The Night Pit

 

The bar was crowded. It was Friday night in Autumn, and Brad and Sal were in their senior year at PTMU. They both had passed their science midterms, and were celebrating at one of the city’s pubs. Sal smoked, so Brad went out into the cold night air to accompany him.

“Hey Brad,” said Sal, “what do you say we find one of those out of the way bars. This place is about to close.”

“I don’t know, Sal. It’s getting pretty late.”

“Come on pal, let’s have a couple more.”

A police car pulled up, and two officers ran past the two college students, and one accidentally bumped into Sal.

“Hey buddy, watch it!”

“Sal, don’t get so pissed. They are just doing there job. There’s something going on inside. Let’s get out of here.”

“Yeah, they have been assholes ever since those two cops disappeared. They take it out on us, when it was probably some gang related thing.”

“Whatever. Let’s get out of here. If you want, we can find an all night bar.”

The two walked away from the bar. The street had some pedestrians, but not many at this hour. And after a couple of blocks, there were hardly any people around.

“Where are we?” asked Brad.

“Hell if I know. I have been here over three years, and can’t figure out this city.”

Brad saw a bus stop up ahead. “Let’s go see what the schedule is for the buses. That will tell us where we are.”

“Hey!” said Sal, “I see a neon sign down that alley! Let’s check it out.”

Brad looked over at the bus stop, and tried to jot down in his memory where it was from the alley. “Okay Sal, but only for a couple of drinks. Then back to the dorms.”

“Yeah yeah, whatever.”

The alley was dark. There was a huge parking garage building looming over the neon sign which read “The Pit.” The sign lit up a huge metal door with a small window over it. The two entered the door.

They were in a stairwell. The stairs leading up where blocked by and iron gate. But the stairs descending were dimly lit.

“This place looks creepy. Let’s find another bar,” said Brad.

“Forget it, it’s probably part of a Halloween theme. Let’s check it out! “exclaimed Sal.

They followed the stairs to the floor beneath. But there was no door, just descending stairs. They continued to follow the stairs.

“We must have gone down three flights already!” Brad said nervously, “ Let’s go back.”

“I hear something. We are almost there.” They could hear an old Blue Oyster Cult song getting louder. Brad recognized it as “Don’t Fear the Reaper.”

The stairwell bottomed out, with what looked like debree and concrete mixed together. There was an entry way to a room. They continued to the dimly lit room.

The room was old and smelled of mildew. But there were about fifteen people in the room. All drinking and talking. Young men and women. There was a bar at the far corner of the room with what Brad considered one of the ugliest women he ever seen. They crossed the floor to the bar.

“Geez Sal, I think this floor is moving!”

“Of course it is, you jerk. You had too much to drink! Let’s have another!”

“What will it be, boys,” The ugly barmaid asked.

“Two Rum and Cokes,” said Sal.

“Coming right up!”

Sal turned to Brad, “Hey bud, pay for this one. I have to take a fucking piss.” And without waiting for a reply, Sal went to the men’s room.

There was only one toilet. And boy, did it stink! Sal swayed back and forth as he pissed. He shook his dick three times, and heard something. A gnawing sound. It sounded like it was underneath him. He turned off the light, and saw something shining through the floorboards. Fire. A torch. Way underneath.

Sal left the bathroom, and grabbed Brad. “Let’s get the fuck out of here,” he said as he pulled Brad. Brad spilled some of the drinks he bought.

“What’s the matter, Sal?” Asked Brad.

“Hey, you can’t take those drinks out of here!” yelled the barmaid.

Sal continued to pull Brad. He reached the doorway, and Brad’s shirt suddenly pulled tight and downward. Sal looked back, and saw the floor had collapsed. He could hear screaming as the fifteen or so other people fell thirty feet into a pit. He could hear limbs breaking as they hit the bottom.And the screams. The entire pit was walled with concrete, and the bottom looked like dirt, bones and debris. Sal could see several people coming out of holes at the bottom. No, not people. Half people, half…he wasn’t sure. They reminded him of old comic books about ghouls. He held tight on Brad’s shirt, as Brad screamed for him to help him. The old hag at the bar smiled at him. The only floor that didn’t drop. He could see her sharp and pointy teeth.

“Don’t let go of me, Sal!” Sal reached over and grabbed Brad’s left armpit. With all of his might, he pulled Brad up to safety. The two ran up the stairs as fast as they could.

The light’s went out in the stairwell. Sal continued to hold Brad by the arm as they ascended the stairs. Sal could hear scrambling from below him. But he could also hear voices above him. Female voices. Some other victim coming down the stairs. Brad could see light as they continued upward. And the voices getting louder. Confused voices. Why are the lights out? He ran into someone and she fell on the stairs.

“What are you doing, asshole?” said the female. The light from the small window only showed shadows.

“Don’t go down there!” screamed Sal, “They’re killing everyone!”

“I am not a guest,” said the female as she bit off Sal’s first three fingers.