“Hey!” Jack ran down the hall and pushed up against the door. Metal and solid, it didn't budge and it had no handle.
“What the hell was that?” Mekel asked as he picked up the broken flashlight. “What the hell is going on?”
“I knew there's still a wild animal here.” Jack hit the door with his fists. “I think it just took Loyd.”
“I'll go get the officer.” Mekel turned around and rushed to the front doors.
“What the hell is wrong with this door?” Jack said, “It's like something is blocking it. It was just open. I saw it.”
Walking up, Ren held his flashlight up to put more light on the door. Old and rusty, it had large welded rivets popping out along the edges and it's middle part was covered with ornate markings, scratched meticulously into the surface that shimmered in the light. At the top of the door were three large metal circles that had similar ornate markings around their circumference. The large circles formed a triangle shape; with two circles next to each other on the bottom and one circle on top.
“What is this?” Jack asked. “Doesn't this door lead into the garage area?”
Ren shrugged his shoulders as he looked upon the strange markings.
Mekel came around the corner looking distraught. “You're not going to believe me,” He said. “But the front doors are locked.”
Chapter 8
The three men stood at the front doors and Jack tried to contemplate what was happening. He pushed up against the doors, making them budge just enough for a small crack to appear between them, which allowed him to peer outside and see that the chains were wrapped tightly around the handles on the outside.
“You don't think that the police officer did this?” Mekel said, nervously tapping his chin.
“I don't know anything about this.” Ren's eyes darted around and his hands shook. “I just work for the police as animal control. There's gotta be someone else out there.”
“Who knows who did this. Maybe someone else is here.” Jack grit his teeth for a moment and closed his eyes. The wind pushed against the doors and rattled the chains.
After a deep breath Jack spoke. “We need to get that large metal door down the hall open and rescue Loyd from whatever, or whoever, dragged him through it and then get the hell out of here.”
Jack looked around for something large enough to break open a door, but small enough to wield. Mekel instead went down the hallway and stood at the tall door, carefully examining the runes etched into it and the three mysterious circles at top.
In the trash buckets, Jack found nothing but broken pieces of drywall, wood, and carpet; nothing strong enough to pry open the door. I need a long piece of metal like a pipe or something, Jack thought.
“This is some sort of writing that I've seen before!” Mekel bursted with excitement from the hallway.
Jack walked over, surprised at the sudden fervor.
“See these symbols,” Mekel continued, “these are similar to a story I once covered about a witch coven. These larger circles on top, you have to point the right symbols towards the center of the triangle to unlock it, kind of like a combination lock.”
“Okay?” Jack said with some confusion in his voice. “Do you know the combination?”
Mekel's shoulders dropped. “Sadly no.”
“Damn it, that young kid is probably hurt and we need to get in there now!” Jack yelled, pointing his finger at the door. “Now help me find something we can bash it down with.”
“I know, I know.” Mekel said as he put his hands up. “From what I can remember these witches loved the phases of the moon and the stars. So maybe we can look at that.”
Mekel moved his finger across the the symbols on the door. Each one was a tiny picture of something. “See here,” he said, “These are the phases of the moon, along the left side. It seems each one of these lines tells some sort of story or maybe an event.”
“Tonight is a full moon.” Jack said.
Both Mekel and Jack saw it and quickly pointed at the full moon symbol on the left, beginning a line.
“Here it is!” Mekel's hands shook in front of him. “Okay, okay, let's see here. A full moon, then, I guess that looks like clouds, probably the clouds over us right now, then, I don't know what that is, some sort of creature, then a chalice with a line through it.” Mekel hesitated for a moment, wiping the sweat from his brow. “Then there's an octopus, then a dagger and finally a skull.”
“Okay, so what's the combination?” Jack looked sternly at Mekel.
“Look at the three circles. Do you see the symbol markings around each of them?”
Jack nodded. “Yeah, of course.”
