As the door groaned open, a suffocating stench enveloped us. Inside, John flicked on his flashlight, casting an eerie glow.
The light suddenly fell upon a face!
A woman stood there, hair tangled, complexion ghostly, eyes screwed shut, as if she belonged to the realm of the dead.
My knees almost buckled, but John's firm grip kept me steady.
"Stay calm."
We edged closer to her cautiously.
Her eyes flew open all at once, and a startled gasp escaped me.
Instead of harming us, however, her gaze repeatedly shifted to the right, as if she wanted to tell us something.
Following her look, John's flashlight highlighted a cabinet. Inside, we found a box.
The woman made excited noises, though words failed her.
Just as we were about to unlock the box, her sounds morphed into panicked wails.
