Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: SKULDUGGERY (09/01/16)
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TITLE: Twin Deceits | Previous Challenge Entry
By Hugh Houchin
09/08/16 -
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He glanced at his watch. Only five minutes until the museum closed. A shiver of doubt traveled through every nerve cell in his 19 year old body. He couldn’t believe he’d agreed to the dare from Bill; his roommate at the Community College in their hometown.
Jason heard footsteps and the air-powered entrance door closer whooshed; He smothered a gasp.
“Anybody here, the museum’s closing for the day.”
His heart pounding Jason grimaced. “Sounded like Dick, the manager. How would I explain why I’m here?”
Jason heard a click and the opener whooshed again. His eyes adjusted to pitch-black darkness and the silence inkiness brings. “Do I dare turn the bathroom light on?” I have no idea where the switch is.”
His skin crawled as darkness and silence clawed at him. The luminous numbers on his watch eerily glowed 5:05. “What am I going to do for the next 15 hours and 55 minutes? How will I get out when they open at 9:00 tomorrow? I’ll figure it out; I’ve got all night.”
His eyes accustomed to the darkness he unwound from the toilet stool, stood up, and opened the door of the stall.
His watch read 5:15. With outstretched arms he took tiny steps until his hands found the bathroom wall. Sideways, hand over hand, he followed the wall until he reached the door and opened it. More darkness and silence greeted him.
He heard nothing. He took off his backpack and felt through its contents until his fingers wrapped around the flashlight he’d packed. He also touched the lunch meat sandwiches stowed inside; his stomach growled.
“Settle down, we’ll eat later.”
His senses still scanning for life he guided the flashlight beam around the room. “The outside world is sealed away. No one outside can see inside.”
Nevertheless, he didn’t feel safe turning on any lights.
Jason toured his home for a night. With a flashlight it looked and felt like a different world. From that afternoon he remembered the room commemorated the California gold rush. With different mining scenes painted on all four walls, the inner décor detailed a gold-miners camp with mannequins dressed in 1800’s garb panning for gold.
Placed throughout the room were four-inch thick glass cases full of mining equipment from that era, including real gold nuggets.
He heard a noise and turned off the flashlight. He took three or four steps and ducked behind one of the glass cases near a wall. Jason heard the door groan as it opened. His breathing quickened as he tried to take deep breaths to calm down.
“Maybe the night guard?"
He watched three people with flashlights creep into the room. One stayed by the door; the other two walked in with their flashlights sweeping the area in front of them.
Jason fought panic. What could he do? The two were getting close and the person standing in the doorway blocked his only way out of the room. His only hope depended on the two not seeing him, or if they went to the other side of the room.
Without warning the person in the doorway flicked on the lights in the room. A three-piece chorus of “Surprise, surprise” filled the room.”
With mixed emotions Jason stared at Dick, Bill, and Rose Ann, his girlfriend.
He didn’t play any roles. “Okay, okay, you’ve got me. I give up; what’s going on? The eyes won as all fell on Bill.
Bill looked around. “Jason, I felt guilty because I knew you’d try to pull off the dare. All sorts of things could have happened as a result and none of them good. But I wanted to have some fun so I told Dick about tonight, and that I’d like to surprise you. He agreed, and I asked Rose Ann if she’d like to help.
“Dick, how’d you know where to find me?”
“As manager I know where all the cameras are, so I simply adjusted the surveillance areas. Except when you were in the stall, you were always monitored.”
Jason looked at Ruth Ann. “Well?”
She looked at Jason. “It’s like this. One of the reasons I fell in love with you is your stubborn brashness. I wouldn’t have missed this evening if they’d paid me. Now, kiss me so I know I’m forgiven.”
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