Reboot: a Short Story

IV

Magnus placed the jar of blood on the table once again and wiped his hand on his jacket. He had just checked off his latest achievement in regards to his progress. He pulled out his watch again and checked the time, unconsciously winding it up. 1:00 Another hour had passed since he had last checked. He sighed and placed the watch back in his pocket. He was reluctant to go into the dark area and had been stalling as much as he could, but for the sake of progress he knew that he had to.

Magnus placed the watch back in his pocket and peered into the darkness. He hated the darkness, he shivered remembering the sewers below his home. Dark, wet, and slimy, the fact that he had made it through was astonishing. At least I have Fur.. He thought to himself looking down at the fox standing in between his legs. Magnus opened the tinderbox which was laying on the table and took the flint in steel. He struck them hard against each other a few times until one heroic spark burst the wick of the candle into a small flame. Magnus took the candle and pocketed the flint and steel. The darkness looked as though it were pulsating, a writhing a sea of darkness.

Magnus took a step towards the darkness holding his candle close to his chest. He wasn't sure why the darkness scared him. His parents had always assured him that there was no monster hiding in the dark corners of his house, and part of him knew that. But another part of him didn't know that, or to be more specific didn't know what the darkness contained, even though it may not contain a monster it could always contain something equally as frightening. 

The darkness enveloped Magnus, the light of his candle keeping whatever lurked in the darkness at bay. The candle at this point was tied to his life, Magnus knew that if the candle went out whatever was in the darkness would get him. He made his way to the middle of the dark area Fur's soft steps keeping Magnus alert and terrified. He looked around and examined his surroundings.He could just barely make out two doors  branching off from the furniture room. One to his left and one in front of him a few yards away. Through the entry way Magnus could make out an organic shape, the shape started to move slinking off into the darkness. Magnus clutched at his chest, fear nearly escaping and turning into a scream. He barely managed to stop himself not wanting to alert whatever beast was in the room. He had to continue though, Magnus gripped his walking stick and made his way for the door on his left, to his surprise the door was entirely intact. It was ornate intricately carved, just like the wardrobe in the bedroom. 

Magnus carefully gripped the doorknob, of the door, the metal was cold to the touch. He turned the knob and pushed the door open instinctively not letting his hand go past the frame. He stepped back, he was assaulted with the same smell as the wardrobe once again, a sweet gummy smell. Fur darted into the room, attracted by the smell. Magnus stood there terrified by the dark void that stood ominously in front of him.

One step at a time Magnus forced himself to enter the room. A sweet smell filling his nose. He held up the candle and looked around him, the room was filled with crates and old furniture. Shelves lined the walls stacked with old books and various sealed alchemical ingredients. Magnus could see particles of dust in the candle light making the atmosphere even more spooky. Where was he? Magnus was trying to piece together this strange room. Perhaps it was a storage room. Magnus was scared, he made into the room, he got that done. But he wasn't sure why. Food, that was why. Magnus needed food. 

Magnus turned around he had to start somewhere. He crouched down, in front of him was a small box, once again made from wardrobe wood. He opened it cautiously as if something was going to pop out. Magnus got the lid off and looked in side, it was full of more of the canisters labeled "LANTERN". This puzzled Magnus, why would he need so much fuel for lanterns if he had only found one lantern in the building as of yet. Magnus stood up, but not before pocketing a canister just in case. Perhaps there were more lanterns somewhere else in here. Magnus stood up to see two white shiny orbs illuminated by the light of his candle. Magnus screamed and fell backwards the candle going out.