Midnight Creek Tales

#4. The Duchess' Lost Portrait / Chapter 12

"We need to get out of here!"

"Not before we find that book!" Terry barked.

"TERRY! She's going to cut us up into mincemeat if we don't get a move on! We need to get to the secret entrance and try to open it up. All we have to do is make a mad dash and hope for the best."

"I am not leaving until this is solved..."

All of a sudden there was an eerie moan riveting through the study... We could hear approaching hell creeping towards us, and instinctively I began to run out of the aisle now in a maze of books.

"UHHHHH!" The voice called to us louder, but I didn't dare to stop running, if we stopped, we would be sitting ducks. And even though there was the chance of running into her, it was better than standing around waiting for her to come to you.

"GODDAMNIT COLE WE NEED TO RETRIEVE THE BOOK!"

"WE'RE NEVER GOING TO FUCKING FIND IT!" I stopped abruptly, now out of breath. "God I wish I had a smoke!" I began to inhale and exhale deeply trying to keep myself from having a heart attack. As I stood there, Terry had my back, "Where are we exactly?"

In a flash before he could get out a syllable, we heard a loud bang, and then another one come shortly after! BANG BANG BANG! Then another, and another, and more followed on, and before we knew it a shelf fell on top of Terry and me!

I retained consciousness, but Terry was unresponsive, "Terry! Get up we don't have much time! We need to get out of here!"

But his lifeless body stared blankly back at me.

I crawled out from the crushing shelf and pulled him out as well. As I tried to get him out from under, he remained motionless and still. I could see a huge gash on the side of his head, with blood running down his chin.

My eyes began to swell up and tear; I was the last one standing and fighting for my life. The battle would have to continue with just me...

I began to run down more aisles and toppled books. Through all the wreckage I was still lost, and surely in sight of the duchess.

Even though Terry suffered a greater blow when the shelves came down, I too was in pain and bleeding profoundly. Not from the head, but from my back being crushed pretty badly, and the edge of a book cutting into my arm now leaving blood to drip down all over me. Luckily the dart wound stopped bleeding, but this new cut was ceaseless.

Rummaging through more fallen books, I could hear a ringing now reverberating! Somebody was calling!

I ran towards the noise! I fully knew that it could be a trap, but still decided to take the risk. I initially didn't want to call the police, but at this point, I didn't care. Anything was better than falling to the mercy of the Duchess!

There was an emergency telephone ringing, and as I picked up my speed, the noise grew louder.

With the little stamina I had, I sped up to the phone, now out of breath. I picked it up quickly and nestled it to my ear, "Hello? Sheriff Carpenter?!"

"I'm sorry but this is not Sheriff Carpenter, it's Mr. Payne."

"PAYNE!"

"Yes, I wanted to call to give my condolences about your wife's passing. I am so sorry for your loss Mr. Cole. If there's anything I can do, please tell me."

"Payne you need to get a priest over here! Get the police, get everyone! I am sorry I cannot explain right now, but when you rescue me I'll elaborate on everything!"