This is the sixth part of a group story challenge set by Bartek D, the idea is to follow on from what the previous person has written and when it’s done we should see an interesting story featuring many different writing styles. This part is a little unusual but I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

“You shouldn’t be here Mithra. You’ve upset Ann by turning up without so much as a phone call beforehand.” Came a deep, gruff voice from somewhere in the darkness.

I strained my eyes in an attempt to find the owner of the voice. Then I saw it, a figure in the darkness was heading towards me.

“Look man, I don’t know who you are or what you think you’re doing here but you’d better leave, right now.” I tried to sound confident but my voice cracked, giving a hint at the fear inside me that was fighting to get out. The figure came within the light of the flame and I realised who it was. “You’re Ann’s boyfriend. How did you even know this place was here?”

“I followed you up here Mithra. JUNGLE CAGES! I don’t like it when Ann isn’t happy.” The large man that I knew only as Ann’s boyfriend raised his arms, he was carrying a woodcutter’s axe.

“Wait, did you just say jungle cages?” I asked, not knowing whether I was frightened or confused.

The man was insane, he charged at me and swung the axe, all the while screaming “THE KITCHEN IS MY FRIEND!”

He buried the axe-head deep into the wall where I’d been standing only a moment before. As he struggled to pull it back out I made a dash for my grandfather’s sword.

“I don’t want to fight you!” I shouted to him, hoping he could hear me over his annoyed grunts and repeated cursing.

Now the axe was back in his furious hands. “Poor Ann.” He said softly before launching into another flurry of attacks accompanied by more screaming. “DON’T YOU HURT MR MANGO!”

Luckily I was quick enough to move out of his way, but when I tried to counter-attack he knocked the sword from my hand – which I sort of expected since I’d never used a sword before.

“Everything OK up there?” Someone shouted from downstairs, I think it could have been Ann, did she know about this?

Still terrified of the raging lunatic I tried to sound calm when I shouted my reply. “I’m fine!”

Dodging another blow left me outside the library, at the other side of the mirror.

“NO MORE STARJUMPS!” Were my attacker’s final words as he swung the axe, hitting the symbols on the mirror frame and setting off the booby trap.

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Featured image credit to Bartek D of Penumbra