Madness at Madison Mall

by Jon Athan

  The Security Office

  “David! David! Damn it, stop messing around!” Isaac shouted as he walked around the stage. “If you don't answer me, I'm going to walk out of here without you! Do you hear me? I'm not playing with you anymore! I'm done with this bullshit!”

  Isaac rubbed his forehead with his fingertips, frustrated by his partner's inexplicable disappearance. He could kick and scream, run and shout, but it wouldn't solve his problem. Exiting the mall was an option, but he found himself incapable of abandoning his partner and the child. He couldn't leave – no matter what.

  He whispered, “I have to find them. I have to find all of them. I can't keep running. I can't keep hiding...” He stomped and tugged on his hair, frustrated. He shouted, “Damn it! David! Melanie! Where the hell are you?!”

  Isaac breathed deeply as he composed himself, withdrawing from the frontlines of insanity. He glanced over his shoulder and peered towards a set of doors behind a pillar. The doors called the security guard's name, requesting his immediate assistance. Despite his strong urge to leave, the young man felt compelled to answer.

  The guard trudged towards the doors. He illuminated the entrance with his flashlight. The sign on the door read: Authorized Personnel Only. It was similar to the sign on the doors in Toy Harbor and every other store in the mall. He assumed the doors led into the inner network of corridors within the structure. It seemed like a fairly logical theory.

  He shoved the push plates on the doors. To his surprise, the doors swung open. As expected, the doors led to a wide corridor with grimy concrete floors and walls. The hallway was unusually dark. The light was barely able to illuminate four meters of the corridor. The shadows danced in front of the light, like mist dancing in the sunshine.

  Isaac shouted, “David! David, did you come down here?” There was no response. He yelled, “If anyone's in here, you can come out! You won't be in any trouble, I swear! I–I'm not going to hit you or anything like that. I was wrong to say that. Come here and I'll escort you out. Please...”

  Yet again, there was no response. The employee area was silent and desolate. David didn't try to scare his partner, the teenagers did not stampede down the corridor. Like the rest of the mall, the inner hallways of the building were abandoned. Only one soul was willing to wander into the gloomy abyss.

  Isaac walked down the corridor, gliding his light across the dirty walls and ground. He lunged over the cracks on the floor and carefully examined each passing door. He occasionally turned a knob, hoping to find another path, but all of the doors were locked. The doors would only lead him to more stores anyway.

  The hallway seemed endless. Only the sound of his thudding boots echoed through the corridor. It was dark, lonely, and creepy, but it didn't seem irregular. It felt natural.

  For the first time since he arrived at Madison Mall, he felt a sense of normality. He felt like he was treading through familiar territory – walking through a park on a sunny day or strolling down the beach during a beautiful sunset.

  Isaac's eyes widened upon spotting a slit of light in the distance. The light grew larger with each step. From afar, he could see the illumination seeped through the gap under a door. The discovery was worrisome. Madison Mall had been closed for years, sealed and forgotten. There was no electricity in the building.

  As he approached the door, Isaac whispered, “It... It can't be possible. It has to be a–a flashlight.” He nervously smiled and nodded, convincing himself of an unconfirmed fact. He said, “I know it's you, David. Come on out, man. Let's get the hell out of here.”

  Eager to reunite with his partner, Isaac grinned from ear-to-ear as he pushed the door open. He stopped at the doorway, startled. A flashlight was not responsible for the illumination. The fluorescent tubes installed on the ceiling brightened the small room, washing the area with a bright light.

  The confused guard didn't have much time to examine the room, either. With his back to the door, a mysterious man stood in front of a set of monitors and computers on the right side of the room. The man wore a long sleeve navy shirt, navy trousers, black boots, and a utility belt – the same uniform as Isaac and David.

  As his bottom lip quivered, Isaac stuttered, “Wh–Who are you? What... What is all of this?”

  The man glanced over his shoulder. He smirked upon spotting Isaac, as if he had recognized a colleague from a forgotten past. The man had short grizzled hair, bushy eyebrows, and stubble on his flabby cheeks. His blue eyes glimmered with a sparkle of deviance. He was more lively than most middle-aged men in his position.

