A Short Story - Trapped in the Dark

A Mistake

Clivick. Clivkclicclick.

Kaylen swore his ears twitched toward the sound. What was that? His own shuffling feet covered it up as he squirmed in the dark. He looked around reflexively but still couldn't see a thing. Darkness pressed in from every side, seemingly filled to the brim with nothing at all. Kaylen felt crowded in the dark but could not forget how alone he was.

He hoped he was, anyway.

It was far too still; his own movements stirred the air around him and made him jump. It was ridiculous to think that every puff of air might be the breath of some monster and every small clink could be the shifting of a robotic arm, but without sight to contradict it his imagination refused to be ignored.

Kaylen took two steps back on the hard floor and tilted his head up, eyes straining toward the ceiling. Shadows hung far above him and darkness rose up on each side to box him in. Yes, he concluded, I'm claustrophobic.

Resolving to get to a more open area, Kaylen started off down the aisle. But within three steps, he had become hopelessly disorientated. Instinctively swiveling around to get his bearings, he tipped off his balance and was seized by sudden fear. Terrified of attack while he was vulnerable, Kaylen desperately waved his fingers about to catch on something, anything, in the dark. The cold of metal brushed against him as he staggered to the side. He paused, stifling his breath, eyes flicking around him to catch sight of his own doom.

A beat later and it was just him –alone, safe, and slouched against the shelves gasping like he hadn't the strength to stand. Kaylen shook his head, mentally chiding himself. He would never escape like this. Straightening his spine, he pushed off into the darkness, this time making it to the end of the aisle without losing his nerve.

He immediately regretted it.

An abyss of darkness stretched out before him, inhabited only with lurking shadows and undoubtedly ill intentions. Patting nervously at the wall, Kaylen took a reluctant step out of his suddenly inviting aisle and into the danger zone.

Surprisingly, nothing leapt out to devour him. A few steps farther gave him a boost of confidence, which instantly fled him upon contact with some skulking object.

He screamed. Then froze.

Nothing happened.

Heart in his throat, he felt about the obstruction. It bit at his fingers and made a crinkling sound that rippled out, unbearably loud. He couldn't for the life of him tell what it was, but it didn't seem interested in murdering him so he resolved to move on. Feet fumbling about below him, he tripped into an awkward side roll that left him splayed on the floor. He scrambled about, flailing like a man at sea until he reached his knees despite his uncooperative jacket grabbing his shoe and his laces coming untied.

Subdued, he crawled about in the unrelenting black, searching for a safe cubby to just crawl into and hide. He desperately needed this night to end. Or I need to find a light switch. Then maybe those zombies he was sure were following him would go away. He paused to listen, but there was still no noise save the distant unidentifiable clicking.

Kaylen shivered.

He didn't know what the employees would do when they found him locked in here tomorrow, but one thing was for sure.

He was never –ever– going to Target again.