ADVENTURES OF THE SPECK 5
ON THE BIG BAD BOULEVARD PLAYING DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS
A CHAPTER IN THREE PARTS
PART TWO
DUNGEON
MY NAME IS TATE TYNEE
AKA THE SPECK
I WAS BORN WITH THE STRANGE ABILITY
TO SHRINK IN SIZE
RIGHT NOW I AM THE SIZE OF A CHILD
A LITTLE OVER THREE FEET TALL
AND I AM IN THE TRUNK OF A CAR
ITS DARK IN HERE
I ROLL INTO A FETAL POSITION
CLOSE MY EYES BREATHE DEEP
GIVE MYSELF A FEW MOMENTS
SO THE ADRENALINE IN MY BLOOD CAN BURN OFF
I NEED MY HANDS TO STOP SHAKING
I LISTEN TO THE CARS ENGINE
THE ROLLING OF THE TIRES
THE DRIVING OVER BUMPS
THE STOPPING AT LIGHTS
THE TURNING OF CORNERS
MY HANDS BECOME STILL AND STEADY
ITS A BIT CRAMPED IN THE TRUNK
I GIVE MYSELF SOME SPACE
BY SHRINKING TO A FOOT TALL
I SIT UP IN THE NOW CAVERNOUS DARKNESS
CROSS MY LEGS AND REACH INTO MY BACKPACK
MY BACKPACK AND CLOTHES SHRUNK WITH ME
BECAUSE I CAN SHRINK THINGS TOO
HOW DO I DO IT
I DO IT AS FAST AS YOU CAN BLINK YOUR EYES
I PULL OUT MY FLASHLIGHT CLICK IT ON
SEARCH THE TRUNK FOR CAMERAS
YEAH
ONE GUY HAD HIS TRUNK SET UP LIKE THAT
WITH A TINY SURVEILLANCE CAMERA
BEING SEEN BY IT LED TO A RATHER UNSETTLING EXPERIENCE
I SWING MY TORCH AROUND
NO CAMERAS
THIS GUYS GOOD THOUGH
THE TRUNK IS IMMACULATE
LINED WITH PLASTIC SHEETING
TO CONTAIN AND DISPOSE OF
ALL EVIDENCE OF ME AND MY ABDUCTION
I FEEL A BIT ILL
AM I HUNGRY
I PULL OUT A NUTRITION BAR CHOKE IT DOWN
DRINK SOME WATER FROM MY THERMOS
NOT TOO MUCH
DONT WANT TO HAVE TO PEE
THE CAR IS MOVING SMOOTH AND STEADY
MY DRIVER TONIGHT IS ON HIS BEST BEHAVIOR
DOESNT WANT TO ATTRACT
THE ATTENTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
WHILE HES GOT A KID IN HIS TRUNK
IM NOT A KID BY THE WAY
IM 37 YEARS OLD
HAVE AN UNRULY CROWN OF WHITE HAIR
I LOOK LIKE THE GEEKY CLONE OF JIM JARMUSCH
THE LONGER WE DRIVE AWAY FROM
THE BIG BAD BOULEVARD
THE MORE RESPECTABLE I THEORIZE
MY ABDUCTOR TO BE
ARE WE ROLLING INTO THE SUBURBS NOW
OR DOES HE LIVE IN A MORE POSH NEIGHBORHOOD
OR IS HE REALLY CAUTIOUS
AND WERE DRIVING TO AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT
CITY OR STATE
WE WILL SEE
ALL I SEE NOW IS MY TORCH
BLAZING IN FRONT OF ME
LIKE A CAMPFIRE ON SOME HUNTING EXPEDITION
THE NUTRITION BAR WHETTED MY APPETITE
WANT MORE TO EAT NOW
BUT DECIDE AGAINST IT
DONT WANT TO OVERLOAD MY BODY
AND SUFFER CHEMICAL CONSEQUENCES
