She brushed back the overgrown bushy foliage
Pricking her finger on a thorny branch
She instinctively stemmed the flow of blood sucking it dry
The salty blood made her feel suddenly nauseated
As she remembered why she was there
Facing her stood a heavy barn door with a thick wrought iron latch
At first the latch wouldn’t budge from sheer human force
Grabbing a hammer from her back pack she smashed the latch as hard as she could
After several attempts the rusted latch grated over releasing the aged seal
She kicked the barn door hard; it creaked and groaned like a monster on a leash
Musty dank air escaped in a sudden powerful rush
The daylight shining dimly down a decrepit timber staircase
She flipped on her torch; it flickered on and off, the battery almost gone
She knew time was limited so grasping the rotting railing
She slowly descended the creaking stairs
Gently testing each step with half her weight
The stairs felt like they were floating above a black swirling pit
Memories flashed a lightning fast movie in her mind
That demonic toothless smile the suffocating weight
Her paralysed body when only her eyeballs could move
The terror trapped in her motionless body
Shivering feverishly a wave of fear engulfed her
Sweat blistered across her brow even though the air was icy
As the memories threatened to halt her descent
She felt her skin prickle as she inhaled the acrid smell of her own fear
Swallowing the bile of horror that threatened to drown her
She continued downwards flickering her torch against slimy wet walls
Her heart pounding faster, so large in her chest, the beat deafening
She looked in her hand a visceral red pulsing mass quivered
Shuddering she blinked away the frightful eidetic illusion
Gulping deep breaths she steeled herself to continue
A sudden wave of anger spurred her on; she could do this, yes
The memories again flashing violently behind her eyes
Feeling each thought in deep stabbing bursts of vibrant colour
Clinking, gnashing chains, desperate crying, sobbing
The stench of foul air, wafts of sewage and refuse
The smell so intense she staggered as if hit by an unseen force
So toxic it burned the inside of her nostrils
She covered her nose with her shirt sleeve
Trying to filter the rotting vapours that burned their way through
The railing was wet and slimy she touched a gravelly mush like substance
Then it hit her again the powerful mineral-ish smell of blood and faeces
Uncontrollable vomit spewed from her mouth
The smell and taste of vomit mixed with the reek of death made her feel faint
A candle flickered ahead; something was hunched against the wall
It moaned, she edged closer then all went black her torch had died
Suddenly the barn door thundered shut
Written by Wendy Norman
Follow this link to another chapter in the book draft, maybe the excerpt.. https://seafarrwide.com/2017/06/17/a-story-of-fear/
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