Cervidae

I can't leave my home. It's been three days since I tried.

It made no difference to me at first. I already was a glorified hermit. It had been over a week since I'd last ascending those stairs. So I wasn't sure exactly when the issue with the door had started.

The door to the outside of my basement lair I called home was blocked. I wasn't sure what had happened? Maybe there was an issue with the locks? It was an old rusty metal door after all. There could have been some boxes stacked blocking the exit. Maybe I'd died and this was purgatory? That was a stupid notion.

I'd been too engrossed in the coding I had been working on to really care.

I should have checked if there was another way out of the place before I decided to set up a base here. But there didn't seem to be any. I was hoping for a secret passage like in Zelda.

There were no windows or service lifts. It had been a couple months since I moved in and I was just happy to find some place to lay my head. I'd been running for awhile and I liked the familiarity of the dank dwelling.

The basement was more of a storage cellar, there were corridors that branched out. The walls were thick and you couldn't hear the outside world. Perfectly isolating.

The place didn't smell the best. But that could be coming from me. I mainly washed in the sink and I hated the portable camping one I'd rigged up. Not that hygiene was ever a priority.

I had tried to make the place more homely, hanging blankets to section out a bedroom and a kitchen type of set up in one corner out of view. I'd added a space heater, rugs, and a few other essentials. And of course a mini fridge.

Above my home was a small apartment block. The old landlord Mr Jenkins had found me squatting here. I had made up some sob story, and he let me stay.I had agreed to help him with odd jobs and any IT issues. Mostly setting internet routers and reprogramming televisions. Things your grandparents think you're a genius for doing.As well as investing stock for him to secure a future for his grandchildren. He didn't see his family much these days. They had all grown up and left town. He awkwardly told me I reminded him of his eldest grandson that had sadly passed away. I found that a little creepy, but I guess he was just lonely and that's why he took a liking to me.

The apartments were run down I don't expect they made him much income. But he was a nice man who seemed to take pity on people.

I had left a voicemail and a text with Mr Jenkins a couple days ago. But I hadn't heard anything back. I had to help him to set up his first smart phone. He was still getting used to using it. Probably forgot his password. Boomers for you.

I could have called the authorities, but I was paranoid they might arrest me. I didn't know anyone else here and I didn't trust anyone to help me out.

I'd been involved in some unsavoury schemes and hacking online, and was wanted by a few different agencies.I'd already burned enough bridges and generally never did like or trust people. A couple assholes I had made the mistake of trusting took immunity deals and set me up.

So I was more than happy to stay down here with my computer and hotplate.

If things got too desperate I might have to call emergency services.But I didn't want to think about that right now.

I'd try to get the door open myself if needs be or just stay down here until the door situation was fixed. Mr Jenkins sometimes came down here to ask for help or bring me food.He might be visiting family out of town or he might be feeling under the weather. I was saddened to think he could have died. I don't think anyone else knew I was down here.

He'd open the door or someone would eventually if something bad had happened.

There was enough food to last a while. I stocked up on supplies the few times I went out buying in bulk from different stores, as to not attract attention. I was probably just being paranoid. But I didn't want to risk living in a cell without a computer or internet access. At least the cell I was residing in had those essentials. I could probably catch a rat or two if I had to I nervously laughed to myself.

Luckily the basement was also stocked with canned goods and provisions. Likely from years of Cold War and Corona Virus paranoia. But those didn't include the caffeinated drinks and the heatable TV dinners I liked.

I stared blankly at the screens at my desk. The glow illuminated the makeshift room. I had been working on my Microsoft tan for far too long.

I chugged my energy drink and brushed away the crumbs from my chest. Adjusting my headphones.

I had paid for the set up with Bitcoin.I could have lived somewhere nicer but I didn't want to risk getting caught. I should have been in Mexico by now. But I liked my current living arrangement and I don't do too well in the heat.

