Through the Keyhole

As I tumbled helplessly through the musty dusty air, confusion scrambled my thoughts. Where was i? How did I get here? What was happening to me? Why was I falling?

Then I felt a silken rope brush my arm and my hands instinctively grabbed and held and I came to a bouncing stop gripping desperately onto that strangely sticky rope.

With my downward momentum halted, I clung to my rope and looked around – nothing but murky dimness but I could see a light shining dimly far above me, reflected light through the cobweb shrouded keyhole in the shed door. My mind refused to compute the concept that I was trapped inside the old lock. Impossible! Totally and completely impossible!

As my eyes adjusted to the darkness I was able to make out shapes around me – bundles wrapped securely in more of the sticky rope that had saved my life and more ropes – many more – stretching off into the darkness.

Was I imagining it – was my rope vibrating? As I concentrated I realised that it was indeed vibrating, and the tremors were getting stronger. I gazed around and was horrified to see something huge and black approaching across the network of ropes – something with beady glistening eyes and a hairy black body. If I didn’t think it was totally impossible, I would think it was a spider, but that was ridiculous. No spider could be that big – it would need to be the size of an elephant! But yes – horror upon horror – it was a spider and it was coming right towards me. What could I do? Where could I go? As I kicked and struggled to free my grip from the sticky rope, it came closer and I could see the evil gleam of its pincers opening ready to capture and bind its next meal – ME!

Frozen with fear, all I could do was watch as the menacing shape came closer and closer until I could see the venomous drops on the ends of its fangs. I was doomed unless I was able to break free of the spell of those hypnotic black orbs. It extended its pincers ready to strike and a reflexive jerk had me just out of reach as the pincers snicked together where my head had been just a heartbeat before. Escape – how to escape! What could I do?

Missing its first grab seemed to anger it and it tried to ensnare me in the silken cords it was spinning and casting towards me.

With pounding heart, I struggled furiously and managed to break free of the ropes encircling me. My brain was numb with disbelieving horror as I scrambled away as far and as fast as I could until I chanced upon a couple of ropes that weren’t sticky. I climbed quickly through them till I was on the other side and moving slowly downwards towards what I hoped was safety.

The huge spider followed getting closer and closer. I could hear the pincers clicking together in frustration as it cast loops of rope trying to recapture ‘the one that got away’.

In my pocket I found a small box cutter blade and used it to slash wildly at the ropes clinging to my legs and arms but it was a losing battle as there were just too many of them. I redoubled my efforts, and one last desperate slashing frenzy freed me from the ropes and again I tumbled free, cartwheeling into the darkness where I landed with a thud on the floor –

And woke up – drenched with perspiration, heart pounding and thoroughly entangled in the sheets from my bed.

I vowed never again to watch horror movies with my sons before I went to bed!