“They use the triangle shape to highlight what's most important which is the spiritual, at the top, and then the mundane, or earthly things, on the bottom.”
“So, maybe the octopus and clouds on the bottom and the skull on top?” Jack said.
“No. The octopus is actually one of their gods, same with the chalice with the line through it.”
“So that goes on top? But there's two of them. I'm not getting this.”
“Just a sec, please.” Mekel closed his eyes tight, trying to focus.
The wind blew harder outside. Something thudded against the metal roof and then slid down it, making a scratching sound as it dropped, tweaking their nerves.
Jack shook his head, becoming impatient. He opened his mouth to speak, but Mekel stopped him.
“I remember something else.” Mekel placed his clenched fist on his forehead. “Another reason they use a triangle is to focus on something important. Something that we want or need.”
Reaching up to the three circles, Mekel turned them to all have the dagger symbol face inward. The door creaked and then made a turning, clanking sound of gears activating within. Then with a pop, the door cracked open.
“Don't ask how I know that, let's just say daggers are an important symbol to the witches.” Mekel pushed on the door and revealed a narrow stone staircase that led downward.
“Grab a flashlight and let's go get Loyd.” Jack stepped past the door's threshold.
“I can't go with you.” Mekel wrenched his fingers. “I'm sorry, but I'll be useless in there. I'm way too jittery as it is now and small spaces.” Mekel's face scrunched up. “ I'm too claustrophobic.”
Jack rubbed his forehead in disappointment.
“I can stay and find a way out.” Mekel said, trying to bargain. “We still need a way out and when you come back with Loyd it'll be ready and we can all go.”
Mekel walked away towards the front doors just as Ren stepped up closer to Jack and the old stone stairwell.
“I can go with you. I'm not claustrophobic.” Ren held up a flashlight.
“Great, let's hope we're not too late.” Jack said.
Chapter 9
The walls of the stairwell were made of stones, cut to fit perfectly with each other and not held together with mortar. The steps were slabs of rough granite and it winded around in a spiral that went deeper into the earth.
Hurrying down, Jack tried to ignore the questions that assaulted his mind about the symbols on the door, the dark eyes in the shadows and this stone stairwell which is underneath a run-down auto shop.
Is this what the officer was talking about, to come get him if they found anything 'out of the ordinary'?
Jack pushed these thoughts away and focused solely on the little drops of blood here and there, leading him further down. The walls increasingly narrowed and Jack's back and chest slid against the stones. Just up ahead, the light revealed the ending to the stairwell and a wide open passage on the other side. Sucking in his stomach as much as he could, Jack gripped tightly ahead of him, sunk his fingers deep between the crevices of the stones, and pulled himself forward. Releasing a grunt as he popped out of the stairwell, Jack caught his breath and looked back at Ren.
Ren, being thinner, slid through quite easily.
“All those extra helpings
I've had at dinner.” Jack joked as he examined his suit for any tears.
“It got pretty tight at the end there, didn't it.” Ren said. “Who'd you think built this place?”
“I don't know, but I don't like it. This makes no sense. We must have went down four flights of stairs or something.”
“And how did that Mekel guy know about the door and the combination?” Ren shined his light around the opened passage, revealing more of the stones set meticulously into place without mortar.
“I don't know, but I don't trust him. What I do know is that I trust Loyd and that we have to find him.” Jack inspected Ren for a moment, checking his face and to keep an eye on him, since Jack didn't trust him either.
“Hey look!” Ren pointed to the floor at a pair of goggles.
“Those are Loyd's.” Jack said. “He must have been taken this way.”
All along the sides of the corridor were small rooms like holding cells with metal bar doors. Rusted and broken, some barely hanged on their hinges while others had fallen to the floor. The corridor then split into two ways and on the floor lied a bloodied rubber glove.
“This is Loyd's also,” Jack said, “but I don't think it's his blood. No, this blood is what we were cleaning up, I'm pretty sure of it.”
