The Cabinet Under the Stairs

Surprises

I could feel it behind me, hunting me. The hairs on the back of my neck crawled against my skin threatening to run off my body. There was nowhere I could hide. It was dim and hard to see, but I managed to find a room and quickly rushed inside. I closed the door as quickly and quietly as I could manage and leaned against it trying to listen to anything that was happening outside.

I could hear it walking, the hit of one leg followed by the drag of the other. The sound approached, closer and closer. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. I placed my hand over it hoping to repress the sound that rang so loud in my ears.

I could hear it slowly sniffing around the door before stepping away. I wasn't sure how strong its senses were. There was a scratching noise followed by familiar whining. I knew that sound. I flung the door open and was practically bowled over by fluff.

"Jack! What are you doing? How did you get in here?" As if he could answer any of my questions.

He looked dirty. There were a few cuts on one of his legs and he was missing more fur on his back near his tail, but otherwise looked okay.

He whined a little and licked my face before turning his attention to the dilapidated hallway. He growled a little before looking at me and whimpering.

The hairs on my neck crawled again and I turned around. There, inches away from the open door, was one large floating circle. It was red on the outside and black near the middle. It closed like an eyeball and when it opened again, a second one was right next to it. Slowly, a grey mass appeared behind them to reveal a long skull. Then came the rest of the face, two slits for a nose, and a large circular mouth filled with two rows of sharp teeth. Finally, the body appeared. Everything was thin, long, boney, and grey. Its arms reached out and down to the ground.

As if in slow motion, I lunged for the door as it moved to come in, one limb moving after another in a strange galloping motion. We hit the door at the same time. I pushed desperately trying to close it, and the creature pushed on the other side wanting to get in. One of its boney limbs slowly started to creep inside. It lifted high above my head and I watched as its hand slowly opened. Long fingers revealed themselves as the wrist rotated and it reached down for me, its face pushing through the crack. I could feel its icy breath approaching the top of my head.

Jack barked ferociously but did little else. I've never seen him so scared before. He started to back away.

I was losing the battle of the door. The thing was stronger than me. I didn't know what to do. I looked around but it was just a room. The door I was desperately trying to hold was the only way in or out. I was ready to just give up and let it take me or kill me or whatever it was going to do. Suddenly, there was a loud series of bangs, and the pressure left the door. I heard a familiar voice shouting and the eerie thump and drag sound moved on.

As quickly as it ended, more loud bangs came fast and hard on the door. I screamed for it to stop when I remembered where I'd heard that voice before. I flung open the door and threw myself into Hal's arms.

"Git off me, Little Lady. This ain't done yet." He gave me a gentle push and I let go.

"Thank you, thank you so much." I gushed and tried hard to keep my tears in check, but they raced down my cheeks without my permission.

"Mm-hm. Where's that dog a yers?"

I turned to see Jack sheepishly walk out. I went over to pat him.

"It's okay, boy. I understand."

"Anyone else in here wit ya?"

I shook my head. "Not that I know of."

He nodded. "Lulu, where's the damn door?"

"Lulu?" I looked around. "How can Lulu find a door?"

Large yellow eyes appeared out of nowhere followed by a small black cat Cheshire Cat style. She let out a cheerful meow and started a quick walk that made her look like she was hopping a little. She stopped in front of a wall in the hallway.

"Is... is that supposed to be a door?"

"Ya have to know where to look." Hal made his way over to Lulu and started to feel around on the wall. To my surprise, the wall swung open. "Good girl." He looked back at me and Jack. "Well don't just stand there, let's go."

Jack and I quickly went through the entryway as Hal made sure it closed. Lulu ran ahead of us as if showing us the way. The next thing I knew, we were coming out of the cabinet under my staircase and into the living room.

"Thank you, thank you," I said to Hal again.

"Weren't nuthin'." He was fairly nonchalant for someone who just saved a life.

"How did you know I was in there?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Tis where I found my son."

"Oh, of course. You of all people would know where I disappeared to. Has Mom been worried?"

"I'm sure." He started to walk out the front door. Lulu chirped a bit as she circled my legs before following him.

"Wait! Where's Mom? How long have I been in there? How did you get into the house if she's not home?"

"Shush, girl!" he snapped. "Ya ax too many questions."

"I mean, I've been captured. Why isn't Mom here?"

"Prob'ly with them police." He opened the door and then turned his head to look over his shoulder. "Keep an eye out, just in case. Give a holler if somethin' happens."

Before I could ask him what he meant, he left.