On the Sixth Stair
Paulie stood near the bottom.
One day away.
His hands splayed on the walls to steady his legs. Crumbly cinderblocks. And mold.
He waited, untouched for days. He felt gigantic. It was impossible to breathe.
Lightning boomed close. The sound snapped his body from his toes.
As his mind dangled, rain floated over a drenched world.
the smooth darkness
the prickly smooth darkness
tensing
push it down
grapple it
jaw teeth clenching
quiet again and smooth
soft pressure
spiraling
NO
thrown off
scratch is bleeding
chain jangling
jangling
metal cracks
across
head thrown back
SHIT
you'll pay
you'll pay
punch
pounding
hard enough to break
grunts of air
birds beating against
a hurricane eye wall
then laughing
laughing
laughing
Paulie climbed up to the ground. He closed the storm doors and laid his cheek on the wet, rusty metal.
He wanted every sensation needled into him and burned. Even the cold rain.
Burned right through his skin.
Muscle and spinal chord deep.
On to Part 7.
Back to Part 5.
8 comments:
Brings to mind some of the darker paintings of Mexican muralist Orosco.
Where there are things around life that we barely perceive, but can't see.
how creepy can it get...*shivers*
Please tell me you're going to twist this at the last second and it's going to be funny. I'm not sure my heart can take it otherwise.
There better not be a trapdoor with even more steps down.
"-)
Oh no he didn't! Oh yes he did! I am horrified and spellbound and must keep reading.
"birds beating against
a hurricane eye wall
then laughing"
Excellent, Jason! Luckily I can go straight to part 7! :-)
Ivan, thanks for the visit and the insights! I have a feeling you've stopped over from Bernita's blog. :)
Szelsofa, well, pretty creepy.
Jaye, I do like twists. =) Not sure if funny is going to be end result, though.
Church Lady, ooh, now that's a great idea! I'll tuck that away for next time.
Ello, I wanted this one more fragmented. I thought it would better get across how perception is splintered during an intense moment.
Vesper, you picked out my favorite line! See you over at #7.
incredible... gripping dude! its like i'm right there with him!
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