Well.
This was a bit of a pickle.
She’d thought she’d found a shortcut when the wall panel behind her gave way, stepping into the dark passage without even thinking, the square gleam of light at the other end looking very like the visitor’s entrance.
But as soon as the panel had closed behind her, so too had the light gone, as quickly as though someone had switched it off. She’d turned, but only found smooth metal underneath her fingers, no handle in sight.
And she really, really needed to pee.
It wasn’t all dark, though. A beam of light shone through a funnel shaped opening, a sliver of the outside world still visible. She squinted. What was that? A person? A big blue bottle? A light bulb? She sighed. Holding an art event inside a medieval castle was all very well, but really, how were you even supposed to know what was art and what wasn’t, what with the things people came up with these days.
She sighed again, pushing her face as far as it would go into the funnel.
‘Hellooo!’
No answer.
‘I’m stuck in here, please help,’ she trilled through the opening, trying not to think about the artwork she’d seen in the other room that had emitted random phrases, making visitors laugh.
She tried again. ‘Helloooo!’
Her voice cracked a little. She was starting to feel desperate, both in her bladder and somewhere deep inside, where fear lived.
This was what she got, she supposed, for taking a day to herself. She hadn’t told anyone where she was going, waking early and letting herself out of the house, a hastily scribbled note, ‘Gone out, back later!’, stuck on the fridge.
Feeling for her phone in her pocket she pulled it out, the bright square screen somehow reassuring in the darkness. ‘No Service.’
She swore, then.
Someone would be along soon to let her out, surely.
Wouldn’t they?
This is my response to Sue Vincent’s #writephoto challenge. Sue has a knack for taking wonderful photos that inspire stories, and this week is no exception. If you’d like to add your own story, you have until October 13th to write a post, linking back to Sue’s blog.
Helen Glynn Jones 
Nice tension in this one. Good job.
Thanks, Craig 🙂
That’s was so good 😊.. great 👍 imagination..
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂 Sue’s photos are very evocative.
Excellent… and chilling!
Thanks, Ali. I do tend to wander dark paths sometimes 🙂
This was amazing! I loved the tension and the ending.
Thank you! Also, I notice you go to Ryerson – I went to Ryerson, many moons ago 🙂
Really? Isn’t the campus the most confusing thing EVER? What did you major in?
Well, I was there a loooong time ago, so I think the campus has probably grown since then. I do remember it being fairly vast, though, even then. I did Visual Communications, Fashion, believe it or not! haha I could have gone to York for Creative Writing, but for some reason I chose that degree instead…
The campus is pretty big, and almost none of the buildings are connected, so getting to your next class usually involves a ten minute walk….doesn’t seem like a lot, but it feels like much longer than ten minutes if you’re carrying heavy textbooks! Woah- that’s very different from creative writing. Did you enjoy yourself at least?
Did I enjoy myself? I enjoyed being in the heart of Toronto, and I made some great friends. The course itself wasn’t that great, to be honest – I believe it’s changed a lot in intervening years. I do remember having to walk a fair way to some lectures, but I think the campus was a bit more contained back then? 🙂
So you liked being at school, didn’t enjoy studying for school all that much. I can relate. I know that the administration added a bunch of new buildings, and the SLC got renovated a couple years back….otherwise, I have no idea how and if campus changed.
Well, I was there *shhh* 25 years ago, so it’s probably changed a lot since then! And the course itself wasn’t great, in that I didn’t really come out of it with much practical experience – however, I’ve heard that’s changed now too, which is good. Hope you’re enjoying your course 🙂
* I will keep your secret, don’t worry*…I hope it’s changed a bit now. Practical experience is just a TINY bit important 😛 Thanks for the good wishes!
You’re very welcome! Sorry for the delay in replying – it’s been a mad couple of days. Thanks for keeping my secret, too ;-D
LOL don’t worry about it, today is the first time I’m checking my blog since Sunday 😛
Oh that leaves you guessing… 🙂 Thanks, Helen!
Thanks, Sue 🙂
🙂
yep, nicely creepy
Thank you 🙂 *bows*
But wait, what if I place a text on my phone, “Get Help, I’m Stuck In This Slot!!” and wedge the phone into the slot?! Oh, look, someone is approaching!
“Look, dear. They’re giving away free cell phones!”
Drat!
😉 😉
Haha, nice one! I didn’t think about putting the phone through the slot – wonder if it would work… Or not?
This is almost like being buried alive. It has legs, Helen. Chilling and creepy.
Thanks, Hugh 😀 I don’t mind a dark twist sometimes…
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Huh. Am I the only one who found this funny? With the “art” (is that art or is that part of the castle or…) and the having to pee. This is fantastic. 🙂
I love that you found it funny, Sarah 🙂 It did kind of start out that way for me too, it was only towards the end it turned a bit darker. So I totally get it. Thank you x
Well, I thought it was amusing. 🙂 And well-written, as usual.
Thank you 🙂 x