Regrets

The Cellar

              Chapter 5

        Jeff knew of a place. A place full of information. He thought that maybe if he went there and did a bit of research. Then maybe he could figure out what was happening to him. He found the place wedged in between a couple of old abandoned  homes. Jeff had found it a while ago but he never thought he would need such a stash of information.

       The place was an old cellar. Jeff stood above the old wooden door leading to the old, dark cellar. He bent over and yanked open the door. Dust went flying everywhere. The darkened space smelt of rot. Jeff cautiously placed his foot down on the first stair. Good. The boards were still solid. He ducked his head to dodge the low hanging ceiling. His eyes had a hard time focusing to the darkness. When his eyes did, he found himself standing in the middle of rows off bookselves.

         Jeff picked up a random book and brushed his hair away from his eyes. The title of the book in his hand was "Of Mice&Men" He gave a sharp laugh. Jeff remembered having to read that book for school. He placed the book back where he found it. Jeff traced his fingers along the spines on the books. They felt rough under his finger tips. He searched and searched for the book he was looking for.

         Jeff stopped walking and turned his face towards one of the books. It said "Stories of the mind." Jeff smiled "Just what im looking for." He pulled the book out and wiped all the dust off. "Now ive just gotta get out of here." In the neighborhood Jeff was in there were hourly patrols. Since he had no idea what time it was at the moment he would litterally be winging it.

        He silently crept through the rows if shelves heading back for the entrance. He went to push the Door open when something large landed on top of it and then there was an outbreak of barking. "Shit, Dogs." He quickly backed up knocking over several of the bookshelves. Jeff heard shouting. Damn. He had no where to run. He was like a bird in a cage. He grasped the hilt of his knife and drew it out of his pocket. Shaking, he was actually shaking.

         All the sudden the noise stopped. There wasn't a sound. No yelling. No barking. Nothing. The only thing Jeff could here was his heavy breathing and the rapid beating of his own heart. He held his empty hand up to his face taking a few moments to get his breathing under control. He walked over to the door and put his hand up too it. Slowly he opened the door. Not a living thing in sight. He threw open the door and ran. He ran so fast he felt the muscles in his legs burning.

         By the time Jeff had gotten far enough away from the cellar his lungs burned and he was gasping for air. He leaned against a huge rock and stared down the lonley streets. Dawn was approaching and he needed to get home fast. Thank god that his apartment was only a little ways of. Jeff took a breath in. Feeling the cool breeze brush against his face. He enjoyed that feeling. It made him feel as if one day maybe, just maybe, things could be normal again.

        When Jeff arrived back at his apartment he had the book held closely to his chest. He plopped onto his armchair and flipped through the book to the table of context. He flipped to his desired page and started to read. Jeff frowned. He couldn't understand most of what the book was trying to explain to him. He had no idea what a synapse was. Let alone how to pronounce some of the words.

         Jeff threw the book hard at the wall. "Now what? It's not like I can suddenly get a degree in Neuroscience!" He slouched down in his chair. He had to figure out what was going on. But how? Where did he have to go? How long would it take? He knew he could always take another trip back to the cellar. It would be dangerous and the books would be harder too find because of the fact that Jeff had knocked over most of the book shelves. If he did go back, and if he did find another book, Would he be able to underatand it? Probably not. But at the moment he didnt really have a choice. He would go back at some point. Maybe.