SLEEPINESS SLUGGISHNESS SICKNESS
INSTEAD I REACH INTO MY BACKPACK
FEEL STUPID AND ASHAMED
FOR WHAT I REACH FOR
DO IT OR DONT MY MIND COMMANDS
I PULL OUT THE NEWSPAPER
CHECK MY HOROSCOPE
SOMETIMES WHEN I FEEL LOST THREATENED AFRAID
AT MY WITS END
RUDDERLESS
I READ MY HOROSCOPE
I CONSIDER IT A BAD HABIT
BUT INDULGE MYSELF
SOMETIMES THE RANDOM INSPIRATION HELPS
TONIGHT IT DOESNT
THE HOROSCOPE JUST SAYS SOME CRAP
ABOUT TAKING SOMEONE SPECIAL
OUT TO DINNER
I STUFF THE PAPER BACK IN MY PACK
AND FOCUS ON REALITY
MAYBE MY ABDUCTOR IS DRIVING IN CIRCLES
OR IN SOME STRATEGIC ROUTE
TO LOSE ALL POSSIBLE PURSUERS
MAYBE HES DRIVING TO SOME REMOTE LOCATION
TO TORTURE THEN OFF ME
MY FULL CODE NAME IS THE SPECKTATER
AND THIS IS THE SPECKTATING PART
WHEN I JUST SIT AND WAIT FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN
I BETTER NOT FALL ASLEEP
I DO SOME PUSHUPS AND SITUPS TO WAKE UP
THEN I SIT CROSSLEGGED AND TRY TO QUIET MY MIND
I TRY AND SUCCEED
ALL THERE IS FOR A LONG WHILE
IS THE PURR OF THE ENGINE
AND TIRES ROLLING ON ASPHALT
THE CAR TURNS LEFT
CLIMBS A CURB
PAUSES
MAYBE FOR A GARAGE DOOR TO OPEN
THEN IT PULLS SLOWLY FORWARD
STOPS
THE E BRAKE IS PULLED THE ENGINE TURNED OFF
THATS IT
WERE ON
ZIP UP PACK
PUT ON SHOULDERS
EXPAND TO CHILD SIZE AGAIN
RED CAP ON TIGHT
HIDE MY WHITE HAIR
SHOULD JUST DYE IT
FETAL POSITION
DONE
COME ON YOU LOSER
I DONT HAVE ALL NIGHT
PREP FOR ATTACK
TRUNK OPENS
YOU WOULDNT BELIEVE
HOW MANY OF THESE DUNGEONS EXIST
NOR WOULD YOU BELIEVE
HOW MANY OF THEM IVE BEEN IN
STILL THE SIZE OF A CHILD
I CRAWL OUT OF THE PILLOW SACK
THE ROOM IS PITCH BLACK EXCEPT FOR
A THIN BAR OF LIGHT
EMITTING FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY
DUNGEON CHAMBERS DOOR
I PULL OUT MY FLASHLIGHT CLICK IT ON
NO CAMERAS IN THE ROOM
I CLICK OFF THE FLASHLIGHT
EXPAND TO TRUE SIZE AND SUIT UP
THE DARKNESS DOESNT HINDER ME
IVE DONE THIS BEFORE
HELMET GLOVES JACKET
READY
I TURN ON THE HEADLAMP MOUNTED ON MY HELMET
FURTHER EXAMINE MY DUNGEON CELL
ITS BARELY WIDER THAN MY SHOULDERS
AND AS LONG AS A COFFIN
I WAS DELIVERED TO THIS CHAMBER IN A PILLOW SACK
PILLOW SACK SERVES TWO PURPOSES
HOOD AND BED
OTHERWISE THERES NOTHING ELSE IN HERE
EXCEPT A PLASTIC BUCKET
AND THE OVERPOWERING SCENT OF DISINFECTANT
ON THE WALLS AND FLOOR ARE MANY STAINS
IN THE CEILING IS A SINGLE LIGHT
A HALOGEN LIGHT BY THE MIRRORED LOOK OF IT
