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After easing the door shut, I stepped over a mid-sized hole in the floor. It was deathly silent in here, turning the rain I’d just escaped from into a sudden comfort. I took in some cupboards that had warped over time, and severely mold-grown appliances.
Someone had come through here and did a fine job ransacking the place. More than a few broken dishes and overturned drawers laid on one side of the kitchen along with some dust-covered pans. Nothing amongst them looked as if it would help me remove the cuffs from my wrist.
I crept forward, being careful where I placed each filthy foot. The last thing I needed was to fall through the floor. To my immediate right was a doorway. I peered through it, seeing a long table still set with plates.
A flash of lightning showed each one rested near a set of bones that spiders had turned into a home.
There definitely wasn’t anything in there that I needed. Continuing down a short, narrow hall, I emerged into the room that the front door would have led me into.
Old clothes more akin to rags were haphazardly piled all over the place. Cobwebs seemed to cling to nearly every surface, their intricate silk no longer white, having turned dull and brown.
I caught a flash of movement in the corner of my eye, causing the hair to rise on my neck and arms. I stiffened as a bulky mass rose from the shadows, relaxing marginally when it spoke.
“Oh, you’re just a girl,” the form said, their voice too dry and brittle for me to identify if they were male or female.
They left the corner they’d chosen to crouch in, revealing more of themselves. Their outfit was just as shabby as the rags covering all the dust-ridden furniture, while the disaster on their head was as large as the bushels in the woods.
I couldn’t see their eyes clearly, but I felt them slithering over my body. I got the sense the
y were sizing me up.
“You lost? Or a runaway?”
The way the question was poised made me think they already knew the answer. It wouldn’t take much intelligence to figure out. I was wearing what was essentially a night dress and had on no shoes. There was also an empty handcuff to account for.
I may have been kept away from the rest of the world for a few years, but I knew this wasn’t typically how people dressed.
“I was looking for somewhere to rest until morning,” I explained.
“Lost, running from something, it makes no difference to me. As long as you’re not a Savage.”
I glanced down at myself, taking in my ruined gown and muddied feet. There was nothing feral-looking about me. I didn’t have any qualms about taking a life. I was instilled with a primal need to survive. Beyond that, I was as far from a savage as someone could be.
The person stepped a smidge closer, and the muscles in my legs locked in anticipation of fleeing or fighting. A flash of light revealed a grime-smeared face with a large smile in place.
My eyes went to their mouth, which was nothing but a gross hole.
Where there should have been two rows of white was nothing but chipped, discolored fragments.
“I’m sorry to disturb you. I’ll go now,” I stated, making it a point that I’d be leaving.
“No need. This was my uncle’s place. It needs a bit of TLC, but it’s fine for a roof over your head. My partner should be back soon. He’s friendly.”
Did that mean this was a woman? I still couldn’t tell. Either way, I was uncomfortable with the idea of sleeping here. One suspicious stranger was bad enough, but two? My instincts were never too far off, and right then they told me I needed to distance myself from this place.
“That’s all right. I’m sorry for intruding. I’ll just go.”
I took a small step backward, not trusting them behind me.
A raspy laugh floated in the space growing steadily smaller between us.
Their breath reached out and slapped me right in the face. The smell of it was akin to fermented squirrel guts. My gag reflex was automatic. I failed to withhold my cough, causing them to laugh louder.
“Are you afraid?”
“More like disgusted.” I continued to retreat all the way back into the kitchen, preparing myself for if they lunged.
At the last second, they did. The floor groaned beneath the sudden motion. Fearing it was about to give out, I shoved them away before they could grab me, narrowly missing the hole in front of my exit. I leapt over it and forced the door open.
