Tooth & Nail

• 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙵𝚘𝚞𝚛 •

Sitting there catching my breath on the freezing tiles, I knew I only had a few precious seconds to memorize my surroundings before the light would burn out and I'd be swallowed up by the room again.

I stood up quickly, holding the match with one hand and shielding its flame with the other.

Just before the fire reached my fingers, I noticed out of the corner of my eye a small candelabra centrepiece sitting in the middle of the dining room table.

A searing pain bit at my fingertips and I threw the smouldering match to the floor as the pitch consumed me once more.

I franticly began fumbling for a second match when another thud boomed down from upstairs.

"Shit, Shit, Shit, Shit" I cursed as I hastened my search.

Pinching a match between my thumb and forefinger I struck it hard against the box, snapping its head before it could ignite.

"Not now!" I angrily whispered to myself.

More skittering came from somewhere above me.

I shakily opened the box and drew another match. This time, as gently as my hands would let me, I successfully flicked it across the strike pad, illuminating the room once more.

As my eyes came into focus, I quickly made my way over to the dining room table. Reaching over I plucked one of the long off-white candles from its perch. Carefully I placed the burning match head against its charred wick, it was so crisp and dried out that it sputtered to life almost instantly.

While I was there, I decided to take a couple more candles and stuff them into my hip pockets for later.

Now facing the doorway, I stared out past the safety of my dimly lit room and into the ominous black of the hallway.

Something felt off. The shadows looked heavier somehow.

Like water you could swim in.

Like water you could drown in.

They moved like waves in the candlelight, pulling me in.

I needed to get out of here.

I proceeded towards the doorway.

At least I could see where I was going now, I thought to myself nonchalantly.

I took a breath and stepped through. The candlelight bleached the shadows, now illuminating the horrors I felt earlier that were strewn throughout the desolate halls.

The wallpaper lay in ruins; riddled with deep cuts and holes all smeared with blood which stretched from one end of the hall to the other.

My hand now covering my mouth I stood in shock as my breath began to quicken.

I shakily moved closer to take a better look.

The gashes were jagged and unclean, the holes were small and varied in size, but most were roughly the size of an index finger.

All of which were laced with blood.

Hesitantly I began walking, following the map of gore exhibited on the walls as I slowly made my way deeper into the house.

Some streaks were old and dry, some were still fresh and coagulated.

What the fuck happened here, I thought, shocked and confused.

Making my way to the end of the hall I stood in the archway which gave way to a large open room. Looking through I could just make out the dimly lit staircase to my right which led up to the top floor mezzanine.