  The man said, “Welcome, friend. Have a seat. We have so much to discuss.” He pointed at a rolling chair beside a square table in front of the door. He said, “Go on. Sit, sit.”

  Isaac glanced at the chair, then back at the man. He couldn't comprehend the strange situation. It was clearly impossible, but his curiosity got the best of him. He closed the door behind him, then he shambled towards the table.

  ***

  Isaac sat on the seat closest to the door, his trembling palms on his knees. He glanced around the room, examining his newfound surroundings. There were three tall lockers next to the security console. A trash can sat next to the door. The white walls were spotless, the linoleum floor was recently mopped. The CRT monitors were outdated, but the room was otherwise clean and well-maintained.

  The young guard turned his attention to the peculiar man. The man casually leaned on the security console with his arms and legs crossed. His smile was unusually heartwarming, like the smile from a caring father. He seemed like a helpful, amiable man. His lax demeanor was suspicious and worrisome, but he didn't seem malicious.

  Isaac asked, “Who are you? What are you doing here? What the hell is– ”

  “Hold your horses, young man,” the older guard said, waving his hand and shaking his head. “Let's try one question at a time. I can't keep up with you if you hit me with everything you've got. I'm not a young man anymore. Ease into it, son. You understand?”

  Isaac, still rattled by the inexplicable confrontation, inhaled deeply and nodded. He tried his best to calm his nerves.

  The older guard smiled and said, “My name is Charles Pendleton. I'm the lead security officer of this fine establishment. There are other guards, but I'm not sure we'll have time to meet them. Don't worry, though. I'm in charge. I can answer all of your questions.”

  “Charles? You said your name was... Charles Pendleton?”

  “Yes. Why do you ask? Have we met before?”

  Isaac clenched his jaw as he stared at the floor. He recognized the name from his interview with Lewis. The name made him shiver like a person with a severe fever. The young man regretted his decision to enter the room. He was the rodent and he willingly stepped on a trap.

  How do you escape insanity when you continue to run into it?

  Isaac sniffled, then he said, “You... You were the last security guard, weren't you? You–You forgot to sleep or something like that and you got sick. I remember. How did you get back in here? Who let you into the mall?”

  Pendleton furrowed his brow, perplexed. He repeated, “The last security guard?” He softly chuckled, then he said, “But, I'm still here. I'm right in front of you, son. I'm flesh and bone, just like you. You can touch me if you'd like, but please don't touch too much. My wife will get jealous.”

  Isaac shook his head and said, “I'm not joking with you.”

  “Relax, young man. You're too uptight. You won't last in this cruel world with an attitude like that. What do you say to some coffee with scotch? It should help get rid of the jitters. Hmm?”

  Isaac glanced at the small desk beside the security console. He could see a carafe of blistering coffee, a bottle of whiskey, and two mugs on top of the table. He didn't notice the table or the beverages when he first entered the room. How did that get there?–he thought.

  Pendleton asked, “Will you share this drink with me?”

  Isaac reluctantly nodded and said, “Sure, sure...�
�

  “Excellent.”

  Pendleton served the coffee, mixing the hot beverage with milk and whiskey. He placed one mug in front of Isaac, then he took his seat across the table. Isaac watched the man with narrowed eyes, baffled by his behavior. Pendleton nonchalantly sipped his coffee.

  Isaac asked, “What are you doing here, Pendleton? What's going on here?”

  Pendleton took another sip of his coffee, then he smacked his lips and clicked his tongue. He said, “I honestly don't understand your question. What do you think I'm doing? I'm protecting these grounds, I'm taking care of this beautiful building. It's my duty.”

  “Your duty ended a long time ago. Lewis told me about your accident. He told me about your lack of sleep and your hallucinations. Shouldn't you be in a hospital or something? What are you doing here? Really, what the hell is going on?”

