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fandomweekly2026-04-10 02:23 pm
badly_knitted) wrote in fandomweekly2026-04-10 02:23 pm
Entry tags:
[#296] Somewhere Dry (The Fantastic Journey)
Theme Prompt: #296 – Locked Door
Title: Somewhere Dry
Fandom: The Fantastic Journey
Rating/Warnings: PG
Bonus: Yes.
Word Count: 1000
Summary: It’s the only building around, so no matter how creepy it looks, it’s the travellers’ best option.
The building was perhaps the most imposing one they’d seen in their travels, nothing like the futuristic edifices they’d come across in other zones. It seemed half mansion and half gothic castle, and it loomed out of the surrounding forest as if it had grown there. For all the island’s strangenesses, that might well have been the case. But it was there, and it was the only shelter available, so…
“Do we go inside?” Liana asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and uncertainty.
Varian tipped his head back to look at the sky overhead, all roiling purple-black clouds, as the rising wind tugged at everyone’s clothes. Nearby trees creaked and groaned in the strengthening gusts. He looked back at the building; the heavy wooden door before them was open a few inches, offering protection from the elements.
“It’s either this, or the forest.” Lightning flickered overhead, and the first few heavy raindrops hit the ground. The wind redoubled its efforts, and somewhere behind them came a sharp crack, the sound of a branch breaking.
“If we stay out here,” Willaway said, “there’s every chance a tree will fall on us, either from the wind or a lightning strike.”
“Yeah, gotta agree. Place might look creepy, but it’s our best alternative.” Fred took one of the bulky flashlights out of his holdall. “I’ll go first.”
It took some shoving, but they managed to get the door open wide enough to squeeze through, the hinges creaking and the bottom scraping through decades of leaflitter. Fred took the lead, shining the light around a modest-sized antechamber, with three doors leading off it, and a broad stone staircase leading to the next floor.
“Seems safe enough, but probably best to stick with the floor we’re on. Don’t know how sturdy the floors upstairs might be.”
Varian ushered the other three into the building, then followed, pushing the door closed as far as it would go, to keep the wind and rain outside, where it belonged. “Now what?”
“We’ve ruled out the upstairs, for safety reasons, so that leaves three choices.” Fred played the flashlight beam over the three doors.
“This is beginning to seem uncomfortably familiar,” Willaway commented.
“Yeah, partner. Like back at the carnival. I vote we stick together this time.”
“I agree with Fred,” Varian said firmly. “We don’t want to become separated.”
“You sensin’ anything?”
Varian shook his head. “Other than the storm outside, no.”
“Okay, we’ll check out our options one at a time, pick whichever looks best, and stay there until the storm passes.” They could hear the wind howling around the eaves, and the rain was coming down harder. The door they’d entered by swung in again, forced open by a powerful gust, and admitting icy raindrops along with a scattering of hailstones.
Willaway shivered. “Let’s choose quickly.”
Fred made for the nearest door and pushed it open, shining the light through to reveal rotting floorboards. “Okay, that one’s out.”
The second door led into a long hallway with doors along both sides. The travellers looked at each other in the gloom, shut it, and turned as one to the final door. It was locked.
“You can unlock it though, can’t you?” Scott asked Varian.
The tall man nodded, reaching for the sonic energiser in its pocket, aiming it at the lock.
Willaway shuffled his feet. “Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, there might be a very good reason for this door to be locked when the others aren’t.”
“It’s either this room, or the corridor with the doors.” Scott glanced apprehensively in that direction.
“Or we could make camp here,” Willaway suggested.
They all glanced towards the half-open front door, and the spreading pool of water where the wind was driving the rain in through the opening.
“Even if we keep to this side, the way the rain’s comin’ down, we’ll likely be paddling by mornin’. If this room don’t pan out, might have to see what’s down the corridor.”
“I suppose you’re right.” Willaway turned to Varian. “Go ahead. I suppose you can always lock it again if necessary.”
Varian focused the device on the lock, concentrating on the mechanism, using his thoughts and his energy to trip the tumblers. It opened with a click. “Fred?”
“Yeah.” Flashlight in one hand, Fred stepped up to the door, turned the handle, pushing it partway open, and shining light into the room beyond. It was empty of furniture except for a wooden bench against one wall, and a couple of chairs to either side of the fireplace, facing it. There were even a few logs stacked in the hearth, although they were as dusty as everything else. Two more doors opened off the room. Pushing the door the rest if the way open, Fred stepped in, stirring up the dust. The cat, Sil-El, sneezed. “Not ideal, but I guess it’ll do.”
Liana followed Fred in, the others filing in behind her. “Where do the other doors lead?”
“This one’s a closet,” Willaway said, hurriedly closing the door.
“Looks like this one used to be a kitchen,” Scott said, then… “Uh, guys? Is that a real skeleton?”
It was seated in one of the chairs by the fire, and still had a few tatters of clothing hanging from its bones, a straggle of grey hair still clinging to the skull.
Willaway swallowed hard. “The corridor with all the doors suddenly seems a lot more appealing.”
