Shackled House

Marvin Jones’s car came to a surprising stop. The engine spluttered and crackled with a bang. He hopped out of the vehicle and popped the bonnet. “Damn, this is all I need.” He sighed. It was late evening and darkness was descending on the narrow lane. He reached into the pocket of his greyish sweat pants. And he flicked the flashlight on his phone. Dull smoke bellowed from under the hood.

He prodded, and poked at a few parts of the engine.Trying to place what had caused the surprising holt to his journey. Marvin was not very mechanically minded when it came to cars. He was more of a DIY guy. He leant into the car and tried to tick the engine over. It was completely beat. “I’m going to have to call a retrieval firm.” He said pacing up the lane trying to get a signal.

The lane now consumed in complete darkness. Large oak trees learned over to create a canopy above Marvin. The branches creaked and the leaves rustled. A gentle breeze blew dead leafs and twigs on the car lazily. Marvin Became cold, the wind had picked up dramatically. Nervously he stared around, gloomy woodland peering back at him, along with a no service message on his phone.

Marvin took shelter in his car, taking a break from the squall. The smoke had eased from the hood, he decided to turn the key and breathe life into the engine, it shuddered and roared into action. “Come on baby, come to Marvin.” He cheered excitedly.

The car idled through the lane, Marvin’s adrenaline had spiked. He was praying to make it home in one piece. As the car made its way to the brow of a hill, Marvin noticed a decrepit oak tree that arced from one side of the road to the other. Creating a gateway to freedom he thought. It felt like he had spent a week in the eerie lane. Marvin slowed the car as he drove through the archway and crept forward. Being mindful of how fragile his vehicle had been this evening, a dented roof was the last thing he wanted to think about.

Marvin saw to his amazement a old house set back cryptic in the woods to his left. He could barely see the silhouette. A strange flickering glow, seemed to radiate from the track leading to the dim house. Marvin shuddered and sped off into the night.