"NO . . . NO," Emily said with more vigor. "Nate . . . THE DOOR."

Emily pointed over Nathan’s shoulder and toward the rear of the hallway. A faint green light was visible through a dust-veiled window, just enough to cast a perfect shadow into the blind hallway to the right. Nathan ceased his efforts to open the double doors, and instead turned his attention to Emily, who was steadily sinking toward the ground, her pointed finger still outstretched.

"Emily . . . Emily hang on," Nathan said as he hoisted Emily back to her feet and gave her head a small jolt. "Wake up Em . . . come on."

"I . . . I . . . " Emily said as she returned to reality. "Nate . . . the do . . . "

BANG!!! Another orb, this one a violent shade of turquoise, rocketed through the doors which Emily and Nathan had just passed. For a moment, it merely hovered and oscillated in a small horizontal circle, but then, it turned its attention to Emily and Nathan, and began looming toward them.

"We’re out of options . . . " Nathan said to Emily with finality. "Lead the way!!!"

The orb, appearing somehow to sense their intentions, intensified its circular oscillation and began glowing a bright red. Emily didn’t waste another second despite her weakened state. Every voice in her head was pleading with her to jump through the window and run for home. She waved her arm in the direction of the blind hallway and bolted, Nathan in hot pursuit.

They barely managed to clear the first right turn into the seldom used hallway before the orb streaked behind them through the window and out of sight. Another right turn and there it stood, looking just as it had the last time she had laid eyes on it - the infamous "Door to Nowhere" which Emily hoped was about to the become the "Door to Salvation".

Nathan pushed forward passed Emily...took hold of the rusted doorhandle and gave it a firm shove. Nothing. Another, desperate shove...nothing.

"Good Christ...NOT AGAIN!!!" Nathan screamed at the door as he continued to apply all of his will and strength into forcing it open.

As Nathan desperately continued to force the door into compliance, Emily...now in a near stupor...ambled forward and rested against the wall directly beside the door. She managed one, feeble wheeze before another orb appeared at the opposite end of the hall. Emily reared backwards into the wall and Nathan spun around on the spot...his body immediately assuming a defensive posture.

Instantly, the orb zipped forward and seemed to shoot straight through Nathan’s midriff. Nathan howled in agony and fell sideways into the wall as the orb began a rapid-fire orbit of his entire body from top to bottom. Emily screamed in mortal terror as yet another orb suddenly appeared from the floor and joined in the attack on Nathan...who’s arms were now wailing about in an attempt at fending off his un-earthly opponents.

Emily...screaming and crying in utter confusion and desperation...took hold of the doorhandle and herself began to shove her weight into it in a mad attempt at flight. As she did she, she continued to watch helplessly as the two orbs continued to encircled Nathan despite his attempts at fighting back. Emily shoved...and shoved....but the wooden door simply would not budge an inch.

Then...in a macabre finale...Nathan’s feet abruptly left floor, and he was hurled upwards into the ceiling. He hit with such force that his head actually left a small indentation in the decades old plaster. After two additional violent thrusts...this time into the wall rather than the ceiling...Nathan’s body collapsed to the floor and went totally limp.

Emily again screamed, the site of Nathan’s crumpled body and bleeding head finally sending her mind over the edge. With all of her senses now taking their leave, she once more thrust her body towards the door...only to find that it was no longer closed.

All of a sudden, she was seized by the sensation of spiraling downward. The dull, blue tint of the two orbs faded to a pinpoint...and then vanished into another sea of blackness.