Into the fire

I didn't do anything wrong, I thought as I hopped over old Mr. Hunt's fence and ran down Pine Street. I could hear Officer Stone's heavy breathing. I didn't turn around to see how close he was.

"Stop!" I heard as his partner, Officer Pitt, landed with a thud on the sidewalk.

I kept my head down and my feet flying toward Main Street.

If I was so innocent, why was I running, you ask?

Easy: I live in one of those places where you're guilty until proven innocent. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but no one was ever going to believe me. I know the deal. So, I ran.

As soon as I turned onto Main, I ran into the first alley on the left. A door was ajar so I slipped in. Pitt and Stone thundered by and I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Welcome, my child."

The voice came from behind me. I turned slowly and froze. At the same time the door behind me clicked shut and locked. The room before me was dark, lit only by candles on the wall. And a fire pit in the middle of room above which was...I rubbed my eyes, sure I could not be seeing what I thought. Above the fire there was something...someone, turning like a pig on a spit. As my eyes adjusted, I saw the face and screamed.

It was me.

"We've been expecting you," the voice continued from next to me.

I turned and white eyes glowed beside me.

"Uh, I th- think I made a wrong turn," I stuttered, trying to surreptitiously twist the knob behind me.

"No, it was fate," the voice said as a clawed hand dug into my shoulder. "You've been expected."

"No, really, I have to go," I said, desperately trying to open the locked door."

"We insist you stay," glowing eyes said.

"We?" I whispered.

"Mmmhmmmm," the voice murmured as dozens of glowing eyes blinked around me.