End of the Pit and the Pendulum

As the walls were closing in on me, I realized there was only one way to go, and that was down.  As the walls drew nearer, I noticed that there was a small crack underneath some portions.  I knew what I had to do, I jumped down into the pit as the walls singed the edge of my cloak, and I grabbed onto the edge where I saw the fissure in the wall.  It took all my strength and I was only holding onto the edge with only one hand.  As soon as they had started moving, the walls retracted.  I saw a small crack of light at one end of the room, and I made a dash for it, since it was as dark as night, the guard could not see me.  He bellowed loudly, "No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!"  He obviously say my torn cloak on the ground.  I made my way through a series of twists and turns and I ended up outside.  I was free! I dashed into the woods and moments later I heard the trampling of hooves, and then I fell asleep.  I woke in a bed looking up at a thatch roof, as I turned my head I saw my rescuer, a woman in her forties.  I had escaped the Spanish Inquisition!