“Err…How about five dollars?”

“Done!” Kelly handed him a twenty dollar bill from a pocket.

“I’ll get change.” He opened a nearby cash box. “If you’re interested, I have more of my jewelry. Would you care to see it?”

“Yes. That would be great.” She really liked his work.

He pointed to his front door.

“It’s displayed in a case in my living room. I don’t always carry it out here, because most people don’t appreciate my ideas.”

Kelly balked… “Oh…No…I don’t think so…maybe another time?”

“I understand…Another time.”

Kelly took her purchase, turned to leave and glanced in through the open doorway. She noticed an antique looking wood jewelry case that stood at the end of a narrow hallway.

“Is that it?”

“Yes,” he replied and approached another shopper. “You’re welcome to take a peek. I’ll be here if you need me.”

‘What harm can it do?’ She reasoned with herself. ‘He’s outside, other people are walking by and there may be some more bargains. His work is really unusual.’

She entered the doorway.

The hallway was old and gloomy; hardwood floor covered with a shabby rug. Kelly hesitated as she smelled a musty odor that permeated the room, but the jewelry case looked tempting and just a few feet away. She once more looked over her shoulder and saw that the young man was now some distance away, at the other end of the yard.

Kelly slowly walked towards the living room.

Suddenly, the floor under her feet gave away and she fell into the basement below…

“Hey! Are you all right? Must be those old floorboards. Hope I don’t have termites? Give me your hand and I’ll pull you out.”

Kelly recognized his voice and reached out in the darkness. She felt a sharp needle prick in her finger and passed out.

She slowly regained consciousness. Her head throbbed, her eyes felt sore as they adjusted to the brightness of the surroundings. The room was unbearably cold, and she couldn’t feel her feet.

Kelly lay naked on a stone table and all about her frozen sides of meat hung on steel hooks.

A door opened and the young man entered the room. He wore a butcher’s apron and pulled a tool cart.

“Good, you’re awake.” He said, in the same calm voice that now made her skin crawl. “Have you already introduced yourselves?” He gestured at the body parts. “No? Well…

At that moment, Kelly kicked out towards him and hit his face.

He slumped to the ground, as blood gushed from his nose.

Without hesitation, she quickly moved towards him and kicked as hard as she could.

He collapsed to the floor in agony.

Kelly rushed through the opened door and looked about the room. She was in the large basement area, and just a few feet away a ladder was propped against an opening in the ceiling. Light filtered in from the hallway, above.

The man winced as he slowly struggled to stand.

Kelly quickly climbed the ladder and tried to open the front door.

It was locked and bolted.

Her hands shook as she fumbled to grip the rusted bolts. She heard the man’s footsteps on the ladder.

The front door creaked open and she was outside.

It was dead of night and fog engulfed the darkened street.

‘How long was I unconscious?’ She quickly dismissed the thought. “It doesn”t matter. Get the Hell way from here!’

Kelly began to run, as she had never run, before.

She was all alone on the sidewalk for what seemed an eternity and then she saw up ahead a man propped against a dumpster.

‘Is it that drunk?’

“Hey! Help me!” Kelly screamed out at the top of her voice as she ran towards him.

But he did not stir.

“Help me!” She stood over him. “Please, help me!”

The man finally moved and turned his head toward her…

“Good, you’re awake.” The young man said, in the same calm voice that now made her skin crawl. “Have you already introduced yourselves?” He gestured at the body parts. “No? Well…let me present my wife, Sally… I’m sorry; I don’t know your name?” He approached one of the meat racks.

Kelly felt terrible pain but knew that she must escape.

She tried to sit up, but was unable to move.

“Going somewhere?” The young man asked. “Well then, you’ll probably need these.” He smiled as he unhooked two long tanned severed legs from the rack and held them up before her….