An airshaft was built into the two bedrooms.

You could open an airshaft window

but when you did, a blast of cold air would greet you. The airshaft was topped by a
small, slanted skylight. The design of the airshaft was supposed to let light into the
bedrooms but because of the heavy glass, iron fencing, and dirt, it did not let the light
pass through. The openings had dust, soot and cobwebs. No air would come in but
when rain and snow could seep through it.
It was a horrible invention. You can hear everyones voices. And there would
always be a danger of fire. In the bottom of the airshaft, which was not supposed to be
reached by man, people would throw things that they didnt want in their lives anymore
such as razor blades and bloody cloths.
Francie, looked down the airshaft, it reminded her about what the priest told her
about purgatory. When she went into the parlor, she passed by the bedroom and
shuddered with her eyes shut.