From the Smoke Club to the Ridge, the Smoke Screen Unveils (Part 6) | 2 November, 2024 @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2544 | Prompt: please stop it

Part 5

Yes, I was in a cave. I remember being bound and dragged there by Melvin. The dark, damp, and cool interior captured only a small ray of light.

Groggy, but able to clear the cobwebs somewhat, I canvassed the interior and remembered I'd explored this particular cavern. I know because I placed a set of rocks in a certain position upon entering. I too time and attended to this identification marker with all the caverns I visited, forming an "L" shape.

The restraints were bound so tight blood trickled down through the torn flesh onto the ropes. As I tried to wiggle my wrists free from the restraints, I paused.

Although blindfolded, my sense of smell and my hearing were acute. Turning my ear toward the inner tunnel, I could hear approaching movement in the far distance and the echo of music.

Thoughts raced as did my pulse knowing that Melvin would return soon to check whether I was in the same position he left me. A faint sound drew near. I listened to music trailing a set of footsteps. Then, the distinct aroma of brewing coffee. But what astonished me was that I counted several shots fired from inside the cave.

Melvin's voice spiked in a lighthearted tone. "I've a special surprise my lovely Tracie." Dressed in a tailored suit, Melvin's action bordered on insane. I felt as though I was being treated to a romantic date. I watched with disbelief as Melvin played music, then waltzed around the cave, his hands fixed in a dance position as if twirling an invisible partner.

No sooner had the music rose to a crescendo, it suddenly ceased. Instantly, Melvin grabbed the stereo and hurled it across the opposite cave wall. The box crashed upon impact. He stomped the stereo until it lay shattered, continually screaming a female's name.

Then the rambling began that confirmed my suspicions. "Jordan was greedy; no, covetous. Nothing but crumbs. Now, I've got you all to myself,"

While Melvin was preoccupied, I freed myself and ran through the caverns. However, Melvin overtook me. There we struggled until I located a large rock and hit him in the face. He fell backward with the weapon still in his hand.

That is, until he fell forward for no apparent reason.

Now Part 6:

He's dead, I assumed. I didn't stop for a moment to consider otherwise. I scoured the various tunnels trying to remember which one led to the outside. I may never get this opportunity again I hoped with renewed strength. My hands were still tied, but adrenaline rushed through my veins, I glanced up.

There standing in the cave was Jordan.

Only a short distance separated us as he ran toward me. Fearful he would finish the job Melvin started, I bent down quickly to avoid his embrace. He followed my lead and pulled me back up and into his arms.

His word vomit made no sense.

"I'm thankful you're alive. You know I love you, Tracie, don't you? Let's just sit a while. After you calm down, perhaps you'd like something to drink? I believe I smell a pot of freshly brewed tea."

The excitement on Jordan's face scared me more than Melvin's evil countenance. No mention of Melvin or the fact that my hands were tied, or the dangerous situation I was not embroiled in. He acted as though we were in our apartment getting ready for nice, quiet evening. I'd had enough of his wild delusions, so I exploded.

"Please stop it"! I yelled," although in this hour I couldn't help but think of the irony of our situation. An engaged couple having their last drink together. But in this instance, I now realized the fiance wanted me dead.

Often in the past under stressful situations, my coping mechanism was to think of a situation completely unrelated.

Death comes to tea comically ran through my mind as Jordan was proposing we have a friendly cup of brew as though celebrating. Was he celebrating early his triumph over me? Or was he acknowledging his conquests of the deceased women he and Melvin held in this same cave? In either event, he presented death.

I quickly scoured the cave for any weapons he may have brought. Not spotting any, I immediately decided on another tactic. It was a good thing I knew at least one side of Jordan; as a couple in a relationship.

I played up to that. Buying me time and perhaps freedom from the cave was my only objective. Outside in the open I'd cross that road if I made it that far.

But first, distracting and gaining Jordan's trust was foremost.

"I'm thirsty." Smiling to gain composure, I leaned my head to the side against his shoulder. Feeling his chest pounding, I snuggled closer.

"Sure, Tracie, anything. Let's go back into the cave."

""NO!" I shouted. "It's creepy in here, and I feel nauseated. Take me outside and away from Melvin's sight."

Jordan froze. I could tell allowing me to leave the cave wasn't in his plans. Slowly, he glanced back; his eyes finally settling on Melvin's dead body. He said nothing of what had just occurred. Instead, he loosely tied my feet in silence then rose to tower over me. I'll be back shortly.

The moment he disappeared into the tunnel, I struggled with the rope around my ankles. I managed to rub my shoes against the rocks until they slipped off taking my socks with them. I was now barefoot. My pulse raced as I heard Jordan's footsteps, so I swung my feet around and placed them behind me so he wouldn't notice.

As promised, he returned about ten minutes later. Apparently, he was no stranger to the caverns. His hands were full with unfamiliar items in addition to the coffee pot and weapons belonging to Melvin; or them both.

He poured a cup of tea, then sat close on the cavern floor.

Silence fell between us as I drank the hot liquid while tracing the structures that hung from the cavern ceiling. I avoided his smile. My stomach was churning.

To distract him, I began in a low, cracked voice simulating nervousness. "Why aren't you dead? Melvin thrust an axe in your spine. I saw you drop dead to the ground outside bleeding out."

Jordan merely smiled. "Oh, Melvin is so dramatic. He loves to role play. He wouldn't harm me. He can't. It's all a joke to entertain our guests."

"What do you mean, he can't?" Confused, especially with the use of the word guests, my hands visibly shook, but continued to listen, trying to figure out what their true murderous connection entailed.

"What sick games are you playing? And is Melvin now dead lying there covered in blood or just pretending before deciding to resurrect himself and complete what he began with me?" I didn't want to tell him their ploy work. I was definitely fooled.

"He's dead for sure. I wouldn't have allowed him..."

Before he could finish, my ears perked as suddenly, in the distance, a faint sound of dogs barking grew louder. I could sense they were getting close. And the sound wasn't friendly barking. It reminded me of cadaver dogs.

Although shaking, I remained quiet hoping Jordan missed the sound.

Hope didn't last. Instantly, he jumped to his feet, toppling over the teapot as he bolted toward one of the tunnels.

In a flash, he returned with a weapon. But I was waiting with the hot liquid in the teapot. I dashed it in his face, stood up with the help of the wall, hit him with the pot, then ran barefoot screaming toward the sound of the barking dogs.

By the time Jordan caught up with me, the dogs covered him, tearing at his clothes and flesh. He'd no choice but to release my arms.

In a flurry of commotion, I didn't wait to see who accompanied the dogs. Someone yelled my name. But I just ran until I reached the entrance to the cave.

Once outside, I kept running.

[to be continued]

For my theme, I was inspired by and utilized the @daily.prompt's publishing of:

2 November 2024, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2544: please stop it!; and

31 october 2024, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2542: death comes to tea;

For your convenience if you'd like to return to the beginning of "From the Smoke Club to the Ridge, the Smoke screen Unveils" drama, I set out below Chapters 1 - 5:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Good luck everyone with whatever your endeavors.

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English is my native language.
If translation included, I use DeepL to assist my readers.
Thanks for your patience an understanding.