THERE ARE NO WINDOWS OR VENTS
ONLY THE DOOR IN FRONT OF ME
IN THE DOOR IS A PEEPHOLE
A GLASS AND METAL ONE
IM SURE IT PEEPS IN AT ME AND NOT OUT
I CLICK OFF MY HEADLAMP
WHEN MY CAPTOR OPENED THE TRUNK
THE LIGHTS IN HIS GARAGE WERE OFF
HE HAD NO WEAPON
ONLY THE PILLOW SACK
HE STUFFED ME INTO IT
ME READY TO SHRINK AND VANISH FROM ANY THREAT
THEN CARRIED ME INTO THE HOUSE
AS FAR AS I CAN SURMISE
WE ENTERED A CLOSET
IN THE CLOSET FLOOR WAS A TRAPDOOR
UNDER THE TRAPDOOR WERE CREAKING WOODEN STAIRS
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS WAS ANOTHER DOOR
THAT LED TO THE DUNGEON
WHERE IS MY CAPTOR NOW
IS HE HOLDING ANYONE ELSE CAPTIVE
FROM THE SIZE OF MY QUARTERS
I HYPOTHESIZE THAT THIS GUY
HAS HIS DUNGEON SET UP
WITH SEVERAL NARROW COFFIN LONG CHAMBERS
BLOODY HELL
I SHRINK DOWN TO SPECK SIZE
AND ENTER THE SLICE OF LIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF MY DOOR
I HATE SHRINKING TO ANY SIZE UNDER SIX INCHES
EXISTING AT THAT SIZE IS LIKE
HARDLY EXISTING AT ALL
BUT ITS THE ONLY WAY OUT
I JOG UNDER THE DOOR
WHEN ONE IS THE SIZE OF A SPECK
DUST BECOMES AS DENSE AND HARD TO TRAVERSE AS BEACH SAND
PEBBLES BECOME BOULDERS
A DOORS THICKNESS BECOMES A ONE HUNDRED YARD DASH
RUN SPECK RUN
THERE
IM OUT FROM UNDER THE DOOR
I EXPAND TO SIX INCHES
THE HALL IS LIT
WHATS WITH THE HALOGEN LIGHTS
ONE IN A CAN IN THE CEILING
DANG
SMILE SPECK
YOURE ON CAMERA
A BLACK CAM WITH A RED EYE
IS MOUNTED ON THE CEILING AT THE END OF THE HALL
CHEESE I WHISPER
AS I FLIP THE CAM THE BIRD
MOST SECURITY SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS SUCK
BLACK AND WHITE MONITORS
CRAPPY RESOLUTION
HOWS HE GONNA SEE SIX INCH ME
THROUGH ALL OF HIS MONITORS STATIC AND SNOW
IS HE EVEN WATCHING
IT DOESNT MATTER
IM IN
ITS OVER
I LOOK DOWN THE HALL
THERES NINE DOORS
INCLUDING MINE
FIVE DOORS TO MY LEFT
FOUR TO MY RIGHT
THE RIGHT SIDE INCLUDES MY CELL
ILL START WITH THE FIVE ON MY LEFT
GO
LEFT DOOR 1
I RUN UNDER IT
PEEK OUT INTO THE DARK HEADLAMP ON
ITS THE DOOR TO THE CREAKY STAIRS
GOOD TO KNOW WHERE THE EXIT IS
I CLICK OFF MY HEADLAMP
POP OUT INTO THE HALL
EXPAND TO A FOOT
DASH TO
LEFT DOOR 2
JUMP DOWN TO SPECK SIZE
PLOD KNEE DEEP THROUGH DUST
JUMP LOG THICK HAIRS
ICK
NO
SPIDERWEB
IVE NEVER UNDERSTOOD ARACHNOPHOBIA
MOST SPIDERS ARE SMALLER THAN ONES PINKIE FINGERNAIL
HOW CAN ANYONE WEARING A PAIR OF SHOES
