Frank was enjoying his visit to the old castle, and in his haphazard way, he lost track of the rest of his tour group and found himself alone in a dark and winding corridor.
He had been captivated by the armour statues littered throughout the corridors and had stopped to inspect each one wondering as to the person who maybe had been unfortunate to wear them, as Frank knew they were very heavy and cumbersome to wear.
He was perusing a particularly damaged suit when he heard the voice. It came from just near his elbow, and he wondered who it was.
“This one’s lost,” said the voice.
“Best not hang around here,” said a second voice.
“No, telling what might happen,” replied the first voice.
“Castle would not be pleased.”
“Could you imagine the furore?”
“I’d hate to be in his shoes.”
Frank was hearing all this and wondering where the voices were coming from.
“Who are you?” he asked.
“Did you hear something?” asked the first voice.
“Sounded like a question,” replied the second.
“Could it be possible?” asked the first.
“No. Not possible,” came the second.
“I’m just here,” said Frank getting annoyed. “What’s going on here?”
“Just being friendly,” said the first voice.
“Offering you advice, but we don’t expect you to take any notice, most people run off screaming at the sound of our voices,” said the first voice with a hint of disappointment.
“You wouldn’t believe the strife some people get into in this place,” offered the second voice.
“Castle can get quite nasty, you know.”
“Find yourself cast into the dungeon and then what might you do?”
“It’s a long time you can spend in there.”
“Best you hurry up and catch up to your group, Castle doesn’t like its routine to be disrupted.”
Frank didn’t believe a word of what he was hearing and thought it was obviously some sort of prank being played on him. He looked around for hidden speakers and/or cameras, as he was certain he was being watched.
Just then, from the far end of the corridor, he heard a rumble. It was the sort of rumble that made certain things in your pants feel very uncomfortable.
“It’s too late now,” said the first voice.
“Best run, at least there might be time,” said the second voice with a sense of urgency.
Frank hearing them and realising it was time to make a move turned and found himself standing in front of a very small but agitated man, dressed in a fine suit with a top hat.
“Lord Castle,” announced the man stretching out a hand towards Frank. The second Frank took Lord Castle’s hand, the room went black. He blinked, and when his eyes adjusted, he was in a dark and dank place.
“You were warned,” said Castle, bowing to the man and then slamming shut the biggest door Frank had ever seen.
“Got you too?” asked a voice from across the room.
Not another voice thought Frank. What sort of place is this?
Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2019/06/27/tale-weaver-fairy-tale-229-castle-june-27th/
Morpethroad 
That’s great fun. I can imagine that in a movie. A bit like the labyrinth sequence in the move by that name. 🙂
Yes I think that movie has had a lasting effect on me.
One my young daughter brought home, borrowed from a friend, without realising Mum was a Bowie fan. And that was many, many years ago. I’m still a fan, but she’s not so young
My kids watched it over and over too. They are not so young either. Third child turned 39 this week. Scary how old they are now. Good thing I haven’t aged with them 😀
Well, I swear mine are older than me. Which is an achievement for duing my years of ME/CFS I aged mightily. Yet, recovered, the clock has reversed. Proof positive that age is a function of mind.
Fortunate for you that you get the clock to reverse. I have trouble accepting the age I am. I keep thinking the year of my birth wasn’t all that long ago so I can’t be this old. Then my kids remind me and it’s all a bit depressing. I’ll keep an eye out for one of your clocks 😁
Personally, I think the registrar made an error on my birth certificate. But on a rainy day the joints do hurt. And I can’t race my daughter/walking partner up hills anymore. Which delights her. My ability to walk 10-15 miles a day now has gone … though that is because of a back injury a couple of years back. And I can no longer go clubbing when I return from such a walk. And when I say that to my daughter she reminds me this was before the ME/CFS (which disabled me for 13 years) and may have been contributory. Something about burning candles at both ends, and in the middle as well!
Oh, the clock? It’s called kicking additives, sugars and grains out of the diet! That’s also how I pulled myself out of ME.
Well that’s great discipline on your part.
This diet business is hard work. If I took every bit of advice I would be on a no food diet.☹️
There is a lot of advice out there on the internet. But I had to do something. I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes. But … nine months on, it was gone. Never to return. And so was the ME. At the time, the Diabetes.org site was still recommending a diet high in grains. Now, it’s caught up, and advocates Paleo and Keto (both are based on no sugar, no grains, no additives, but keto is more extreme. Very, very low carbs. It’s used a lot by the body-beautiful brigade. I tried it. But I couldn’t go that low. I like yogurt, and loads of veg. And I’m not overkeen on fatty meat. In fact, I pick all the fat off, and have since a child. Though to pig out on butter, cream and cheese is okay by me. 🙂
I’m dealing with diabetes too combined with kidney disease life is challenging. Today my gp suggested more exercise so I’ve been getting some in. Life is what it is so you do your best 😄
Aye. And walking is the best exercise. Though, to do the prescribed 10,000 steps a day can be bloody time-consuming. I confess, I don’t hit target evert day. But then other days I’m thrice or four times that.
The 10,000 is a myth you know, a random number a dr thought up for his patient, its more a matter of what you can achieve, if more than good, if not then there is always tomorrow.
Oh, there is always tomorrow. We hope. And if there isn’t then why are we sweating, trying to keep fit?
You outdid yourself with this one, Michael! A great work of captivating fiction!
Thanks so much Reena
I can see a lot of people getting lost in a castle while they are rooming around.
Must be a nightmare as a tour guide
Very interesting story.
Thanks Sadje
You’re welcome Michael
Well, you can’t leave it there, Michael. You have to have a rescue, or a breakout or something…maybe The Famous Five could come along – they’re excellent at breaking into castles to rescue people 😀
Now that’s an idea
I like the way you built the tension in the story. Hoping he and the other captive are able to escape.
Thanks Jade, I’m thinking of the next part.
You are welcome.
Here is my submission! It’s my first attempt at writing fiction and probably horrible, but here it is…
https://cathyscraftydesigns.com/2019/06/30/tale-weaver-fairy-tale-229-castle-june-27th-lord-castle/
Have read and left you a comment.