My Landlord didn't ask too many questions and I think he was just happy for the help and the company. I reluctantly had to admit the feeling was mutual.

I snapped out of my thoughts and began to click with my mouse, surveying my monitors.

On one screen my coding and hacking projects. I had taken odd jobs online. Low profile ones.I resisted the urge to delve into bigger more conspicuous ones like I was used to.

The other screen had a true crime YouTuber talking about a gory scene.The last screen I had was open on Discord.

I didn't have any real life friends. On the internet I talked to people, I guess I could call them friends in the broadest sense. We mainly exchanged memes and insults. In-between recommending anime and movies to watch.

I had told them about the door situation and they laughed and made jokes. The irony of a chronically online person being stuck in a basement was not lost on me.

All of a sudden the lights and power went out. I was in complete darkness and the shock made me knock over my drink. I went to wipe it off my keyboard. I caught something strange out of the corner of my eye reflected off the now dark screens. I quickly turned around but there was nothing there.

I checked my phone and it was 3am. Probably the lack of sleep, creepy podcasts, and energy drinks had gotten to me.

I tried to get some sleep on my bed Hoping the power would come back on in the morning.

My dreams were plagued with the faces of the few people that meant anything in my life. My mother. My few friends from school.Mr Jenkins. Their appearances changed and contorted into ghoulish apparitions. The ghouls jeered and insulted me. Screw up. Failure. Worthless.

I woke up with a start. Pumping in a cold sweat. The room was pitch black and I reached out for my phone. It was 1pm.

I tried some of the light switches and the computer using my phone's flashlight to help me see. But nothing worked.

Damn.

I could try and fix the power box?

I navigated my way to where the box was. I shone the phone light on the inside. Trying my best to flick the switches and fix the problem. Nothing worked.

I would have to get some help. I tried the door again but it was still jammed.

I then heard faint scratching.

I put my ear up to the door. More scratching.

The scratching became louder and then I heard a bang against the door which made me jump backwards.

"What the hell was that? " I exclaimed.

My mind raced as to what it could be?

Maybe a rabid animal?

I put my head back to the door I heard a groaning sound and some words were mumbled. Wait is that a person? That's probably why I couldn't get out. I called out again, but I could barely hear anything. Just faint groaning and moaning.

Had a junkie passed out at the bottom of the stairs?The town did have a drug problem.

It could be Mr Jenkins who had come to see me. Had he fallen over and blocked the door? I probably didn't hear him calling out with my headphones glued to my ears. My eyes fixated on my screens. Plus it was hard to hear anything down here so I wasn't completely at fault.

It was difficult to see the entry way on the other side of the door from the upstairs. Passers by probably hadn't noticed. They likely hadn't cared if it was in fact a junkie.

I could ring the authorities. But then they might come asking questions or look around. But it could be Mr Jenkins down there, was I really that callous ?

I'd keep the call anonymous.

I reluctantly rang emergency services on my phone. But I couldn't get through. The signal could be spotty down here. The wif-fi was out and the 5G wasn't working. I rang my Landlord one last time but there was still no service. I didn't have anyone else I could think of to contact but that made no difference now.

The power was out, and that meant it would be out in the rest of the building. A maintenance guy could show up and find the injured person. That would happen sooner than later I hoped.

I went back to my room and dicked around on my phone for a good few hours.

There wasn't much else to do and I needed to distract myself. I chugged another energy drink and eating a bag of corn chips I eventually fell asleep whilst leaning back in my gaming chair feet up on my desk.

I had the same awful dream. I was startled awake by a glowing light. It was my computer. The power was back on.

Has someone been down to fix the power ? I checked the door but it was still blocked. My phone signal was still out.

I went back to my computer and grimaced at how sticky the keyboard still was.

I contacted the emergency services via text service, the responder said the address didn't exist.They assumed I was playing a prank after I explained the situation and dropped the chat.

