The sight brought on a gagging fit: scores and scores of creepy crawly insects; squealing vermin scurrying for cover; and a goodly abundance of filth-encrusted cobwebs—Jack’s housecleaning efforts had hardly been up to white glove standards.

“Eww, gross,” Clara said, once her throat had calmed down.

To which Jack chuckled.

“It’s so heartwarming to know,” she said, “that even amid this cesspool of horror you’re able to find me a source of amusement.”

“Sorry. But maybe we should leave a discussion of my sense of humor for another time.”

“I don’t know about this,” Clara said, for Jack had opened the fateful door. The black pit of evil, as if it were coaxing her onward to her doom, would have had even the most jaded of movie audiences screaming, Dear God, don’t go in there.

“Somehow,” she said, “I don’t find that a very inviting sight.”

“No argument. But wherever else this might lead, I’m still betting it’s the way out of here; so why don’t we save a discussion of its shortcomings ’til later when we’re tucked in safe and sound at home and discussing my sense of humor?”

Resigned, she slipped her arm through his. Then step by trepidatious step they set forth upon a staircase which, if perchance were to return them to the land of the living, would no doubt make some undesired stops along the way.

What little light there was turned swiftly into pitch black darkness, while the sudden, shrieking hysteria of bats galore, voicing their distress at an unprecedented disturbance, did nothing to settle Clara’s nerves. But for Jack’s protective arms, which had formed an impermeable barrier around her head, she would find herself forever grateful.

The mayhem settled down; the staircase came to an end; and at the appearance of a dim light which came from around a corner just ahead, Clara’s feet became rooted to the spot.

“I’m not quite up to any more surprises yet,”—her body trembling from tip to toe.

Rather than argue, Jack simply lifted her off her feet, cradled her in his arms, and as he turned the corner, muttered a prayer he used to pray when things looked grim upon the battlefield.

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