BE AFRAID OF A SPIDER
JUST STEP SQUASH
CLEAN UP WITH SINGLE SQUARE OF TOILET TISSUE
NOW SPIDERWEBS
YES THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL
THEY ARE A FASCINATING PHENOMENON OF NATURE
BUT WHEN YOURE SPECK SIZED
THEY JUST SUCK
I DONT STRUGGLE
ILL JUST BECOME MORE ENTANGLED IN THE WEB
PLUS
SPIDERS RESPOND MORE TO MOVEMENT AND VIBRATION
THAN TO THE SIGHT OF THEIR PREY
ESPECIALLY IN THE DARK
I REMAIN PERFECTLY STILL
LOOK UP
AND STARE STRAIGHT INTO THE EIGHT EYES
OF THE WEB SPINNER
I DONT HAVE TIME FOR THIS
TWO PUNCHES TO ITS MAIN TWO EYES
I HOP ON THE BASTARDS BACK
KICK ITS ABDOMEN
AND WHISPER GIDDYAP
AS I RIDE HIM OUT FROM UNDER THE DOOR
AND INTO THE CHAMBER
I ROLL OFF
EXPAND TO TWO FEET
I DONT STEP ON THE GUY
I KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE TO BE THAT SMALL
MOSTLY YOURE SCARED ALL THE TIME
I CLICK ON HEADLAMP
MAN
ALL THAT FOR NOTHING
THE CHAMBERS EMPTY
EXCEPT FOR A BUCKET
STAINS
AND THE STENCH OF DISINFECTANT
NO TIME TO WASTE
NEXT CHAMBER
LEFT DOOR 3
THROUGH THE CRACK UNDER THE DOOR
I ENTER THE CHAMBER
EXPAND TO TWO FEET CLICK ON HEADLAMP
OH GOD
BEFORE ME IS A POOL OF DARK ICHOR
A SWAMP OF BLACK SLUDGE
IT NEARLY COVERS THE ENTIRE CONCRETE FLOOR OF THE CHAMBER
ITS BLOOD
OLD AND COLD
THATS NOT THE BEST PART
THE BEST PART IS THE MAGGOTS FEEDING ON THE BLOOD
THERES TONS OF THEM
TENS OF SQUIRMING CLUMPS OF THEM
I SWALLOW HARD TO KEEP MY NUTRITION BAR DOWN
PEER AROUND THE CHAMBER
BESIDES THE LAKE OF BLACK DEATH
THERES NOTHING ELSE IN HERE
JUST ME AND THE MAGGOTS
I TURN SHRINK
DASH UNDER THE DOOR
RUN INTO A MAGGOT
AS TALL AS SPECK SIZED ME
MAN THOSE MAGGOTS
THEY JUST WRIGGLE EVERYWHERE
YOU THINK SEEING MAGGOTS
ROUND THE TRASH IS DISGUSTING
RUNNING SMACK DAB INTO ONE
FACE TO FACE ALMOST KISSING
IS ABSOLUTELY BEYOND HORRIFYING
WE WRIGGLE TOGETHER
OUT FROM UNDER THE DOOR
BACK INTO THE CHAMBER
OH GOD
GET OFF ME
I EXPAND TO THREE FEET
JUST TO GET FURTHER AWAY
FROM THE SQUIRMING PUSTULE
BUT I DIDNT LET GO OF IT
AS I EXPANDED
SO DID IT
HOLY JC BUDDHA AND TOM CRUISE
A THREE FOOT MAGGOT
THATS JUST WRONG
THE THING LOOKS LIKE A GIGANTIC WRIGGLING
CONDOM FULL OF MAYONNAISE
IM JUST TRYING TO DO SOME GOOD DOWN HERE
IN THIS EVIL DUNGEON
NOT CREATE PERVERSIONS OF NATURE
OH JEEZ
THE THING IS WHIPPING AND WRIGGLING AROUND
IN THE BLACK GUCK
I COVER MY MOUTH WITH ONE HAND
GRAB THE THINGS TAIL WITH MY OTHER
