Parchman
a door that was behind the coatsholding her arm out for Hod to follow. Hod nodded.‘Narnia?’ he said injest, leaving the woman completely unaware of the joke.Beyond the door there was a large living room with an open plan kitchen.It was very clear now that he was underground. There were steps on thewalls with glass viewing pods in the ceiling. Hod pointed ‘outside?’ Thewomen shook her head dismissively then nodded affirmation.
The man dramatically came back through another hidden door, swinginghis coat open to reveal a bright red pair of trousers and his bare chest.‘Welcome to Homely Manor,’ he said. ‘Ryan Renouf at your service.’
Hod didn’t quite know what to say to this so he said nothing at all. But themore he looked at the man and the man look back at him the more he feltlike he recognized the man. Slowly the man started moving his head fromside to side and licking his lips as he realized Hod was working out whohe was. Just when Hod was on the verge of remembering where he knewhim from the man burst out laughing.
‘Oh Hod, Hod, Hod’ said the man.‘It’s me. Ryan Renouf. Killer Clownsfrom OuterSpace,’ he chuckled theatrically. ‘1999 box office smash.’
‘Of course,’ said Hod. ‘You were the clown killer.’ He snapped back intoreality. ‘OK, so I get it. You were famous once upon a time, but why am Iimprisoned down here?’ he said looking around the room.
‘Imprisoned? No, no. You’re free to leave at any time my good man. Wejust needed to know you weren’t the enemy,’ said Renouf. ‘We found you out there and saved you Hod. We bought you back from the dead.’
‘For which I am eternally grateful, thank you. So I can leave?’
‘Of course Hod. You will of course join us for one last dinner before youleave us?’
Hod felt very nervous of this offer but as it didn’t look like he had a choicein the matter he bowed his head in defeat and went to sit down at the tablein the middle of the room.
Renouf brought over a decanter of wine and suddenly Hod felt that if hewas going to die then at least he should die drunk. Never one to turn awaywine or beer, or in fact any alcohol ever, he started to pour the wine.
The woman joined him at the table. ‘Pet indeed,’ he said to her. Thewoman however had a fear in her eyes that Hod saw immediately as hewas about to put the glass of wine to his lips. ‘So what is your name mydear?’ he said to the woman placing the wine glass back down on the table.
‘Her name is not important.’ Renouf jumped up angrily and slammed hisfist on the table before taking a step back and composing himself, thensmiling at Hod. ‘Apologies, I’ve been down here way too long. Mymanners betray me. We have tried on many occasions to grow our littlefamily but unfortunatelywe have found others not to be a good fit. Isn’tthat right?’ he asked the woman rhetorically.
‘Look,’ said Hod, ‘you have been more than hospitable, and I completelyunderstand your reservations in keeping me locked up until you were sureI was not a threat. I appreciate you “saving” me and everything, but I reallymust be getting back to my own home.’
‘Home? But Hod, this is your home now. You’re one of us now,’ saidRenouf threateningly.
‘I graciously decline,’ said Hod, trying to make light of the situation, butfrantically trying to think of a way out.
‘You aren’t drinking?’ said Renouf.
‘T-total,’ said Hod lying.
‘Mmm,’ said Renouf. ‘You know I worked with many of your type backwhenI was walking the boards.’
Hod wasn’t sure where this was going but nodding along listeneddiligently to what the mad man had to say.‘My type?’ he said.
‘Yes, your type,’ replied Renouf.
‘And what, pray tell,is my type?’
Before Renouf had a chance to reply the woman had brought down acistern lid from a toilet down on the back of his head. Blood sprayed overthe white tableclothand Hod’s face making him fall backwards out of his chair.
‘Go, go, got to go,’ said the woman frantically.
Hod got to his feet ‘But where’s the door?’ he said to her looking around.
‘Save, save save,’ the woman stammered pointing in the direction of where Hod had come through the small corridor.
‘Oh no way.I’m not going back in there,’ said Hod.
‘Need saving. Please come.’
Hod reluctantly followed the woman who, instead of going back throughto where Hod had been, held opened a small door in the corridor which ledto a much longer corridor with more doors. ‘More prisoners?’ he said.The woman nodded and ran back out, returning seconds later with a bunchof keys. Hod gingerly opened the first door and a boy no older than twelvelooked up at him in terror.‘We’re here to help,’ said Hod looking for acorresponding key to the chain on his leg. The boy backed up against thewall until he realized that Hod was in fact there to help him.
‘What’s your name?’ he turned to the woman.
‘I think. I think it is Emma. It’s been so long,’ she replied.
‘Get the rest of these doors open. I’m going to look for a way out of here.’
Hod went back into the main living area and looked for some way to getout of the bunker. But something was different. He couldn’t place it, butsomething was wrong. It was Renouf. His body was no longer across thetable where he had fallen. Hod ran into the kitchen and looked at the knifeblock which was missing a knife.
‘Arrrrrrrgh,’ he said turning straight into Renouf, who was now wearing aclown mask along with blood stained overalls.
‘You shouldn’t have done that,’ said Renouf, lifting his arm to reveal themissing knife in his hand.
Hod sidestepped the lunatic and ran to the other side of the table.
‘You’re mad,’ Hod said.
‘I saved you. I literally found you on