we're almost there, I just know it!

Maggie's ragged breathing seemed to boom in the quiet of the slaughterhouse. The girl beside her hardly made a sound as she lead Maggie through the labyrinth hallways. As she rounded a corner, Maggie spotted a door that's cracked open. "You don't want to look—" the girl tried to warn her.

Maggie peered inside and spotted a metal table, coated in thick, red blood. She backed up, the words KILL ROOM swimming before her eyes. "Oh, no way." She whimpered.

The blonde grabbed her arm and kept going. Heading down a different hallway, she heard the creaking of one of the doors opening. "Shit." She heard the girl whisper.

Maggie turned, terrified of the answer. A large, drooling, rabies-infested dog walked out and snarled at Maggie. She tensed, not sure what the dog would do. With a tearing growl, it shot towards her. "Run!" her companion screamed, shoving Maggie forward with all her strength. Maggie took off, the blonde and the dog right at her heels. Seeing an open door, she flew through it "Hurry!" she yelled at the girl, who was limping/running from the beast. As soon as she made it past the threshold, Maggie tried to slam the door behind her, but a pipe fell in the way, making it impossible. The dog stuck its muzzle into the opening, snapping at Maggie's fingers. She snatched at the pipe, all the while trying to keep the savage dog out.

"Here, let me." The girl wheezed, snatching at the pipe and yanking it out while Maggie slammed the door with all her might, shutting out the snarling dog on the other side. Maggie leaned against the door, breathing heavy. "We gotta keep moving. We're almost there." The girl gasped, offering Maggie her hand. With a sigh, Maggie grasped the scarred hand, letting the blonde tug her to her tired feet. Not letting go, the girl continued to guide her. Maggie realized that they'd stumbled into the slaughterhouse.

It was almost pitch black; strange shapes reached out for her in the gloom. As quiet as possible, they crept through the darkness. Maggie was extremely grateful for the girl beside her; it felt good to have a hand to cling to in the pressing darkness.

With a whir, the machines suddenly turned on, sending rotten, pig carcasses swinging at the women from all different directions. With her hands over her head, Maggie shrieked and ran as fast as she could, getting rammed by 60lb pigs as she went.

She'd almost made it out of the slaughterhouse, when her foot caught on something and she tumbled to the ground. Looking behind her, a face stared right back. Maggie screamed, scuttling back like a crab. he The old man's head lolled to its side, its dead eyes followed her as she got back to her feet. "Please. I just—no! No!"

"Come on, don't stop now, we're almost there!" the girl shouted over the machines, once again dragging a stricken Maggie to her feet.

Maggie spots the beautiful words EXIT glowing in red above a closed door. She sprinted as fast as she could, not hearing the girl's cries of "WAIT!"

She yanked open the door and fell down a flight of steep stairs, landing painfully on her side. Her eyes fluttered; she was in and out for a second. "Damn it, why do they never listen to me!" she heard someone grumble. The blood was brushed out of her face—she must've hit her head on the way down.

Suddenly, a feeling of lightness came over Maggie, making her eyes swim and her head hurt. After watching the ground pass by for a few moments, she realized the girl had swept her up into a fireman's carry, and was stumbling the rest of the way toward the light shining in the darkness.

Sitting in the light was her shoes, looking perfect and protective. "Grab your shoes." The girl groaned as she bent her knees slowly. Maggie grabbed them and was lifted again; they'd almost reached the exit. All around them were piles and piles of shoes. There must've been at least 50, maybe more. The door was wide open. Sunshine caressed Maggie's dirty face. Almost a foot away, the door began to swing closed with the finality of a tolling bell. "NO!" wailed the blonde as the doors slammed shut in their face. They both fell in a heap on the concrete. As soon as they closed, the hiss of gas began to fill the air.

"Not fair." Maggie groaned, her eyes falling shut, but not before she heard the hoarse whisper.

"I'm sorry."

so sad!

BTW: our mysterious blonde girl say "I'm sorry" (if you didn't know)