WE SHRINK
I RUN
CURSE MYSELF FOR NOT PACKING
ANY HAND SANITIZER
OUT FROM UNDER THE DOOR I GO
TO NEARLY RUN INTO THE PATH OF MY CAPTOR
HE WALKS BY
HUGE AND LOOMING
CAP ON LONG COAT FLOWING BEHIND HIM
I STAND STILL NOT EVEN BREATHING IN THE DOORWAY
YOU DIDNT SEE ME I SAY
OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN MY HEAD
YOU DIDNT SEE ME
NOT EVEN THROUGH YOUR RED EYED CAMERA
IT SEEMS SO
MY CAPTOR WALKS INTO RIGHT DOOR 2
SECOND UP FROM THE END OF THE HALL
OR GOING CLOCKWISE
LEFT DOOR 7
ILL DRAW A MAP FOR YA
HE LEAVES THE DOOR OPEN A CRACK
I PUSH DOWN THE FEAR
REMEMBER WHY IM HERE
AND TRAVERSE UNDER
LEFT DOOR 4
AWW
NO
THE CHAMBER IS NOT EMPTY
I DONT WANT TO DESCRIBE WHAT I SEE
ILL ONLY SAY
THAT IM TOO LATE FOR HER
HER DESSICATED
CHAINED TO THE WALL
WHEN THIS IS OVER
WELL GET YOU HOME
THIS PIT
WILL NOT BE YOUR FINAL RESTING PLACE
I CAREFULLY EXIT LEFT DOOR 4
AND ENTER LEFT DOOR 5
ITS A CLEANING CLOSET
MOP BUCKET
RUBBER GLOVES PLASTIC BAGS
LYE
SAWS
SUPER
EXIT
LEFT SIDE DONE
GONNA FINISH THIS TONIGHT
I SPRING UP TO A FOOT TALL
CROSS TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DUNGEON HALL
IM RIGHT UNDER THE CAMERA
IT CANT SEE ME
RIGHT DOOR 6
DOES NOT HAVE A LOCK ON IT
NOR IS IT FULLY CLOSED
GOTTA BE CAREFUL SPECK
YOUR CRAZY CAPTOR IS IN THE NEXT CHAMBER
I PEEK INTO RIGHT DOOR 6
ONE PEEK IS ENOUGH
FOR SEVERAL LIFETIMES
NOBODY IN THERE
JUST A DENTAL EXAMINATION CHAIR
ITS OLD AND STAINED
HAS HEAD WRIST AND ANKLE RESTRAINTS
BY THE CHAIR IS A VIDEO CAM ON A TRIPOD
HANGING ON THE WALLS ARE
NASTY LOOKING SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS
ALL OF THEM MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL
ALL OF THEM LOOKING RAZOR SHARP
TORTURE CHAMBER
EVERY GOOD DUNGEON HAS ONE
I LOOK AWAY EXIT THE CHAMBER
BEFORE I CAN IMAGINE
WHAT ALL THOSE INSTRUMENTS CAN DO
AND WHAT THEYVE DONE
AW GREAT
TOO LATE
THE SIGHT OF THAT ROOM
WILL BE SMEARED ON MY MEMORY FOR A WHILE
TOO BAD THEY DONT MAKE TOILET PAPER
FOR THE BRAIN
SHUSH
BEWARE SPECK
COMING UP IS RIGHT DOOR 7
THE DOOR TO THE CHAMBER
WITHIN WHICH LIES YOUR CAPTOR
HES HUGE POWERFUL DEADLY SILENT
AND COMPLETELY INSANE
I CONDENSE TO SIX INCHES TALL
MY FOOTFALLS MAKE NO DISCERNIBLE SOUND
YET STILL I TIPTOE PAST LEFT DOOR 7
THE DOOR IS AJAR
I PEER WITHIN
ALL I SEE IS BONES
BONES MOUNTED ON THE WALLS
BONES HANGING FROM THE CEILING
