The apartment house had a communal attic rarely visited by its tenants. the labeled boxes and cast-off furniture offered little intrigue, so few explored its depths. then one rainy afternoon, i ventured there seeking solitude. roaming beyond the beams of the lone ceiling bulb, i spied only cobwebs until i rounded the corner of a hulking armoire. beyond this antique was unrelenting shadow, but i willed myself to advance. then a grim bellow of thunder resounded, sending me to the floor. prostrate on the splintered beams, my hands felt a shaft of cold steel and i could but imagine the evil article i’d encountered.
what technique does the author use to build suspense in the excerpt?
a the word choice darkens the tone.
b odd characters are introduced.
c the setting details are intentionally omitted.
d the outcome of events becomes uncertain.