Trying to juggle everything, he dropped the flashlight, which (Thanks to Murphy's Law) landed on the switch itself, clicking off the flashlight and plunging the room into utter, Stygian darkness.
Unprepared, Candace screamed. Startled, Jim turned - and wacked into something. there was a creaking noise...
Then something heavy plunged out of the darkness above and caught him a glancing blow on the head.
Jim wasn't sure how long he was out. It could have been seconds, or minutes. It wasn't hours - no dawn seeped into the room.
The only light came from the small camp-lamp on a table, next to the figure standing beside it. Jim blinked, his vision blurry from the blow. then it came into sharp focus, showing him...
Mon Sep 6 01:08:46 1999