The dare

The old door opened on hinges that protested working after all these years. It slammed shut as Nick entered the room. “ I don’t like this,” Nick whispered.

“Why whisper?” his brother Jimmy asked, “ghosts aren’t real,” he added shining the torch in Nick’s face.

“I know, I just have a weird feeling about this place.”

“One task and we are set, the king of dares is ours for the taking.” Jimmy said, “and let us not forget Tracey, she has been trying to get someone to do this for a year, she’ll be so grateful…” The torch flickered and died, silencing Jimmy better than Nick could have done. Jimmy shook, hit and swore at the torch to no avail. The brothers stood in darkness, neither sure what to do.

A scream, a man’s scream filled with anger as much as pain, sounded in the small room. It faded into sobs then silence.

“Jimmy?” Nick cried “if this is a joke I’m not laughing.”

Silence was his only response.

He rushed forward, tripping over something as he did so, he slid forward on his stomach a short way, aware of the dampness penetrating his shirt. His hands pushed upward, ignoring the soft wetness beneath them, he shuddered grateful for the dark.

A computer flared into life, as if to mock him, the screen was filled with gibberish but in clear writing on the keyboard was a note. ‘press enter.’

Nick shook his head and pressed the key, this was all a game, nothing more. “You can come out now Jimmy, I did it,” he called.

“Considering you now wear half your brother, don’t expect a reply to soon,” a voice said, “Tracey was right about you, but the best I can do is a swift death, secrecy is paramount.”


(word count 299)