Obsolete Gas Room: A Narrative Fiction

It was a routine Wednesday morning while I was walking to my bus stop when I heard someone shout in my general direction. I slowly glanced around, looking for the source through the dimly lit street in the dark, only to spot a hooded figure to my left leaning on a car. I quickly averted my eyes, my hand tightening around my messenger bag and picked up my pace. Not long after I heard heavy footsteps falling behind me, another shadow joining mine on the cracked sidewalks and another shout,

A humanly figure towered above me but I couldn’t identify it; it was faint and indistinct. My hands feel numb, my feet do too. My body feels exposed, and unusually moist; and I can’t blink – why can’t I blink? My torso stings in torment and my limbs feel stretched and distorted. The haziness slowly dwindled and my vision gradually cleared; but not quick enough to identify him. The anonymous figure abandoned the area leaving me to lie here in throbbing pain. I overheard him switching off a flame in the next room before leaving outside. And after that it was total silence, the only sound being the perpetual ticking of a grandfather clock that resonated all over the hall; tick tock, tick tock tick tock, tick

Robert Guthrie decided that he was going to do something bold. When he told people that he and his son were going to live in a gas station, they thought that he was crazy. Robert still decided to go ahead with his plan. He brought an old gas station outside of the New Orleans French corner. He transformed the 2,000 square foot space into a new home.

It didn't take long because our house wasn't very big. As i read the letter I became more and more sad.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. The noise echoed through the apartment until I had eventually made it down to the bottom floor, then, to the kitchen. Once at the kitchen, I looked around for a broken plate, odd enough, I couldn’t find one; I almost gave up until I saw something weird, the pantry was shaking, it was rumbling as if there was some sort of earthquake. I moved towards it, each step softer and slower than the previous. I feared that as soon as I opened the door, a man with a gun would come out and shoot; I could imagine it, but my curiosity got the better of me as I opened the door, as soon as I did however, I was greeted with a bright flash of light. I averted my eyes and covered my face with my hands, the light was too bright as it bled through my eye sockets, I was still able to see. It was almost as if I was looking into the sun. That was until the light had simply vanished. Once I felt as if I was safe, I opened my eyes again, to my surprise, I had jerked right out of bed, and I had heard the sound of plates being smashed to the ground once again. Immediately perceptive of my surroundings, yet surprised and confused at the same time, I glanced at my analog clock,

Rays of light woke me from my sleep, I hear a voice, a voice of a woman. Her voice had a sharp tone to it, a voice that has been through tough times. I looked down my arms and legs are restrained by metal cuffs that are looped into the arm rests. I look forward through the frosted glass I can see the outline of the lady with the sharp voice. Suddenly a wailing siren starts going off, the lady starts to rush around like a headless chicken going from one side of the room to the other. The metal cuffs suddenly retracted into the arm and leg rests, I fell forward and smashed my forehead on the glass. I felt a sharp pain in my head and something warm running down my face, darkness surrounded me and I closed my eyes and slipped off into unconsciousness.

The alleyway was desolate with no noises to be heard aside from the clinking of my heels against the concrete road. The street lights were all dead except one lamp that had a dim flickering light. There was a shadow cast near the edge of the alleyway that was inching closer until it were visible. A stranger stood underneath the dim spotlight that displayed their tattered jeans and an oversize sweatshirt that had a sports logo plastered on the front of it. That's all I could study off them before they suddenly charged towards me. As a reflex I flinched, but I stood in the same exact spot that I had been as I watched them. They were now right in front of me with their feet directly in front of mine with their head down. I could feel

I had to yell out or scream. I did. I had called for my loved ones who I knew were safe at home in Sussex. I ran. I ran until I could not run anymore. All I saw were blue bricks and a wooden ceiling rushing past. I was tired and all I could do was fall down on the floor. I stared at the ceiling. Waiting to die. Then when what felt like hours had gone by I heard a faint tapping in the walls. It is as if

I got out to look around, leaving my sleeping friends in the car. I only could see as far as the headlights lit up the forest. In the far distance I could see a very faint lights flickering. I walked towards them hoping there would be people who might have gas or be able to help us. I soon could see it was a house. A tall, two story, abandoned looking house. As I got closer, the more scared I became. I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up and got butterflies in my stomach. I didn't know why this was happening but I knew we needed help so I kept walking towards the house, like it was calling me.

