111 Crossbow Lane

Stuck

Several hours later...

Out of frustration and pure helplessness I've sat down against the door, it wouldn't budge. I heard sounds on the other side of the door, I even yelled for someone to come help me. My phone didn't have service for some strange reason. No one answered me or came to help. But someone must be there, I hear them moving about in the kitchen.

I'm probably being burgled. Stuck in the stupid basement with no cell service. Just great. My phone's battery is also at fifteen percent. I was going to charge it when I got home, but then the power was out. It seems that the noises got quieter. Maybe they are finished looting my stuff. I try the door again, still locked.

After some time I notice my cell phone's battery is at five percent. Great. No phone. No light. I try the door again. Again no luck. Within the next half hour my battery dies. The last time I see on the screen is ten minutes past six in the evening.

I don't know but it feels like something is watching me in the darkness. I try to push the door open with all my strength again. Nothing. I keep trying and eventually just collapse, my energy spent. After what seems an eternity the door opens. Slowly swinging open. I move out of the way and open it all the way, pulling myself up and getting out of the basement.

The air seems different. It even smells different. I look around only to notice that the furniture isn't mine. It seems outdated too. I don't see or hear anyone else.

I walk over to the front door and open it. I stare in disbelief. There in front of me are cornfields. No sign of the road leading to town. A dirt road is the only sign of some kind of resemblance to what used to be in front of my house.

I hear noises behind me and turn around, there in the lounge I see two young children playing. At first they don't seem to be aware of me. Then the young girl looks up and smiles at me. The young boy is next to see me. He seems to be around the age of eight or nine. The girl seems to be around five or six years old.

He frowns at me then asks, "Who Are you?"

"I'm Michelle. Who are you?"

"I'm Brian. We're not supposed to talk to strangers. Why are you in our house?"

"Um, I was looking for...someone." I lie, I know it's not nice lying to them. But I can't exactly tell them the truth now can I. What is the truth even, it's so weird that even I don't believe it.

Just as he's about to speak up a lady walks into the room. She looks at them and then over to where I'm standing.

"Who are you talking to Brian?"

"To the lady by the door mommy." The little girl giggles. The lady doesn't look impressed by his answer.

"Brian, stop telling tall tales." She walks over to the door and closes it. She literally walked through me. What the actual...

The lady grabs the boy and takes him to the stairs, "Go to your room."

He starts to get teary eyed, he looks at me and then back to his mother. "Now Brian."

He turns and heads up the stairs to his room. The little girl looks at me and giggles again.

"Look mommy!" She points at me with her little finger.

The lady turns around looking very annoyed. "What is it Samantha?"

"The lady!" And she points again at me.

"Samantha there is no one there. Stop being silly. Come on, let's go, it's time for your bath."

She picks the little girl up and takes her upstairs.

What just happened to me? This is too weird to be real, maybe I'm dreaming. I pinch myself. Shit, this is real. I look around, its my house, but it's not.

I turn around and follow them up the stairs. I look in the bedroom where they have just entered, the mother is gathering clothes and then takes Samantha's hand and lads her to the door. I hurriedly get out of their way, Samantha smiles at me.

I follow them to the bathroom where the mother proceeds to draw a bath for Samantha. I walk down the corridor and find Brian in his room. He looks up at me as I enter his room.

"How come mommy can't see you?"

"Um, I don't know Brian."

"Are you a ghost? Or are you an angel?"

"I'm not a ghost. I don't think I'm dead."

"Then you're an angel." He smiles at me, his eyes bright with wonder.

Just as I'm about to answer him a man walks in. He looks at me, I swear it's like he can see me, but he doesn't react to me. I swallow the lump that has formed in my throat. He turns to Brian.

"Get ready for dinner. After your mom has bathed Samantha we will have dinner."

"Okay uncle Giddy. Is daddy home yet?"

"No he's not. Now get ready, go wash up."

Brian gets up to go wash up, but as he passes me he turns to his uncle.

"You see her don't you uncle Giddy?"

"Who Brian?"

"The angel silly. Her name is Michelle."

"There is no such thing here. It's best if you don't tell stories like this to your daddy."

"But..."

"No buts, go on." He shoves Brian out the room and down the corridor to a bathroom to wash up.

I head downstairs again. My mind reeling with this situation I find myself in. I look around, there's no one else around. There's no indication as to where I am. More precisely, what time I'm in.

I hear movement near me, before I can react though my world turns black...