The Carlswick Affair

  Chapter 33

  Stephanie took a steadying breath and edged her way along the wall into the darkness. The cold seemed to shroud her, causing goose bumps to break out along her arms, and a sweet musty smell hit her nostrils. Ahead in the gloom, she could hear little scurrying feet and she supressed a shudder. Keeping the fingers of one hand trailing lightly against the wall, she took a few more tentative steps, desperately trying to get her eyes accustomed to the dark. This room is much bigger than it appears.

  Suddenly, the key turned in the lock and the door flew open. She froze, her heart threatening to hammer out of her chest, as Alex strolled calmly into the room. He paused and swore as his gaze passed over the empty bed.

  “Where are you, Steph? Do I have to come and find you? Is that what you want? A little game of hide and seek?” he asked mockingly. “What does the winner get?” he continued, his voice turning cold and menacing. “You won’t get away and when I’m gone, no one will find you.”

  Stephanie looked around, terrified. There was nowhere to go, except further into the darkness. She could sense Alex stalking towards her. There was nothing for it – she had to run. She plunged into the darkness until, hands in front of her, she crashed into a wall. Turning to her left, she caught sight of row upon row of narrow shelves stretching across into the darkness. Quickly skirting along several rows, she raced down one of them, hoping that Alex hadn’t seen which one she had selected. Unfortunately he had. Glancing over her shoulder, she could sense him gaining on her. A break in the shelves appeared on her right and she took it, immediately doubling back towards the far wall again. Her eyes had adapted to the gloom and this time she saw the end wall before she came to it. She quickly skipped along two rows and paused, hiding.

  Alex had stopped running too.

  Oh, hell, she thought, desperately listening for any sound. A scuff to her left and she started running again, back towards the light. Footsteps sounded behind or maybe they were beside her? She wasn’t sure. The drum beat of her heart threatened to drown out all other sounds.

  “Come on, Stephanie. You know you can’t outrun me,” he taunted. She halted again, but didn’t reply. His voice gave her an indication of where he was – in front, somewhere. Abruptly she changed direction and tiptoed across another two rows. The cellar was vast, but the racks were empty. Weaving her way among them, she reached the final row, which was filled with wooden crates.

  Maybe I could hide in one? she thought, but immediately dismissed the idea – I would be trapped.

  Creeping slowly back towards the light, she used the crates to duck behind, every few steps.

  “Well, you just make yourself comfortable down there, while I finish packing,” Alex called amiably from the alcove at one end of the cellar. He set his powerful flashlight down on the floor, illuminating the rows.

  Stephanie pushed herself between the crates, out of sight. I wonder what’s in all of these crates? The crate nearest to her had been broken open. Curious, she peered inside. A skull peered sightlessly back at her.

  She screamed and scrambled backwards.

  “Oh, I forgot to tell you that you were sharing a room,” Alex called, laughing. “They pissed me off too, you know,” he added, menacingly.

  They? Stephanie gulped and started running, zigzagging in and out of the shelves until she was back on the far side of the room. Terror filled her and she struggled for breath. The nausea seemed worse again and she crouched down against the wall, trying to calm herself.

  Keep moving, Steph.

  Creeping silently forward, she peeked through a gap in the racks and watched from the shadows as Alex lifted up a tarpaulin and pulled out a large backpack and two suitcases and placed them by the door. He crouched, sorting through a large box on the floor. This is my chance, she thought.

  Taking a deep breath, she started running towards the open door. As she passed through the doorway, she saw Alex straighten and turn towards her, his arms outstretched.

  “Come back here, you little bitch,” he shouted.

  She was so busy looking back over her shoulder to see where he was, that she wasn’t watching where she was going.

  “Ooomph.” Her breath was knocked out of her as she ran into a solid mass. She felt her arms trapped and looked down to see large weathered hands holding her, vice-like. Turning her frightened gaze upwards, her eyes met those of a tall, heavy set, unshaven man. He smiled, smothering her with sour breath from a mouth missing several teeth.

  Terror took over. “James!” she screamed before a hand clamped over her mouth.