I looked for the apartment complex to find a contact but it wasn't listed. I looked for local businesses, services and nothing came up.

I looked for any trace of the town online but nothing came up. I know it was a small place out of the way, but everything and most everyone was online these days.

I looked through forums, searched the internet for any trace. There wasn't a thing. I looked up the latest conspiracy theory tin foil hat threads. Nothing specifically about the town. The usual lizardmen in office stuff. Some new UFO sightings. A couple strange pictures of sick people that were probably fake.

But that didn't help my current situation I was still stuck down here with a half dead guy on the other side of the door.

I doubt anyone online cared enough to listen to my ramblings and go out of their way to come find me.

My discord chat pinged.

"Just get the door open then, dumb ass" my friend said.

" Find a screwdriver, blow torch,grenade, chainsaw" another said another.

" I dunno YouTube it, there's probably a myth busters episode" said the last.

YouTube slowly loaded.I typed in how to open a stuck metal door. Ads started playing. Reminder to myself to buy premium. Then the damn power went out again. I looked at my phone in desperation. No internet.No signal. Low battery.

I was in the dark once again. I felt unsettled and I really just wanted the problem to go away. For the guy outside to get up and walk away.For someone, anyone to come walking down those stairs. I could just wait, just wait for the problem to solve itself.But what if something bad had happened to the town? It was so strange there wasn't anything listed online. What if no one was coming to help then?

I'd be locked in. I could wait out the guy on the otherside. If he died he'd waste away eventually right ?

 But l felt guilty. I remembered my dream. Screw up. Failure. Worthless. My kind old Landlords face playing in my mind.

I made the regrettable decision to get the door open.I switched on my phone's light ,which was now just a glorified flashlight, and looked around the rest of the basement.

I didn't find a grenade, chainsaw, or screw driver. But I did find a blow torch. I found a God damn blow torch, welder's mask,and gloves. I'd never done any blue collar work before. I propped up my phone and reluctantly put on the gloves and mask and fiddled with the torch. It came to life.

My phone had drained all of its battery now.I used the blow torch to navigate my way back to the door. I could hear moaning and banging start again as I got to the door. " Whoever's there if you can hear me I'm going to melt down the door, so you know, you might want to watch out" I warned loudly.

I didn't hear a coherent reply.

I hope they hear me.

I managed to make a few holes near the hinges.

I didn't hear any crys of pain, so I guessed I hadn't hurt the guy. 

I was proud of my crudely done job. I took off my mask.

I called out to the holes in the door. "Hello can you hear me"?

The person on the other side was making a sound now. I took off the welding mask.

I went closer to listen. As I put my ear to the door I heard the snapping sound of teeth. I pulled my head backwards. I put the blow torch up to the holes and I could see part of a ghoulish face staring back at me.His eyes were bloodshot. Was it just some junkie after all?

The guy was making odd noises and snarling. He really must be off his head. I put the blow torch near him hoping to scare him away from the holes. When he backed away I shouted for help as loud as I could.

The junkie guy tried chomping again at the holes and I put up the flames once more. I kept shouting until my voice was hoarse.

I was about to burn at the hinges when I heard people talking in the distance.

Then footsteps from the stairs that led upwards from the other side of the door. Then more footsteps. My wish from earlier had been granted.

I heard a sickly smacking sound and then something heavy being dragged away.I peered through the holes in the door, the rays of light from outside blinding me a little. I could just make out three figures. Two upright and one slumped in the corner he wasn't moving or making a sound.

A panic set in as I realised the poor guy in a heap was the cause of door blockage and what kept the outside from getting in. Had these guys hurt him or even killed him ? Was that what the smacking sound was.

" Is someone down here? we heard someone calling out" man one asked

I didn't reply.

" What's that?" Man one said.

Shit, I'd left the blow torch on and they could see it through the holes in the door.

"Look if someone's down here we live in the apartments above, we know there's boxes of food down there" he continued.

