LOCKED UP

'He's gone,' I shouted. 'The guard is gone.'

Eric turned to the door, a look of alarm on his face. He pushed Maria away, yanked the flashlight from my hand and dashed out of the door. Half of the room turned dark suddenly, and Maria ran toward me. Eric's footsteps slapped the floor in the hall in rapid succession and then the sound grew faint until it was gone completely.

Darkness covered the room.

'Paul,' Maria whispered, and I felt her hand circling my arms.

'Don't be afraid,' I whispered.

Mr. Potter soft laugh swarmed through the darkness to meet us. Maria's gripped on my hand grew tighter. 

'The purpose has been achieved,' he crooned from where he sat. 'The purpose has been achieved.'

'What are you talking about?' I asked into the darkness. 'What purpose?'

'To let the old man go,' he said. 'Why do you want to keep him? He is old and innocent.'

He struggled up and walked toward us. Maria gasped and tightened her grip.

'But you wanted him to go too, didn't you?' he said. 'Both of you wanted him to go. Your friend is the little devil, isn't he?'

'What do you want?' I asked. 'What do you want from us?'

Mr. Potter laughed—soft and creepy it was. He took more steps toward us.

'The purpose has been achieved,' he said. 'I don't want anything from you.'

'Let's go out,' Maria whispered from behind me. 'Let's go to Eric.'

I saw the tail of the light at that moment, and it flicked into the room, driving the darkness back into the walls. Eric's footsteps rammed along, and soon he stood by the door.

'He is gone,' he said, breathing hard. 'Couldn't find him. I am sure he is still in the hall, hiding somewhere, but I can't find him.' He panted. 'We have to go; we can't stay here anymore.'

'He is coming,' Maria cried and ran to Eric. 'He is coming.'

I turned in time to see. Mr. Potter standing two steps away. I could see his face now, and a jeering smile drew his lips apart. 

'What do you want?' I asked him again. 'What do you want from us?'

'My water,' he said. 'She picked it.'

Eric moved to the left of the door and kicked a bottle of water to him. The bottle swung around wildly and twisted passed Mr. Potter. He followed the bottle to the wall and picked it up. He uncapped the bottle and threw the drugs into his mouth. He drank the water until the bottle was empty.

He dropped the bottle on the floor. 'Don't blame me if I litter the place.' He crossed back to where his bag sat and squatted beside it.

'Time to sleep,' he said and stretched on the floor, placing his head on the bag. He drew his legs together and folded them, taking the shape of a banana. 'Everybody, take your bed; time to sleep!'

Eric pointed the flashlight on his face; Mr. Potter eyes stared into the glare of the light, blinking rapidly.

'Get up; you are coming with us,' Eric said.

Mr. Potter turned away from us and faced the wall.

'Did you hear what I said?' Eric shouted. 'Get up or I kick your back.' 

 Mr. Potter did not stir. He lay curled as comfortable as a man lying on a waterbed. 

'Let's leave him,' Maria said from the door. 'The guard will return with the villagers.'

'She is right,' I said. 'Forcing him to the car will take all night. Let's just go.' 

Eric stared over Mr. Potter's body. Then, in a sudden jerk, he slammed his leg into Mr. Potter's back.

Mr. Potter grunted, and Eric kicked him again.

'Uughhh,' Mr. Potter grunted again.

'Erico!' Maria cried. 'You will kill him.'

I rushed to Eric and grabbed his arm. 'That's enough.'

Eric jerked his arm from my hand. 'That's for what you did to Maria,' he said, his breath coming in rapid succession. He dashed forward again and swung his leg; it flew into the air and connected with Mr. Potter's thigh. 'That's for all our troubles, you white trash.' 

I caught Eric again and dragged him toward the door. 'Let's go,' I said. 'He is not in his senses.'

'I don't give a care if he was born mad,' Eric said and pushed my hand away. 'I am crazier than he is. This is a land of crazy people; in case you don't know. Sigmund Freud himself will tell you that.'

Mr. Potter writhed on the floor, groaning. I pushed Eric forward until we got to the corridor. The flashlight picked Maria's face and I saw her eyes darting from the corridor and back to the room as if she expected Mr. Potter to jump at her.

I pushed Eric out of the door and into the corridor. 'Let's get out of here before the guard returns.' 

Maria led the way, and I ushered Eric after her. I looked back into the room and saw Mr. Potter crouched in the half-light going into the room. 

We hurried through the massive hall and reached the back entrance. Eric pulled the handle; the door creaked but did not shift. He twisted the handle again and pulled. The door held up the pressure, not budging, not opening. 

Eric turned to me. 'It's locked,' he said. 'The guard locked us in.'