As I walk out the door all alone… Thud Thud I hear loud footsteps like someone was walking towards me. I turned around and all I saw were the leaves falling off the trees and pure silence. I tell myself I’m hallucinating. I look to my front and start walking. A mysterious man was walking towards me. He was dressed in all black from head to toe. With his black sunglasses on, I couldn’t tell if he was looking at me. I started to shiver but he passed me. I suddenly turned around to see if he was looking back at me. But he wasn’t there anymore. I started wondering if all the things I saw were just hallucinations. At that moment I heard a loud scream. I thought it sounded like a girl. I immediately took my phone out and began dialing 911. I turn around not knowing what to do and I see the man holding a baseball bat. Then everything went blank.

Suddenly, every heartbeat feels like a turbulent push from within, as if a giant was placed within my chest. Every breath is like a nail bomb exploding in my innards. My muscles act as though they have been flash-burned with acid from the inside. My consciousness floats through an empty space filled with a thick static. Throughout the inky space, my pulse throbs in my ears alongside fading pleas for help. A faint chorus of shouts ring throughout the hall but before help reaches me, my body

I had just gotten back home from my university classes and like always, I gazed at the time on my watch. It was precisely 10:00 pm and in my town, known as the haunting hour. Concerned about the thought, I inserted the keys in the lock of my newly perfected dorm room. I was caught in the moment when a buzzing emanated from my bag. The whole series of events in those few minutes sent a chill up my spine.

I awaken in a state of confusion and dismay as to where I am and how I got here. I assign confusion to being in a pitch black room, or what I assume to be a room, I cannot tell for sure because it’s so dark and empty. As I stumble around and try to find some sort of clue as to where I am, a blinding light suddenly pierces through the darkness and shines with an unbearable heat against my pale face. I begin to wonder if I am trapped in here for a reason, maybe I have done something to deserve this. Maybe it was the time I stole from the local gas station, or maybe it was something much worse, maybe it was something more evil and of morbid intent. As I lay on the hard ground trying to push those dark memories deep inside my head, I begin to notice the light moving and change in brightness almost as if someone was holding it. I get the weird sensation that I am not alone and am being watched, but this feeling soon passes as I notice the room get hot and the air becomes thick with humid air like a summer night after a long storm. The air continues to get thicker; I begin to feel myself choking, and soon realize why I am in this place and just what it wants.

with tears in my eyes I left with my black hoodie, phone, headphones and a screwdriver in back pocket. I peeked into the hallway. I looked to my right. My grandparents’ door was closed as usual. I looked to my left. The light under the bathroom door illuminated the dark hallway. The shadow is large a list names go off in my head. When I hear the shower water go on, I know who exactly is in there. “Jorge.” I whispered to myself. I look a bit further to the left. The pitch black doorway to my parent’s room was darker than usual like a black hole only allowing my father’s loud snores escape. I tipped-toed into the livingroom. I passed by Jorge’s mattress and walked to the front door. I gripped the doorknob and realized the front door could give away my location to my sleeping family with its creakiness. I retreat backwards into the kitchen’s light. I felt the butterflies in my stomach find their way to my throat. I had no idea what I was going to do. I plug in my headphones and played my NiteTimezJamz3 Playlist to help me relax. I quickly braided my hair and stuffed into my hoodie. I quickly but quietly made my way towards the backyard.

I stood before my house in horror. Cars flashed by on a nearby street as red and blue lights flashed onto the walls of the building. It all began on a Saturday morning. My parents were sitting at the table with full pancakes on their plates, while I had a half of one on mine, and the other half being smashed with my teeth. Suddenly, a doorbell rang. I got up from my seat, still chewing on half of my pancake, and walked to the door. Each step I took on the tile floor was cold and slippery because I had mopped them ten minutes ago. As I approached the front door, I began to hear what appeared to be screaming. It seemed that the sound would get louder the closer I stepped. While I was walking toward the door, I began to think. “What is that noise? Is somebody hurt? I’d better hurry and find out,” I began to walk quickly, then more quickly, until I was running. I reached the door and threw it open. Immediately, I saw a man. His back was facing me. “Are you okay?” I asked loudly, so that he could hear me over his screams. I suddenly had a terrible feeling. It was the kind of feeling that makes a person feel suddenly cold. The man stopped crying. His head turned very slowly towards me. “Hello, little kid,” he said with a smile. His teeth were yellow and his eyes looked like he hadn’t slept in years. “Hi. Are you hurt?” I asked. The man just stood there, smiling and staring at me. After what felt like forever, he said, “Thank you for asking. I’m perfectly fine,” he