Jack's dreadful adventure
Jack's Dreadful Adventure
I was driving for about three hours when I realised I had taken the wrong turning and was hopelessly lost. I pulled over to the side and found my phone in order to phone for help. Surprisingly, the battery had run out and I began to feel a sense of panic as it was rapidly becoming darker. In the distance, I saw the outline of a house and I thought that I could detect smoke coming out of the chimney. I decided that I had no option but to make my way to the house and ask for directions and for the use of the telephone as my family would be getting worried.
The house was completely isolated and as I pulled up outside, my car engine abruptly cut out. I sat and pondered what to do. I noticed the lack of light made the house seem somewhat ghostly and pitch black. It also seemed to be illuminated around its edges, giving it an eerie and unnatural glow. However, I had no choice but to approach the house.
Trembling, I swung open the car door and stepped out. Surprisingly, the ground was muddy and wet, but I could not recall any rain during my journey. I carried on, with my shoes squelching, leaving a trial of mud behind me. As I approached the house, I saw an object thorough the window it was a fierce looking lion's head. The lion's head seemed to glisten and gleam in the front porch light. The light danced off the head bringing it to life, which momentarily unnerved me. But nevertheless, I moved closer and realised that it was only the door knocker. I took a deep breath and knocked.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the door opened, and on the other side stood an old tired man in what seemed to be a butler's uniform. However, the old man did not look like a regular butler as he was quite plump and seemed to waddle instead of walk. He gestured for me to come in and to follow him. He waddled into the living room where a young man sat, smoking a pipe. He looked up at me, and startled me by his left glass eye, which seemed to be constantly staring at me.
"Ah, hello my friend. What brings you here on this night of the full moon?" the young man asked with the glass eye still staring intently. "Oh, and please do keep your voice down. My son is already asleep upstairs."
"I'm sorry to disturb you at this time of night, but I am lost and my car has broken down. I was wondering if it would be possible to use your telephone; that is if it's not too much trouble."
"I'm afraid to say that the storm earlier on has cut all the telephone lines in ...
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"Ah, hello my friend. What brings you here on this night of the full moon?" the young man asked with the glass eye still staring intently. "Oh, and please do keep your voice down. My son is already asleep upstairs."
"I'm sorry to disturb you at this time of night, but I am lost and my car has broken down. I was wondering if it would be possible to use your telephone; that is if it's not too much trouble."
"I'm afraid to say that the storm earlier on has cut all the telephone lines in the area. However, if you wish, I have a spare bedroom that you may sleep in."
Again, I couldn't remember half of my journey here and felt as if a few hours of my life had been wiped from my memory. The old butler looked at the young man and whispered something in his ear. The young man replied, but I was unable to make out what they were saying. The old man looked up at me and said with a friendly smile, "Do you have any bags? If you wish I shall put them in your room."
I returned to my car and carried back a suitcase. I gave it to the old man and thanked him. I was about to follow him upstairs, but the young man called me back and gestured for me to sit opposite him.
"What is your name?" he asked
"Jack." I replied. "And yourself sir?"
"Montgomery."
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Oh, no. The pleasure's all mine." Montgomery said followed by a devilish chuckle, which echoed around the room. A shiver shot down my spine and I wondered whether I had should have stayed in my car.
"Where were you travelling to with such baggage?" he asked.
"I, umm, was on my way to New York." I replied reluctantly.
"Ah, the Big Apple. Do you have business there?"
I sat there wondering whether to answer or not. However, I responded, "I was on my way to visit my twin sister. I haven't seen her for a few months. I am only in the States on holiday - I am actually from London in England."
During our conversation I learnt much about this gentleman. He seemed to have had a terrible life. Both his parents had passed away when he was only a few months old, and his childhood consisted of several foster families. His wife was also dead. She died of cancer a year ago, and when she was mentioned, Montgomery's eyes filled with tears. I sympathised with him too, for I also had a terrible childhood. My sister and I were abandoned when we were only a few days old and spent the first few years of our lives in an orphanage. We were then separated when we were only three years old, and I only found out I had a sister a few years back. I could not begin to count the number of foster homes I was put into. All in all, this gentleman and I had a lot in common.
