Mr Monk and the House of Phobias

by Monkwriter777

Adrian and Natalie are forced into a dangerous game of life or death. Adrian must save Natalie's life. But first he must face some of his phobias head on. The clock is ticking. Originally written in 2009. Each story is a progression of Adrian's growth. Please read and review. First one was Mr. Monk Changes His Name. I don't own Monk. Sure could use some reviews.

3. Chapter 3

CH. 3

The Riddle Room

A shot of adrenaline hit Adrian as fear of the unknown, fear of what was behind this first door gripped him. He pushed the key into the lock and turned it. He felt the latch engage, and he turned the knob, opening the door. He glanced back at Natalie who nodded encouragingly to him. Turning back to the door, Adrian carefully looked inside. He stepped into an empty room. Empty, except for a small table next to the door. On that table was a glass of milk. He cringed and side-stepped it. Then he noticed yet more writing on the walls. It was another rhyme.

Sixty minutes, just an hour

Natalie's death is beyond your power.

Then he moved to the next wall, checking his watch, to another message. It read,

Drink the poison if you dare,

If she dies, will you care?

Adrian quickly moved to the next wall, which was leading him to the table of milk.

Drink deep to find the key,

You must hurry to save Natalie.

Adrian swallowed hard. "Oh, God!" he groaned. He hurried out of the room and ran to Natalie. "Natalie, I know what he's doing!"

"Who?" she said carefully.

"I don't know yet, but here's the thing. I think he wants me to go through these rooms to find keys for the next rooms. I think it will lead to the key to get you out!" he explained.

"Okay, so go!" she urged.

"Natalie, this first one has a glass of milk, the key is at the bottom!" he emphasized.

"Can't you dump it?"

"No, there are cameras all over. Whoever it is, is watching everything I do." Adrian explained. "I think all the rooms contain my phobias!"

"Oh my God!" Natalie whispered incredulously with a slight cough.

"Stop talking, I mean it. Breath slowly." Adrian insisted. But he didn't move back to the room. Natalie looked at him with concern.

"Go!" she urged. "You can do it."

Adrian looked at her and decided that Natalie's life was worth more to him than a little milk phobia or any other for that matter. He knew he was going to have to prove it too. He jogged back to the room and turned to face his first challenge. As he entered, he thought, 'whoever this is knows me.' Shaking his hands out to his sides as if trying to release something clinging to them, he grabbed up the glass and chugged it down. It took five gulps to accomplish this and when he was done, he slammed himself up against the wall, spitting the key into his hand. "ARRGGHH!" he let out a deep scream of disgust. He staggered out of the room wiping the milk mustache from his face and cleaning the key. He held the key triumphantly up for Natalie to see as he pushed himself to the next room.