It's Complicated: A Zombie Romance Novel

Locked out

I locked the door as a safety measure. No reason to make it easy for the zombies behind me. Pocketing the key, I moved slowly into the room. It had more light than the last one.

At the center of the room was a large pirate chest, complete with an old fashioned iron padlock.

"So I'm getting another riddle," I said. How was I not surprised? Only, Headset Guy didn't respond.

"Hello? Are you there?" Nothing.

"Ok, how do I open this thing?" Still nothing.

"How am I supposed to open the door when you don't give me a clue?" I yelled into the room. Headset Guy still didn't respond.

"I guess I'm on my own in here," I said.

There were ceramic jars scattered around the room. I picked one up that was labelled 'Ashes of Problem Customers' and looked inside. It was filled with sand. I opened the next jar. More sand.

"Seriously?" I yelled into the headset. I figured if I was loud enough it might give him a headache. "I have to check every single jar filled with sand until I find the keys?" Headset Guy was still silent.

'I just have to think about what he said before,' I thought to myself. 'Something to do with feet.'

I looked closer at the jars. It was hard to read the labels in the dim light, but I could just make out the letters.

"Doctor Feelgood's Liver Oil," I read out loud. "Pickled Pigs Feet. Professor Achilles' Ankle Ointment." I stopped. What had Headset Guy said earlier? 'Mostly I just love feet.' I grabbed the ointment jar and poured the sand out in my hand. A large iron key came out. I ran to the treasure chest and opened the lock. Inside the chest was a key. I grabbed it and unlocked the door.

It opened onto my second challenge room. That was, if I was reading the map right this time. The stairs to the second floor would be off of the next challenge. I just had to make it through this room to the other door.