The butler showed me to my room it was dark and foreboding, warning me to stay alert. I lay on the bed and noticed a strange symbol on the ceiling, but I couldn't stay awake any longer.
I woke up early to the soothing sounds of the piano. I followed the sounds to the living room. It looked very different in sunlight; last night I didn't even notice the exquisite piano that I saw today. I looked over at the piano seat and I saw a little boy sitting down concentrating hard on the piece of music he was playing. For such a young person, I was surprised that he could play so well. I sat near the boy and waited for him to finish. Before he reached the end, he pushed his chair back with a scrape and walked round to face me.
"Hello," the boy said.
"Hello," I replied, "You have quite a talent for playing the piano. I must say, it is wonderful to see such a young person take interest in music. Most boys your age usually just fight and play football."
"Thank you," said the boy and then stiffly turned and walked much like a soldier out of the room.
Everywhere in the house I felt a presence and supernatural coldness. I followed the child, which led me to the kitchen. The butler gestured for me to sit and passed me a plate of delicacies. Montgomery entered and we ate in an uneasy silence. I thanked the family, and announced my departure.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you," Montgomery said looking rather pleased, "it seems like you're going to have to stay here a little while longer the storm last night did more damage than we thought. Many roads have been closed. You're more than welcome to stay."
I was upset at having to delay seeing my sister but I realised that a day or two wouldn't make a difference.
In the living room I felt a chill and because Montgomery had told me to feel at home I lit the wood in the fireplace. Suddenly I noticed on the edge of the mantel piece the same symbol that I saw on the ceiling of my bedroom! What was this symbol? I asked Montgomery if I could use the internet. Montgomery agreed.
My researched showed that this was the Death Medallion! Wearing this medallion, you will be the link between the dead and the living.
"Surely you don't believe all of this, do you?" Montgomery replied. "I think that it is absurd that you could even think of such a thing. Come on now. Be reasonable."
"Yes," I agreed, "I think I am overreacting. But nevertheless, we should make sure."
And with that I lunged onto the symbol on the mantelpiece before anyone could stop me. As soon as I touched the symbol, a secret passageway behind the mantelpiece was revealed. Without thinking, I stepped in. Everything was pitch black. I slowly walked in. The place stunk of rotting flesh and bones, which made me feel sick.
"Whoa!" I shouted as I felt something go past me. And again. I spun around but there was no one there. However I still kept feeling as if something kept moving back and forth brushing against me. Looking around there was nothing. It was like I was being attacked by an invisible force. I started to panic and I ran headfirst into a wall, and once again after turning, I hit another wall. Then suddenly, I fell, and I fell, and fell, and kept falling for a long time.
I opened my eyes. I lay there for another second. Then, I got up. I slowly turned around dreading what I was about to see. There stood a man, a hooded man, a man so dark, that he blended in with the cave. Slowly, the hood was taken off and the man, looked up at me. The face seemed familiar. It was Montgomery, but he did not look like Montgomery. He had the same eyes, nose, mouth and skin, but his expression was vicious and evil, whereas the Montgomery I had become acquainted with had always been so friendly.
"Hello," Montgomery said, "Surprise!"
Montgomery's evil laugh echoed through the whole cave.
"Who are you?" I asked
"Are you sure you want to know?" he replied, grinning mischievously.
I stared at him blankly.
"I am every man's worst nightmare. I am the scourge of the humans. I quite simply am Death."
"Death!" I laughed. "This has got to be a joke, right?"
Montgomery stood in front at me, expressionless.
"But you have a son!" I exclaimed
"Do you mean him? No, he is not my son, he is me! How did you think he could play the piano so well, remember?"
It all came to me in a rush. I realised that this was no lie. Montgomery had no son.
"I think it is about time we have a little talk." Death said
"Am I going to die?"
"That depends."
"On what?"
"You!" he said sharply.
"Me? Why me? What have I done?"
"You are my successor."
"ME?" I said in disbelief, "I wouldn't hurt a fly, let alone kill people!"
"It's in your blood."
"In my blood... what do you mean?" I asked
"Before, when you thought I had no son, you were wrong. Twenty four years ago, my son was born. You are my son. You are now Death."
I looked up at Montgomery simultaneously; we laughed our evil laugh together. "I AM DEATH!"
Simranjot Singh