The Storm

I stepped in. Dark. I inched my way into the darkness as my eyes adjusted to what little light there was. Only glints of light were seeping in through the shuttered windows. The only sound I could hear was my flash generator charging for a few more shots, and the sound of water lapping several feet below me. I could now see that part of the floor in front of me had caved in and fallen down into the first story. "This place had taken a hit," I thought: "A hard one." I stood at the edge of the fallen floor and steadied my camera as the flash generator light turned green and ready. "Steady, steady," I thought. I looked through the viewfinder as it auto focused on the water below and slowly put light pressure on the camera button with my finger, as to not blur the shot. Suddenly, like thunder, a voice boomed out just behind me: “DON’T TURN AROUND OR YOU'RE ADEAD MAN!” I froze motionless. I couldn’t move and fear went through me like lightning as I turned to stone. “DROP THE CAMERAAND KNEEL WITH YOUR HANDS ON YOUR HEAD!” came the next instruction from behind me. My knees had locked by now, and as I attempted to bend them to comply, I lost all strength in my legs and fell hard on my knees onto the hard wood floor. The thunder continued. “I AM GOING TO ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS. IF YOU GET THE ANSWERS RIGHT YOU JUST MIGHT LIVE TO SEE ANOTHER DAY. YOU GET THEM

WRONG, THEN YOU DIE RIGHT HERE AND NOW AND BECOME GATOR FOOD.

"QUESTION ONE: ARE YOU ALONE?” My answer: “No sir.”

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