Birchwood Manor

BM24 Part 3

BM24 Part 3



Regroup

Angela called everyone back to the foyer to tell them what happened with the fireplace.

“.... then it suddenly roared to life catching Doug’s jacket. If he had been alone, he could of set the whole place ablaze and burned to death.”

“As long as everyone is alright, we should just write it off as being an ancient building,” said Carl.

“I thought I saw what might be a breaker box downstairs just before Angela started yelling,” said Tim. “I’m going back down.”

“I don’t think there is anything to find upstairs,” said Jodi.

“I don’t either,” said Carl. “We can see if we can locate more useful things down here.”

“I’m going to stay with Doug,” said Angela.

“We can go through these boxes again,” said Doug. “Whip up some sandwiches for lunch.”

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Basement

Tim headed down the creaky steps again. Somehow it had been more comforting to think Angela had stayed at the top waiting for him before. Now that he was alone, he was having thoughts of a step breaking an him tumbling to his death.

Tim found the breaker box. The wires leading from the bottom and top of it seemed in good shape. He thought twice about just grabbing the switch and throwing it. He looked around with his cellphone light and found some rags in a pile that looked clean. He picked up a couple and used them to open the breaker box and flip the switch. The first time he flipped the switch up there was a shower of sparks. Tim ducked to avoid them and flipped the switch back. When the sparks had flickered, he had seen the words on the inside of the box. The top sign said power. The bottom said generator. He flipped the switch downward and heard an old generator sputter to life toward the back of the basement.

Tim followed the noise. The large wires went up the wall and out the window. Through the crack he could see the old generator struggling to life.

Tim went back to the steps and headed outside.

Kitchen

Jodi and Carl had found the kitchen. The water was thick and brown out of the faucet at first but seemed to be clearing as they let it run.

“Looks like we might be able to use it in a pinch,” said Jodi.

“Yeah, maybe.”

“Look, I don’t know anything about you, but it seems to me if you’re going to survive this weekend you might have to take some tips from someone like me.” Jodi wiped her brow with the back of her hand.

“There’s something on your hand.”

Jodi looked at the dark smudge covering her right palm. She looked at it with the flashlight and it was deep red. She quickly turned the water back on and tried to scrub it off. She started to hyperventilate. “It’s blood... It’s blood....”

Carl stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around so he could gently rub her hands under the water. “It’s okay....I’m sure it is just animal blood of some kind.... or maybe it is just that color from the rust..... shhhh.... it’s okay.”

Jodi leaned back against Carl and slowly calmed down. She closed her eyes and breathed normally. “Yeah, it’s probably just the rust....”

“Let’s get out of here.”

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Lunch

Doug was making ham and cheese sandwiches as Angela brought out five sodas.

“I hope these sandwiches will be enough for now,” said Doug.

“If not, there are some bags of chips here.”

“But the salt of the chips will just make us thirstier.”

“Well, let me just run down to the market and get some healthy munchies for us.”

“You don’t have to be sarcastic.”

“It is just the way I am dealing with the situation.”

“I guess we all have our own ways of coping.”

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Generator

Tim had to climb through some brambles and scrap wood with nails in it to get to the generator. It was wedged between the back of the manor and an old metal shed. Time checked the Generator

gadget over. It needed oil, gas, and a good cleaning for sure. Hopefully two out of three could be found in the shed.

Tim bent the rusted doors open trying to break the rotted lock and chain. They opened enough to expose a pry bar just inside. Time grabbed it and inserted it into the chain, twisting until it broke. His hands were scratched up from the sharp rust.

Tim peered into the shed and found several drums marked gas. He also found four large oil cans. There was an old piece of garden hose hanging out of one of the gas drums. Tim looked around and found two small cans he could use to take the gas to the generator. He suctioned one of the drums into a can and grabbed two of the oil cans. Taking them back to the generator.

A vine snaked out and caught Tim by the ankle. Tim went sprawling forward and hit his head on a garden stone. The gas can spilled over and its contents soaked into the soil.

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