Part 3 — The Crying in the Darkness
(Part 1) ➡️ https://storiesworld.us/archives/9855
(Part 2) ➡️ https://storiesworld.us/archives/9856
The crying echoed faintly through the tunnels.
Soft.
Broken.
Almost as if someone was trying desperately not to be heard.
Sean stopped walking immediately.
“Did you hear that?”
Eli’s face went pale.
He nodded.
The sound came again.
A woman.
At least it sounded like a woman.
Somewhere ahead.
Crying quietly in the darkness.
According to the story, Sean’s first instinct was to help.
Someone could be injured.
Lost.
Trapped.
But Eli immediately grabbed his arm.
“We’re leaving.”
Sean couldn’t believe it.
“What if someone needs help?”
Eli shook his head.
“No.”
The response sounded more frightened than angry.
The crying continued.
This time closer.
Not much closer.
Just enough to make both men notice.
Sean grabbed a flashlight and pointed it down the corridor.
Nothing.
Just brick walls disappearing into darkness.
The crying stopped.
For several seconds the tunnel became completely silent.
Then a voice spoke.
Very quietly.
Almost a whisper.
“Help me.”
Sean froze.
Every instinct told him someone was down there.
Someone frightened.
Someone alone.
Yet something about the voice felt wrong.
It wasn’t the words.
It was the distance.
The voice sounded close.
Much too close.
As if whoever spoke was standing just around the corner.
Yet there had been no footsteps.
No movement.
Nothing.
According to the story, Eli immediately turned around and started walking away.
Fast.
Not running.
But close.
Sean followed.
Behind them, the crying resumed.
Only now it sounded different.
Less human.
More like an imitation of crying than the real thing.
The farther they walked, the louder it became.
Soon it seemed to be following them through the maze.
Echoing from corridor to corridor.
Always behind them.
Never visible.
By the time they reached the staircase, both men were moving as fast as possible.
Neither looked back.
Neither stopped.
They emerged onto the street breathing heavily.
Only then did the sound finally stop.
Years later, Sean still claimed he never discovered what was making the noise beneath Portland.
And according to Eli, that was exactly why he never returned.
Because some mysteries are frightening.
But hearing something call for help in complete darkness—and never finding the source—is far worse.