" We've seen that nerdy little fella bringing stuff in "

"We just want some supplies, we don't want any trouble" man two said.

I sort of recognised the voices. I was reluctant to let them in after they had bashed that other guy's head in. Plus I couldn't guarantee they wouldn't hurt me.

I put my weight against the door and quickly held the handle before one of the men tried to use it.

"No luck" man one said.

" We can try another time let's just raid the store down the street" man two sighed.

They left going back up the stairs.

I let out sigh. When I thought they were far enough away I finally pushed the door open.

The light blinded me and I was welcomed by the sight of a heavy set old man collapsed in the corner of the small entry way. His head was caved in. Blood and brains splattered across the walls and floor. A trail of blood and ooze slimed across the floor where he had been dragged away.

His legs were broken. His clothes were torn and his skin was a mixture of purple and yellow. There was a strange wound on his arm covered in a bandage.There was a broken plate of food next to him. Now spoilt and festering.

 Mr Jenkins ? He had probably brought me something to eat, and fell down the stairs. Not being able to move.

That's when the smell hit me. The smell of rot. I threw up my energy drink and chips. I felt awful and guilty that I hadn't done anything sooner.

I should have just gone back through the door there and then. If only I had. Some stupid part of me needed to know what the hell was going on?

The lack of information online, the ramblings of tinfoil hat conspiracies. Mr Jenkins messed up dead body that unsettlingly looked like those photos I thought were fake photos.

Plus I couldn't guarantee those guys wouldn't come back. It's weird they wanted food.

I needed to know what was happening and see if I could get some help.

As I got up the stairs the town was more of a mess than usual. There were cars abandoned in the streets. Broken windows.

I walked down the street a short while. And I was greeted by similar sights. I saw people in the distance. They were shuffling around staring vacantly.

I heard a scream from a little ways down the street. The two guys from before. One of them was being attacked by a group of people.

The other guy left him and started running towards my direction to escape.

I ducked behind a car hoping he didn't see me.

Unfortunately he did.

" Hey hey you" he shouted. He was pacing further over to me.

Shit. I tried to run, but I was out of shape. It was the first time I'd regret spending so much time behind a screen.

I could hear him behind me. I wanted to get back to the safety of my basement. I managed to get back to the stairs and hurried down them, panting and wheezing as I did. I stupidly slipped at the bottom and I landed in the gore and puke.

I hurried and pulled the door open closing it behind me. Putting the weight against the door once again.

" I knew it, I damn well knew there was someone down there" the man exclaimed angrily from the other side.

" I bet you're that little weirdo I see coming in and out?" he laughed. " Shame about our dear old Landlord" he said sarcastically.

Silence.

" You got my friend killed you know that?"he carried on now more enraged.

"You could have just let us in" he barked.

He was banging on the door now. This went on for a while.He would have to give up at some point.

He did. But not before the thudding came. Thud after thud, after thud.

"Oh hell" the man shouted.

I dared a look out of the holes I'd burned. I saw ghoulish shambling people. Dozens of them descended the stairs.

The guy was trapped. I could let him in? But maybe he would hurt me or worse yet those things would get in too.

"Come at me you freaks" he screamed. The man drew a gun. Shots hit the mob in the bodies but they didn't go down. He got one in the head and the sick soul fell backwards to the ground. The man's gun was spent. He grabbed at a knife and started to stab but it was no use. They kept coming probably attracted by the gunshots and shouting.

The man turned around now banging at the door loudly.

"Let me in man let me in" he cried. " I'm sorry about what I said, it's just been a lot, the world's gone to hell" he pleaded. " We can help each other, we could survive together" he continued.

He screamed as the ghoul things bit into him. Tearing and clawing.

I looked away covering my ears. His screams went silent.

I could still hear them, chewing and biting.

I started to cry. Covered in blood, puke, and now my own piss. Sat in the darkness in the place I had called home.