A sputtered whirring pierced the silence.  He winced slightly as the first flash of the bulb contrasted the black, rubbing bloodshot eyes with worn fingers.  The ceiling shuddered as the door creaked, eerie in the tested knowledge that the hinges had been replaced, oiled and polished fanatically.

She was punctual, just like clockwork. Her figure leant gracefully against the frame as she gazed distractedly into space, toying thoughtfully with an earring.  The cigarette smoke trickled lazily towards the ceiling, smothering the putrid air and weaving through the cobwebs.  The man below wheezed slightly as the smoke wafted forward to greet him, his vision still growing accustomed to the light as his eyes traced the ivory banister of the spiral staircase, resting on her stiletto heels far above.

As if to acknowledge his presence for the first time she smiled, playing with the rouge-stained filter between varnished nails,

“Sleep well honey?” she mocked in a teasing American accent, letting the twisted stub fall carelessly through the grating.

He murmured weakly, ash splaying like snow across his knee.  Strands of unkempt hair lay strewn across one side of his unshaven face, a prominent split of murk-red curved upstream from his jaw, disappearing into indeterminable territory.  The yellowing teeth, parched lips and rabid expression could not have contrasted further with his host’s angelic complexion, a disquieting presence in the wake of his torment.

Peering down, she scrutinized him with genuine fascination, as a tourist studies a frightened animal clawing feebly at the circumference of its enclosure.  He strained his neck, seething in agony as he stared back into those opaque eyes and began to whine uncontrollably.

“Enough of that!” she suddenly snapped, collecting herself, “I’ve come to tell you I’m going away on business for a few days dear.  You know what they’re like at the office.”

His eyes widened as he registered the gravity of her words and croaked pleadingly to the sky,

“Please don’t leave me.  Not again.  Not after-”

“Oh hush my love, I’ve left you something as usual”, she chided fondly, dispelling his persistent efforts, “You know what Fido is like: she can’t finish it all!”

Once more, the door scraped noisily to a halt.  Somewhere above, the crash of a turning lock echoed through the cellar.

“Just like clockwork” he snorted, the grimace turning slowly to a grin as the buzzing ceased and the outlines faded to darkness.