Chapter 10
The ticking never seemed to stop; in fact it appeared to be growing louder and more annoying to Richie, the infernal sound waking him from his sleep. Richie moaned in response, he was far too tired to deal with this; all he wanted was to sleep.
Richie turns over to his side, part of his face splashing into an unknown liquid, quickly the boy jumps up, reaching his shaky legs in record time, his blue eyes widen as the sight before him, the clear slightly tan mixture covered the entire floor, parts even mixing with his own dried blood.
Richie can't form any words, there was only one substance that he knew of that could be both clear and yellow at the same time with that distinct of a smell "Gasoline … It's gasoline!"
The blonde hurriedly rushed to the door, pulling the locked handle with all his vigor, he wasn't ready to die and certainly not in such a horrid way "Let me out!"
Richie banged his fist against the door, he was in so much pain, but the fear of burning alive was all he could process "Mr. Van Dough!" The child receives no response, but continues his yells, hoping that someone will hear him "Someone, please help me! I'm locked in here!"
After still getting no response, Richie deflated, he knew someone coming to his rescue would be a long hot, but he had to try "I can do this on my own." Blue eyes wander in search of a distinct item, catching sight of the metallic silver; Richie grabs hold of his bloodied bat
"Ok, it's just like playing baseball, only the doors the ball … And I can't use my right wrist." Clutching the metal with his left hand, Richie swings at the door, cracking the wood piece by piece as small chips fall to the ground, he could feel the gas filling higher somehow.
"It's the final inning, It's all up to Richie to bring everyone home and win the game, he swings-" The bat breaks through the door, a now gaping hole puncturing the wood "He scores, it's a home run!"
Richie continually smacks the door using the bat, making the hole bigger as he goes along, until finally he can escape the room. The blonde cheers as he races into the hallway, his eyes widen at the dozens of empty gas cans, the sprinklers were filled with the liquid, raining it down constantly.
"Leave it to Van Dough to take the one thing meant to save your life in case of a fire and make into the thing that causes one." Sighs Richie, he had no idea how to turn the system off and therefor continued his way towards the main door.
Richard and Cadbury were driving madly through the streets following the address Dough had given them, they had to make it in time to save Richie; they couldn't lose that boy "Cadbury, can't this car go any faster?"
Cadbury growled as he pressed his foot to the ground "I'm going as fast as I can, Sir."
Richard nods in agreement, his eyes widen at the fatherly instinct tugging at his heart, he had a very bad feeling, the man was about to express more concerns when an awful smell assaults his nose, he'd recognize that odor anywhere "That smell, does Dough plan to ... Oh my god, Richie!"
"Hang on Sir!" Declares Cadbury as he turns the wheel sharply, they weren't far and Richie didn't have much time left, he had no idea why his master yelled, but it had to with Richie, that's all that mattered. "Please, hang on Master Richie!"
Richie reached the front door, but his heart sunk at the sight, a large ticking bomb was attached and wired to the exit, the time counting down from 50 seconds …
Richie ran from room to room, looking for anyway to get out, so far he found nothing "There has to be another exit!"
46 seconds …
Each room the boy ran to had nothing, no windows to break and climb through no chimneys to climb up
"Hurry Cadbury!" screams Richard, the small estate slowly coming into view
30 seconds …
No walls he could smash down
"It's floored to the ground, Sir." Replies Cadbury, his heart beating out of his chest
25 seconds …
Nothing, there was no other exit besides the front door
"We have to make it, something's wrong, I can feel it!"
20 seconds …
Richie screamed as he ran back to the bomb, this stupid device was the only thing keeping him here
"We're coming for you Master Richie, hang on!"
15 seconds …
"Help, please someone!" Richie body slams the door as hard as he can, he banged his wrist, broken or not into the frame
10 seconds …
"I'm here ... " Richie slunk to the floor, he didn't have any more strength to fight, his eye lids were getting heavier, his breathing became shallow as the gas has now risen to his calves
5 seconds …
"Hel …. P"
3 seconds …
"Slugger, hang on!"
Richie finally allowed the tears to fall, he'd been holding so much in, but now everything was lost, there was nothing to fight for anymore, he knew what his fate fortold
1 second …
"I'm almost there son, don't give up!"
He was going to die.
Richie closed his eyes and pictured his family, sitting at the table with his mother, his dad calling him slugger while messing up his blonde hair, his new friends playing a game of baseball in his backyard, Cadbury hugging him and Professor Keenbean showing him a new project.
"Richie!"
Richie smiled one last time … Before his entire world went dark.
This chapter was so hard to write, and it's here where a decision must be made, can Richie survive or is it all over? What are your thoughts?