“You got that right. I don’t fancy spendin’ the night with the former occupant.”
As they left the room, Varian took the key from the lock, and locked it behind them, leaving the dead to rest in peace.
The first room off the corridor, although not particularly big, had a solid floor, less dust, no fireplace, but no draughts, which was good enough for everyone. They shut the door, spread out their bedrolls, and settled, hoping the storm would blow itself out overnight.
No one slept particularly well though.
The End
“Do we go inside?” Liana asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and uncertainty.
Varian tipped his head back to look at the sky overhead, all roiling purple-black clouds, as the rising wind tugged at everyone’s clothes. Nearby trees creaked and groaned in the strengthening gusts. He looked back at the building; the heavy wooden door before them was open a few inches, offering protection from the elements.
“It’s either this, or the forest.” Lightning flickered overhead, and the first few heavy raindrops hit the ground. The wind redoubled its efforts, and somewhere behind them came a sharp crack, the sound of a branch breaking.
“If we stay out here,” Willaway said, “there’s every chance a tree will fall on us, either from the wind or a lightning strike.”
“Yeah, gotta agree. Place might look creepy, but it’s our best alternative.” Fred took one of the bulky flashlights out of his holdall. “I’ll go first.”
It took some shoving, but they managed to get the door open wide enough to squeeze through, the hinges creaking and the bottom scraping through decades of leaflitter. Fred took the lead, shining the light around a modest-sized antechamber, with three doors leading off it, and a broad stone staircase leading to the next floor.
“Seems safe enough, but probably best to stick with the floor we’re on. Don’t know how sturdy the floors upstairs might be.”
Varian ushered the other three into the building, then followed, pushing the door closed as far as it would go, to keep the wind and rain outside, where it belonged. “Now what?”
“We’ve ruled out the upstairs, for safety reasons, so that leaves three choices.” Fred played the flashlight beam over the three doors.
“This is beginning to seem uncomfortably familiar,” Willaway commented.
“Yeah, partner. Like back at the carnival. I vote we stick together this time.”
“I agree with Fred,” Varian said firmly. “We don’t want to become separated.”
“You sensin’ anything?”
Varian shook his head. “Other than the storm outside, no.”
“Okay, we’ll check out our options one at a time, pick whichever looks best, and stay there until the storm passes.” They could hear the wind howling around the eaves, and the rain was coming down harder. The door they’d entered by swung in again, forced open by a powerful gust, and admitting icy raindrops along with a scattering of hailstones.
Willaway shivered. “Let’s choose quickly.”
Fred made for the nearest door and pushed it open, shining the light through to reveal rotting floorboards. “Okay, that one’s out.”
The second door led into a long hallway with doors along both sides. The travellers looked at each other in the gloom, shut it, and turned as one to the final door. It was locked.
“You can unlock it though, can’t you?” Scott asked Varian.
The tall man nodded, reaching for the sonic energiser in its pocket, aiming it at the lock.
Willaway shuffled his feet. “Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, there might be a very good reason for this door to be locked when the others aren’t.”
“It’s either this room, or the corridor with the doors.” Scott glanced apprehensively in that direction.
“Or we could make camp here,” Willaway suggested.
They all glanced towards the half-open front door, and the spreading pool of water where the wind was driving the rain in through the opening.
“Even if we keep to this side, the way the rain’s comin’ down, we’ll likely be paddling by mornin’. If this room don’t pan out, might have to see what’s down the corridor.”
“I suppose you’re right.” Willaway turned to Varian. “Go ahead. I suppose you can always lock it again if necessary.”
Varian focused the device on the lock, concentrating on the mechanism, using his thoughts and his energy to trip the tumblers. It opened with a click. “Fred?”
“Yeah.” Flashlight in one hand, Fred stepped up to the door, turned the handle, pushing it partway open, and shining light into the room beyond. It was empty of furniture except for a wooden bench against one wall, and a couple of chairs to either side of the fireplace, facing it. There were even a few logs stacked in the hearth, although they were as dusty as everything else. Two more doors opened off the room. Pushing the door the rest if the way open, Fred stepped in, stirring up the dust. The cat, Sil-El, sneezed. “Not ideal, but I guess it’ll do.”
Liana followed Fred in, the others filing in behind her. “Where do the other doors lead?”
“This one’s a closet,” Willaway said, hurriedly closing the door.
“Looks like this one used to be a kitchen,” Scott said, then… “Uh, guys? Is that a real skeleton?”
It was seated in one of the chairs by the fire, and still had a few tatters of clothing hanging from its bones, a straggle of grey hair still clinging to the skull.
Willaway swallowed hard. “The corridor with all the doors suddenly seems a lot more appealing.”
“You got that right. I don’t fancy spendin’ the night with the former occupant.”
As they left the room, Varian took the key from the lock, and locked it behind them, leaving the dead to rest in peace.
The first room off the corridor, although not particularly big, had a solid floor, less dust, no fireplace, but no draughts, which was good enough for everyone. They shut the door, spread out their bedrolls, and settled, hoping the storm would blow itself out overnight.
No one slept particularly well though.
The End