“We should split up.” Ren shined his light into the darkness on the left.
“No, whatever, or whoever took Loyd may attack us. If we're together we have a better chance of defending ourselves.”
“I disagree.” Ren argued. “We need to find the kid and get on out of here as soon as possible. The best way to do that is each of us picking a way. I call the left side.”
Ren walked away into the darkness, ignoring Jack's silent protest.
Chapter 10
Jack peered down the corridor on the right side and a multitude of shadows sprang out from the uneven stone surface. Getting his keys from his pocket, he gripped them tightly between his knuckles and stuck them out like claws.
Checking every corner, Jack attempted to step lightly but his feet still thudded against the cold stones and broke the silence. Only the lifeless stones surrounded Jack, but even they seemed threatening.
Drifting from one of the cells further down the corridor, was a faint tone, like a ringing in the ears but distant and faded. Jack moved quicker, being led by the sound. The ringing shifted into a girl's voice, like a child humming, as Jack got closer to the room. Approaching with caution, Jack held up his fist with the keys. He slowly peered around the corner and into the dark prison cell.
Near a dim, flickering candle set upon an old withered table, a young girl held a doll in her hand. Her dark blue dress was ragged and torn, and it had a floral pattern which was barely seen beneath the many stains. Her big toe popped out of her worn out black dress shoes and her hair was matted down from neglect.
She sang with soft breath, “Creeping crawling critters, they slither up my back. Deeper down the dungeon, I whither on the rack.” She stopped humming and turned around, startled at Jack's presence. She held her doll closer, squeezing it into her chest.
“Who's there?” Her innocent eyes peered at Jack through the darkness, worn with loneliness.
“Hi,” Jack shined the light into his face to give the girl a better view of him. “I'm Jack.” He got closer to her and knelt down, bringing his face down to her level. “What's your name?”
“Oh, hi.” She said bluntly and turned back to her doll to braid it's hair.
“I'm sorry, what?”
“I know you're Jack, silly.” She continued looking at her doll. “You're breaking your promise.”
“What are you talking about?” Jack said in a heavy breath. “What promise?” He reached out to her and touched her shoulder.
“The promise you made. You need to finish it.”
“I don't understand.” Jack gently pulled on her shoulder. “You're coming with me. We're getting out of here now.”
“I can't.” She pulled away from his hand. “Not until you get mommy too, that's what you said. And besides it's bed time.”
She blew out the flickering candle beside her and vanished into darkness.
Chapter 11
Jack shined the light all around the cell, only to find the ragged doll on the floor.
Outside in the corridor there was a grunt and heavy breathing. Jack rushed out of the cell and ran down the corridor. At the far corner, Loyd sat on the ground with his back up against the wall and his head stooped down.
Kneeling at Loyd's side, Jack vigorously shook him. “Loyd, wake up!”
Loyd moaned and then opened his eyes. “What?” He mumbled with lips cracked from dehydration.
“Loyd, are you okay, can you get up?”
“I think I'm okay.”
“What happened?”
“I don't know.” Loyd rubbed his head. “All I remember is smelling something gross, and then getting hit on the back of my head.”
“Here, take a flashlight.” Jack pulled a spare one from his pocket and handed it to Loyd. “Do you think you can get up?”
Loyd put his hands to the floor and attempted to lift himself up.
“It's my leg!” He shrieked in pain.
“Oh yeah, I see it now.” Jack examined the gash on Loyd's left calf from his ankle up to his knee. “It's looks pretty bad too, but it's not bleeding a lot so it can't be that deep.”
“But it hurts like a mother.” Loyd gritted his teeth.
“I can support you. Just wrap your arm around my shoulders and I’ll lift you up. Okay, that's good. Now on three. One. Two. Three.”
Gripping under Loyd's arms, Jack lifted him up off the ground and Loyd squealed a little.
“My ankle is twisted up too.” Loyd squinted his face. “I can barely move it. It must be swollen all to hell.”
