to be. My head felt as if it were spinning. I took a deep breath in attempts to calm myself but it only worked a little. "I'll retrace my steps. That's it." I mumbled. But when I turned around..
Everything was white, almost as if my entire world was gone. If I had thought my head was spinning before.. What's even going on?! I felt a sudden rush of air, someone was behind me. I could see nothing but shadow as it grabbed me by the arm and enveloped me in a dark embrace. "..Let go!" I fought against the shadow's hold, but nothing I could do would budge its grip. Fingers slid down my neck and pushed my hair aside, stopping just at my throat. "Let me have a drink." the voice whispered. "Stop!"
Suddenly, I was back in the hallway. Completely alone. Standing exactly where I had been not even a minute ago. Had any of that even been real? "..Just a waking dream." I attempted to rationalize. My pulse was racing within my chest. I wanted out of this place. Back to the musee, back to my hotel, back to Japan. Just- anywhere that wasn't here! Then it hit me. The door!
Quickly turning around, I saw it. To my relief, it was the exact same door that I had entered in at the Louvre. I placed my hand upon the cold handle and pulled. Nothing. I pushed. Nothing. It wasn't opening. "Come on.. Open!" I gritted my teeth, putting my shoulder into it. But nothing. No matter what I did, no matter what I tried. The door wouldn't budge. "What are you doing there?" I froze upon hearing a voice from behind me. "..Who's there?"