  “Lewis, Lewis, Lewis... He's an honest man, but he doesn't know everything. He's not nearly as aware as he thinks he is. You see, I never left this building. Even if I had the opportunity, I wouldn't walk out of those doors. If I left, then there would be one less guard at this mall. And, judging by your failure to catch those kids, I'd say Madison Mall needs as many guards as possible.”

  Pendleton leaned back in his seat. He held his hand to his stomach and chortled, snorting and clucking like a farm animal. Isaac was not insulted by the man's verbal jab or derisive laughter. He frankly didn't care. He solely wanted an explanation for the inexplicable.

  Isaac asked, “What are you protecting this mall from? Teenagers? Bums?”

  Pendleton stopped laughing in an instant. Stony-faced, he said, “I'm protecting it from destruction. Madison can't die. I won't allow it. It's a special place. Through its... its mystical power, it changed me into the man I am today. It showed me the light, it showed me the error of my ways. It picked me, just like it picked you.”

  “Picked me? 'Picked me' for what?”

  “Isaac, this is more than a shopping mall. This is more than a commercial area for ignorant consumers to waste their money. This place is a... a reflection of humanity. It's a special place for people like us. Hell, this is us, young man. This is our lives, our spirits.”

  Isaac chuckled and shook his head, flabbergasted by Pendleton's ambiguous explanation. He wanted to understand the situation, he sought to clear the fog in his mind, but his addled brain couldn't comprehend it. He was lost in a clouded maze, hopelessly wandering the crevices of his labyrinthine brain in search of an exit.

  Unfortunately, the exit was beyond his field of view.

  Isaac shrugged and said, “I have no idea what you're talking about.”

  Pendleton responded, “You don't have to understand it right now. Everything will be revealed very soon, young man. Yes, yes. You'll find the truth – eventually. In the meantime, enjoy your drink. You deserve a break after all of your hard work. Go on, drink up.”

  “Sure.”

  Isaac took a sip of his coffee. He was lost in his thoughts, but he tried to shrug off his concern. He figured he was lucky enough to find some company in the terrifying mall. He believed Pendleton was a hallucination, but at least he wasn't horrifying. He found a sense of safety in the bright security office.

  As he rubbed the nape of his neck, Isaac asked, “You wouldn't be able to help me find my partner, would you?”

  Pendleton puckered his lips and shook his head. He said, “I wouldn't worry about him. He's close. Hell, he's getting closer with each passing second. You'll be reunited soon.”

  “Good. All of this... All of this madness doesn't seem to occur when he's around. I'm not going to let him leave my sight again. No way, no how.”

  “Madness? You're not mad, Isaac. No, you're just confused. Like I said, try not to worry so much. You'll find the crossroads soon.”

  “Jeez, man. I know you're speaking English, but you may as well be speaking another language 'cause I just don't understand you.”

  Isaac and Pendleton shared a sincere chuckle, laughing about the bizarre situation. The pair sipped their drinks and patiently waited.

  Chapter Twelve

  Ramblings of a Madman

  The world could change in the blink of an eye. A bullet could penetrate a vital organ and kill a man. A sleepy driver could doze off and cause a fatal car wreck. A child could be kidnapped, whisked away by a predator. The blink of an eye, a second of negligence, could change everything.

  Isaac blinked. He found himself sitting in a dark room. The wobbly chair groaned under his weight. The monitors on the security console were either looted or shattered. The computers fared no better. The table was missing two of its legs, leaving the tabletop slanted. Trash flooded the cracked ground, fist-sized holes riddled the walls.

  Awed, Isaac whispered, “Pendleton? Pendleton, what's happening?”

  The guard's eyes widened as the doorknob jiggled behind him. He leaned back in his seat and reached for his baton. Before he could grab his weapon, the door swung open. The shrill creak of the rusty hinges functioned as an alarm, announcing the arrival of guests and enemies.

  David stood in the doorway, shining his light into the room. He was baffled by his discovery. His partner sat towards the center of the room, sitting on a broken foldable chair and holding the detached handle of a mug in his right hand. The man appeared lost, incapable of explaining his actions.

  Isaac was caught with his pants down.

  David asked, “Who were you talking to, Isaac?”

