Nowhere Blvd: A Horror Novel by Ryan Notch Page B

was on the southeast corner of the mansions hill, which was a problem.  It meant Spencer would have to approach from the northwest, the furthest corner from the stairs leading up to the hallway in the southeast.  Also too close for comfort to Jack in his lab in the basement.
    Ideally he would just have gone through the front door, which lead in almost a straight shot to the stairs that lead to the long hallway with the Great Closet at the end.  But he remembered when those doors opened, they were loud.  Also they were fully in view of Mr. Button’s tree house.  No, he’d go in the same way he had before.  He’d never found out whether they knew about the way he had come in that night, but given that they thought he was dead it was likely safe to use the same way again. 
    When the day finally came he was nervous in a way he hadn’t been in a long time.  But he didn’t try and talk himself out of it.  It was like he was too tired of being afraid to do it anymore.  He left his pack behind, bringing only his telescope and his short bone spear.  The latter wasn’t for fighting, it was to make sure they didn’t take him alive.  And the former, well at this point it was mostly for good luck.
    Spencer desperately wished that Jack would, at least occasionally, leave his house at night.  He’d be happy to wait for the opportunity if he thought it would ever come.  But with the exception of Jack’s manhunt for him, he’d never seen it happen.  He thought about using that to his advantage, creating a distraction somehow.  Even thought of a few scenarios, but ultimately it all seemed too risky.  If he couldn’t get the closet to work, he needed the chance of sneaking back out and working on a plan B. 
    Spencer watched from the woods until he saw Jack and Nanny leave the guest cabin with a young boy around nightfall.  He waited a couple hours after that as well, remembering the “waiting room” with the small chairs and shackles.  Finally he decided it was time to make his move. 
    He made his way from the edge of the woods to the house with the stealth of a cat.  At the basement window he was surprised to find that there was no light trickling down the hallway from the operating theatre as there had been before.  He waited a bit with his ear to the glass, listening for something lurking in the dark.  Finally he reached his fingers in the cracks and pulled at it, wondering if it would prove to be locked this time. 
    It wasn’t.
    Jesus, he thought.  Some people never learn.
    Knowing the distance to the floor this time, Spencer quickly lowered himself from the windowsill and pushed off for the drop, crouching low on the landing to cushion the blow. 
    There on the floor, inches away from his face and illuminated barely in the dim light from the window, were the rusty jaws of an old bear trap.  He'd missed it by luck alone, having jumped away from the wall rather than dropping straight down.
    Decided to invest in a little home security after all, eh Jack? he thought. Not that a leg would be a high price to pay to get out of here.
    Without the light of the lab to make his way by, the basement was almost pitch dark.  Spencer moved carefully, going by touch and memory.  He kept his feet low, testing each step for more traps.  Spencer remembered the way well, just as he always remembered directions.  The stairs were the third door on the left, which he counted by fingertips.  He made his way up them, walking with his feet pressed up against the wall where the steps would squeak less.  They didn’t squeak at all though, the house was utterly still. 
    He was surprised to find as he approached the top that there was illumination coming from the doorway.  He peered through it to find himself in a kitchen.  It was lit, though dimly.  Not from the lights above, they were dark.  In fact he couldn’t tell where the light was coming from, although he could see pretty well.  Almost like the light from a