BONE MOBILES BONE SCULPTURE
BIRD BONES CAT BONES DOG BONES
HUMAN BONES
WHAT A HOBBY
AW MAN
I DONT WANNA BE DOWN HERE ANYMORE
THERES NOTHING DOWN HERE BUT DEATH
JUST ME AND DEATH
JUST WANT TO BURN THIS PLACE DOWN
THEN GO TO THE AIRPORT
SHRINK AND STOWAWAY ON A PLANE TO HAWAII
GET MOVIN SPECK
DONT STARE TOO LONG
EVIL KNOWS WHEN YOURE WATCHING
AND THERES EVIL
RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THOSE BONES
HE SITS AT A DESK COVERED WITH BUNDLES
OF LITTLE BONE PROJECTS
HIS BACKS TO ME
HES EATING A SANDWICH
IS IT PB AND J ON WHITE
HE HAS A WALKMAN ON
WE ARE BOTH OLD
HES STILL USING CASSETTES
AND I KNOW WHAT A CASSETTE IS
HO
HE JUMPS OFF HIS SEAT
MY HEART NEARLY JUMPS OUT OF MY CHEST
HE TAKES OFF HIS LONG COAT
I TAKE OFF TO
LEFT DOOR 8
JUST WANNA GET OUTTA HERE AND CALL THE COPS
JUST ONE MORE CHAMBER TO CHECK
WHATS IT GONNA BE THIS TIME
RATS
HURRY UP SPECK
YOUR CAPTORS HAD HIS SNACK
AND IT LOOKS LIKE HES ON THE MOVE
PROBABLY PREPPING TO SHOW CHILDSIZED YOU A GOOD TIME
BEHIND RIGHT DOOR 9
I SHRINK POP IN HEADLAMP ON
NOTHING BUT STAINED DRYWALL BUCKET CONCRETE
OKAY
DONE
ITS MILLER TIME
WHOA
SLOW DOWN
WHATS THAT
IS THAT A CRUMPLED OLD TOWEL BY THE BUCKET
NAW
ITS A WRINKLED UP SWEATSHIRT
ON A KID
KIDS HEAD IS DOWN IN ARMS WRAPPED ROUND KNEES
ALMOST DIDNT SEE HIM
ALL CURLED INTO A BALL IN THE CORNER
AW JEEZ
IS HE ALIVE
I EXPAND SLOWLY TO ABOUT FOUR FEET
APPROACH
PRESS THE KIDS ARM
ALIVE
SHAKING
SCARED TO DEATH
BUT ALIVE
HELLO I WHISPER
HE DOESNT LOOK UP
HES AFRICAN AMERICAN
5 OR 6 YEARS OLD
JESUS CHRIST
SWEET JESUS CHRIST
THE KIDS SO SCARED
HOW LONG HAS HE BEEN DOWN HERE IN THE DARK
WHATS BEEN DONE TO HIM
I TRY NOT TO CRY
CANT CRY
GOTTA BE STRONG FOR THIS KID
GOTTA GET HIM OUTTA HERE
HI I WHISPER THROUGH THE LUMP IN MY THROAT
I WIPE AT MY EYES
MY NAMES THE SPECK
IM A
FREAK I THINK
IM A
A SUPERHERO I SAY
IM GONNA SAVE YOU
GET YOU OUTTA HERE
BUY YOU A HAPPY MEAL
YOU LIKE CHICKEN MCNUGGETS
LIFTING HIS HEAD A LITTLE
HE PEEKS AT ME
THATS WHEN I HEAR THE DRAGON
KID BURIES HIS HEAD AGAIN
THE DRAGON SCREECHES THEN SNARLS
HES IN THE NEXT CHAMBER
RIGHT DOOR NUMBER NINE
MY CHAMBER
HES PROBABLY A LITTLE UPSET IM NOT IN THERE
ALL GOES SILENT
WE HAVE THIRTY SECONDS
COPYRIGHT 2010 HAFJAK DIVIZ
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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