After a while, Nadine knew she had to go to her father's office downstairs to tell him the updates. Lena entered her office to give her another bunch of reports she needed. She gathered everything tightly between her hands and stood up.
She took a deep breath and went directly to the stairs to head to her father's office. Her feet were hurting her from wearing the heels, she hated them. She took her time going downstairs. She wanted to focus her feelings on the pain rather than on her overwhelming anxiety.
The clicking sound of her heels echoed in her ears like her heartbeat; unsteady, yet strong. Her eyes focused on her feet. The stairs seemed infinite. She looked up at the floor she was on. It was on the ninth floor. "What?!" she said.
She looked around, confused. She went down again, yet this time her eyes were right at the end of the stairs. Her eyes widened and her breath stopped for a long second. The number beside the door was nine. "What the hell?!" she said, whispering.
She couldn't believe her eyes. She put the papers she was holding on the last step of the stairs closed her eyes tightly and inhaled a deep breath. "Don't freak out." She expected the usual two floors down—no more, no less. But with each step, the stairs refused to end. They spiraled downward endlessly, coiling like a serpent beneath her, floor numbers vanishing into a white blur. The hum of lights faded, replaced by a wind that didn't belong indoors—cool, but not from the AC. It carried the scent of blooming lotus, thick and haunting, as if time itself exhaled a forgotten memory. "I'm okay.... I'm not dreaming."
She grabbed the papers and went down yet again, her eyes slightly closed and focused on her feet, when she reached the last step before the next floor door, she shut her eyes once and raised her head, slowly she opened her eyes and saw the number beside the door. "Nine!" she said and sneered. "Someone must have changed all the numbers to nine."
She rolled her eyes and held the doorknob. Nadine decided to take the elevator to get to her father's office faster. Anxiety was taking over her. She opened the door harshly and stepped inside in a fast irrevocable move.
The door opened to an empty hall. The floor was awfully quiet. Each floor in the building was identical, and all halls ended with the emergency stairs mostly crowded with photocopiers and employees. Nadine looked around as she walked down the long hall. It was empty, with everything looking unused, and the floor felt cold and abandoned. The scent was long gone.
The end of hall ends with the beginning of the enormous floor that is mostly filled with a number of desks occupied by busy employees, yet the one Nadine walked in was empty. No one else but her. "Hello?" her voice reverberated loudly. "Where is everyone?!"
Heavy footsteps lightly stomp the floor. She cocked her head back as the noise coming from the hallway behind her crept into her ears. She scanned the empty hallway with her eyes, trying to locate the noise's source. Even though it was coming closer, nothing embodied it. Whatever was making these noises appeared to be moving slowly in her direction.
Along with the pounding of the steps, she could feel her heart thumping quickly. She felt a gusty breeze penetrate her body and awaken all her senses. For a split second, the air was gone, and her heart halted. Every inch of her was drenched in the breeze as if something had gone right through her.
As the footsteps moved, Nadine's breath was forced back into her lungs. "Our women inherit the key for a reason," Nadine heard an elderly woman's voice suddenly resound in her ears, along with some heavy, angrier-sounding footsteps. "That's what we get for raising a frivolous boy."
From the opposite end of the hallway, more footsteps followed Nadine. "Stop saying that, mother, he is your grandson," a second female voice stated. "He must have a reason for using the key."
The distance between Nadine and the two distinct footsteps increased. She didn't hesitate and followed the sounds. "A reason! He let living souls get in! You must be blind to the mess we are in. They summoned us, the oracle won't let it go easily." the older voice said.
"Yes, mother, but there must be a good reason. He would never put us in danger." To follow the two female voices, Nadine continued to move between the desks. The older voice said something, but Nadine couldn't hear it.
She was in front of a door to an office. She could clearly hear the two voices inside fighting. They spoke one name loudly and clearly enough for her to hear despite the door blocking her ability to hear any other words. She got curious, grabbing the doorknob and jerkily flung it open.