Jerry flipped the switch on which gave way to an extremely tight stairs down to the cellar. He could barely fit down the steps without moving his shoulders. He grasped onto the railing and took very deliberate steps down, one by one. He told himself that this would be the last he’d take these steps. He’d quit if it came to it.
The long hanging light swayed lightly over his head as Jerry peered into the cellar from the door’s small glass window. It was too dark to see and he remembered the switch for the cellar’s light was just on the other side of this door. He’d have to take the chance that whatever he’d been seeing around wouldn’t appear out of the darkness before he could turn the light on. He took a deep breath and opened the cellar door.
He kept his body in the light as much as possible as he stretched to find the light switch on the wall. Having found it, he flicked it on and stared into every corner for the monster. He breathed a sigh of relief; it was just the cellar. Jerry pushed open the door fully and strode inside. He scanned the lined walls of wine bottles for the year and destination he was looking for. Having found it, he pulled it from its cubby, and turned to leave. Jerry grabbed the door handheld and pulled the door open, but the door swung open with a force pushing him to the ground. He gripped the bottle tight to his chest protecting the wine that would definitely take his whole paycheck if it broke in his care.
His back hit the floor and the overhead light blinked out. He didn’t move. From outside the cellar door, Jerry heard rushed voices coming from up the stairs. Oh no, he thought. It’s them! It’s happening again. Jerry squeezed his eyes tight. When he opened them, his attention was drawn to the hanging light in the stairwell. Long, looming shadows danced around the concrete walls as one finally took the shape of something human. It grew in size and then shrank away below the door. Jerry heard screams, multiple screams, echo down the steps. The light blinked out. Jerry was in total darkness.
He had to make a decision. Was he just going to lay here and pray the monster doesn’t know he’s in here or was he going to run? A long moment passed and Jerry decided, he wasn’t going to just lie here.
Jerry scrambled up from the floor, but stopped when the light in the stairwell turned back on. The shadows were gone. This was his chance. Time to leave. He took a few steps forward and a dark shadow rose from the bottom of the window. Jerry knew right away: it was the Tinman.
Panicking, Jerry turned around in the single exit room and ran straight into a dark figure pushing him backwards again. He fell hard on his lower back and felt a great weight fall on top of him. He was pinned down. The wine bottle cracked and soaked his shirt and pants. Bye, bye paycheck.
Jerry could see just fragments from the small bits of light that swung from the stairwell light. The Tinman leaned in close. His breath was sour and Jerry could see his metal teeth filed down to points. He turned his head to the side as the Tinman came within centimeters of Jerry. Sniffing his cheek and around his face. His voice was a low growl and was sharp to the ear.
“You don’t have ancient blood in your veins,” he hissed. The Tinman pushed down closer to Jerry’s eye. “Why do I keep seeing you?” he asked. If only Jerry knew.