  Isaac glanced around the room, searching for an excuse. He glanced over his shoulder, peering towards the lockers. He hoped Pendleton was hiding inside, but the lockers were already pried open. The former security guard vanished without leaving a trail. The distraught father turned towards his partner. He nervously chuckled as he tossed the mug handle on the ground.

  He stuttered, “It–It was nothing. Did you, um... Did you hear me say something?”

  David slowly nodded and said, “Yeah. I could hear you talking down the hall.”

  “Really? Well, I mean, I was mumbling to myself, but I wasn't talking to anyone. I thought I was whispering, really. I... I was messing around. I got bored, so I was having a little 'coffee break.' Yeah... I was just messing around. That's all.”

  David narrowed his eyes as he examined his partner. Unfortunately, an ocular examination could not accurately assess a mental breakdown. He was suspicious, but he didn't want to aggravate the problem. He didn't want to place himself into a dangerous situation over a minuscule issue. He smiled and nodded, as if he believed every word.

  David asked, “Well, how did you get back here?”

  Isaac shrugged and explained, “I got out of the bathroom and you weren't there. I walked around a bit, I called your name, but you weren't around. I saw these doors, so I pushed them open. Then, this was the only open room in the hall, so I took a little break. Wh–Where were you? Huh? What happened?”

  “Isaac, I've been sitting on that stage for the past ten minutes. I was waiting for you to come out. I thought you were taking a shit or something. I went into the bathroom and you were gone. I didn't see you walk out, I didn't hear you scream. I went looking for you for a few minutes. When I came back, those doors were open.”

  “Are you serious? I swear, I came out and I waited for five, maybe ten minutes. I called your name, I screamed at the top of my damn lungs, man. Stop messing around. If you don't want to tell me where you went, that's fine, but don't lie to me.”

  David held his hands up in a peaceful gesture – calm down. He said, “I'm not lying to you. Maybe we just missed each other. Okay? Let's not over-think this or do anything rash. We missed each other. That's what happened.”

  Isaac stood from his seat. He paced in front of his partner, struggling to calm his nerves. He knew David was trying to take control of the situation and he appreciated his resolve. His partner was clearly in denial, he didn't believe his own theory, but at least he was calm.

  Isaac nodded and said, “Sure. That's what hap
pened. We missed each other. You walked away while I was calling your name. By the time I left, you came back. The bathroom was dark. My light turned off for a minute, so maybe you missed me.”

  David said, “Right. Now, I think we should start focusing on the matter at hand. While I was looking for you, I heard something near the food court. It sounded like something... rustling and panting, you know?”

  “Panting? You think it was the kids?”

  “I don't know. The breathing was loud. I thought it was an animal, so I backed off. I need your help to check it out. If it's some sick dog, I need someone to tase it if it attacks. Can you handle that for me?”

  Isaac turned on his flashlight, then he checked his taser. His supplies were working, ready to illuminate the darkness and neutralize any threats. He didn't have much practice with the taser, but he wasn't intimidated by the task. A swift jab at a man's ribs with the taser and he figured he'd be out of trouble – television and movies were his guide.

  Isaac said, “I can handle it.”

  “Good. When we're done with this, we'll search the rest of the first floor. If we don't find anything, we'll leave. One of us can drive off until we find signal or we'll give Lewis a late-night visit.”

  Isaac strolled through the doorway and said, “Sounds good to me. Let's do this.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  The Food Court

  Isaac and David walked down the eastern walkway, strolling towards the food court. The guards peeked into every passing kiosk and store. The pair illuminated the clothing stores, the shoe shops, electronic boutiques, and the occasional coffee shops. There was nothing out of the ordinary, though.

  Isaac occasionally glanced over his shoulder. The hairs at the back of his neck prickled. He thought: is someone watching me? He shuddered and shook his head as he thought about the potential stalkers lurking in the dark. At heart, he hoped Pendleton would reveal himself to his partner. He was satisfied with his absence, though. It meant he was hallucinating, but at least he was safe. He preferred the eerie sensation to Bugaboo's presence, too.