Story-A-Day #328: Tangles

TANGLES

The store was empty and they were just about ready to lock up. He looked over at Marci, who was staring vacantly at her watch.

"Why don't you head out?" he offered. "I can finish up here."

She shrugged indifferently and let herself out through the front doors. He watched her wander off across the parking lot, her bottom rolling ever so teasingly in her tight black pants.

She was a knockout for sure, but sometimes talking to her gave the impression that she was actually knocked out. There wasn't much happening upstairs, but she was okay.

As he turned back into the store to finish up the last of the closing duties, he heard the sound. He had been sure he had heard something earlier, but this time it was undeniable; a frantic scratching up in the ceiling tiles.

Mice maybe? Whatever it was up there, he needed to know. After a quick glance around, he climbed up onto the counter and after a brief moment of uncertainty, pulled of his phone and booted up his flashlight app.

When he was ready, he extended upward and pushed the ceiling tile up into the empty space above. The scratching noise stopped.

Using the bright LED glow from his phone, he surveyed the enclosure, a dark tangle of pipes, wires, and vents. He peered deep into the darkness, trying to make out any movement beyond the twisting of shadows.

There was nothing there.

He slid his phone back into his pocket and was just pulling the ceiling tile over when he heard the noise again. It was rushing towards him. He dropped down, suddenly filled with terror, and was about to roll down to the floor when the first muscular tendril wrapped itself around his neck. More shot out of the dark hole above clasping at his arms, legs, and torso. He felt himself being lifted upward, dragged into the darkness above by the leathery tentacles. He struggled against the binding force of the tangles, but it was useless, as he slowly disappeared into the ceiling, he saw the rows of gleaming teeth and angry red eyes that waited for him, drawing him closer inch, by inch, by inch.

As the snapping jaws drew close, a flurry of motion drew his eyes, a small grey mouse scurrying off into the dark.

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