Down the corridor a piece of metal dragged along the uneven floor, clanging against the stones.
Clang, clang, clang, clang.
The sound echoed towards them.
“What is that?” Loyd peered into the darkness and shined his flashlight towards the source.
Hobbling towards them was a creature with twisted and rotten flesh. It's legs were turned outward and malformed. It's stubby left arm, barely the size of a hand, flailed wildly as it moved. It's right arm was unnaturally elongated, extending longer than the length of it's body, hanging down and dragging across the ground. Visibly broken in several places, splintered bones popped out of the flesh of the arm, but it was all held together with an old rope wound tightly down it's length. At the end of this disfigured arm was a swollen, putrid hand that gripped a dagger, which is what clinked along the stone floor. It's bright silver edge flickered in the light.
Shrieking at Jack, the creature sounded like a pack of ravens defending their food. Drooling down it's face was a thick black ooze that dripped onto the floor and stunk up the corridor.
“Come on, move it!” Jack ordered, pulling Loyd with him.
Loyd limped alongside Jack, hopping on his good foot. Up ahead was an archway, the entrance into a larger room. The ghoul's twisted, hobbled legs propelled it towards the two, gaining distance with each step.
The two moved past the archway and Jack saw an old lever covered with dust and cobwebs, just to the side. Reaching for the lever with his spare hand, Jack pulled on it and a large wooden panel fell from the middle of the archway, slamming the passage shut. The ghoul on the other side howled with despair and bloodlust, but it's cries were muted by the thick wood now blocking it's way.
Jack's light barely penetrated the thick, dusty darkness of the expanded room they were now in, but shapes formed slowly. Nearby was an old wooden chair in front of a podium. Jack hurried Loyd over to it and set him down.
“Damn, it hurts.” Loyd let out a sigh of relief. His eyes were barely open and his head reeled.
“Don't worry, I'll find a way out of here. Just hang on okay.” Jack looked around again.
Str
etching out high above them were tall vaulted ceilings, like a cathedral, with ornate carvings all along the length of the arches. In the middle of the room was a large granite statue of a skeleton holding a large shallow copper bowl above it's head. Hovering just above the large bowl were human skeletons that hanged upside down from the ceiling with their feet wrapped in chains.
A giant iron head rose out of the floor near the base of the granite statue. It's eyes were blind folded and it's mouth wide open, titled up towards the bowl, as if eager for the contents to be poured down it's massive metal throat.
Attached to the floor, on either side of the skeleton statue, were large chains that went upward all the way through holes in the ceiling. On the far wall there was a massive wooden wheel that had those same large chains wrapped around the shaft of the wheel. A device it seemed, that if one spun the wheel, it would tip over the bowl and pour the liquid into the mouth of the large iron head in the ground.
The podium near Loyd was made from skulls stacked on top each other, bound together with black mortar. Their lip-less teeth grinned at the two through the darkness, as if mocking them. Shuddering at the sight, Jack turned his attention to Loyd who remained barely conscious.
“We have to find a way out of here but it's so dark, I just can't see another passage.” Jack wiped away the sweat dripping from his forehead.
From across the room, a light flickered, waving back and forth as if someone walked toward them. Jack shined his light towards the intruder.
“Who's there?” Jack asked.
“Jack? Loyd?” Ren replied.
“Oh thank goodness.” Jack waved for Ren to come over. “Hey, get over here and help me with Loyd, he's hurt.”
Ren ran over and together with Jack they lifted Loyd off his feet, holding him up between them.
“We can just go back through my way.” Ren said. He then sniffed the air. “What's that smell?”
“Oh no!” Jack said frantically. “It found us, we have to get out of here!”
Behind them from a dark corner of the room, the creature had found another way in and it hobbled towards them dragging the dagger along the ground with it.
Looking over his shoulder, Ren took a moment to examine the creature. “What is that thing?”