Turn The Screw Novels & Stories

*I'm screwed. ****

Metal on metal scraped, the screw not wanting to turn after years of rust and neglect. "It's stuck," she grunted. "Apply pressure. Twist hard." More scraping. Then—movement. The screw turned slightly. "Got it." She worked it carefully, each turn loosening it more, until it came free completely and dropped to the floor with a tiny ping. One down. Three to go. She moved to the second screw. This one was easier, coming loose faster. Two down. The vent cover was hanging by just the bottom two screws now, tilted at an angle.

He felt the keyhole, then the chain. "I need something thin," he muttered. "A wire. A pin." "Look in my back pocket," I said. "The screw from the van. I kept it." Dominic leaned down, his fingers sliding into my denim pocket. He pulled out the tiny metal screw. It was bent, but the tip was still sharp. He jammed it into the lock mechanism of the right cuff. Scrape. Click. The tool didn't work. It slipped, gouging into his thumb. He cursed under his breath.

It was slender and she could definitely use it like a phillips head screwdriver. “Try to lock me in my room.” She grumbled walking over to the door. She kneeled down and jammed the envelope opener into the bottom hinge. She then proceeded to hit the bottom of the envelope opener with the heel of the boot. After several wacks the screw popped out from the hinge. She did the same to the top and felt so proud of herself when the top screw fell and hit the floor. She smirked at the door. “Bye bye door.” Nora grinned and kicked the door.

Whoever the person is, was going to regret ever messing with me. Her eyes wandered to Xavier, and she scoffed, crossing her arms on her chest. “Isn't this your so-called attorney from the other day? Is he a fake attorney? Wait… did you bring your boyfriend to pose as an attorney so you could get money from Josh?” She snapped at me, her face burning up with anger. “Watch your mouth, lady!” Xavier snapped back at her. “And what are you going to do if I don't? I can have you kicked out of this building this instant!” She threatened as if she owned the building.

Ashley was about to play the recorder when Sarah screamed with red a face. "Ashley, please don't switch on that recorder."

“Okay, Vera, this is it, you can do this.” With a deep breath and my courage rekindled, I went to work. I used my nails, and began to twist and pull one screw after another until every last one of the screws was completely loose. I waited every time I loosed one screw, waiting and checking if anyone had heard me, but no one walked through the door or even knocked, so I assumed I was safe. Finally, the vent cover slipped free, and I froze, then spent the next minute waiting for any sign that anyone had an inkling of what I was doing.

"Haley, turn your dial to the left..." "Maeve, try yours to the right with one turn..." "Who has same symbol of crown? Turn one place and I'll turn to the right..." "My dial has this skull thing. Killian does you dial have the same shit? Let's get them meet half end..." The rusty wheels creak as we turn them, searching for the correct sequence. Gears grind against each other, the chains clanking loudly. Sweat rolls down my brow as time ticks out. We frantically twist and pull, our hands shaking as one by one, even just a little the gear slips into place with a satisfying click.

“Do we have toothpicks? Get me a box of toothpicks.” Sylvester shortly brought one. “Vera feels like working.” He turned to give her a fake smile. “There are five hundred and fifty sticks in here. You will have to put them back into the box, if you can't find a stick, Sylvester will not pay you.” Put them back how? They're already in the box. Vera watched as Noah opened the box and spread the sticks in the air and they fell everywhere. “Christ!” She gasped with her hand over her mouth. “What are you doing?”

“The clock is running.” “Right,” Ara breathed. She pressed the screwdriver into the first rivet. The tool hummed with blue light, and with a sharp *crack*, the fastener started to turn.