The Horrible Thing That Slipped Through My Window One Night
You can't run outside, said that voice inside his head, which was sometimes annoying, but always helpful. You could probably get away; I'll give you that, but "probably" isn't good enough tonight. For all you know, that thing could be lightning quick. For all you know, there could be more of them.
That was true, but Tom didn't like the idea of staying inside, either. If that thing got in...
You don't even know if it can get in! spoke the voice. It can tap on windows fairly hard, but that's all you've seen so far. Even it does break through, or figure out how to open it, you might be able to fight it off, as long as you don't freeze up again.
Tom stopped in the darkness of the kitchen, listening. He hadn't heard any more thumps from upstairs, and that was far more troubling than it was comforting; he liked having a general idea of where this thing was. He waited a few seconds and then flicked on the light switch. The room remained black.
Damn! he thought. The power's out; the power is fucking out.
The corpse probably didn't mind the light, but Tom minded the dark like a motherfucker; he would be seriously disadvantaged in the dark. It was no good panicking about it, though; it was a wonder that he hadn't passed out in his room, and he had no urge to do it now. The power was out, and that was that. What he needed to do was find a flashlight, and a weapon.
"And then I'll lock up the windows," Tom said aloud. "I'll lock up the windows and wait."
He slowly crept down the hallway, towards the laundry room, where his mom always kept two battery-powered flashlights in case the power went out, as it often did in Northern Michigan. He tried to force his eyes to dilate; to allow him to see at least a few feet in front of him, but he had no luck - his only hope of seeing was the flashlight. His hand felt along the wall, until it twisted into the entrance room. The storm was still raging, but there was enough light shining in from the window on the front door to allow Tom a vague idea of where things were. He considered locking this door, but decided against it; he didn't plan on running outside, but he might need to later.
That was true, but Tom didn't like the idea of staying inside, either. If that thing got in...
You don't even know if it can get in! spoke the voice. It can tap on windows fairly hard, but that's all you've seen so far. Even it does break through, or figure out how to open it, you might be able to fight it off, as long as you don't freeze up again.
Tom stopped in the darkness of the kitchen, listening. He hadn't heard any more thumps from upstairs, and that was far more troubling than it was comforting; he liked having a general idea of where this thing was. He waited a few seconds and then flicked on the light switch. The room remained black.
Damn! he thought. The power's out; the power is fucking out.
The corpse probably didn't mind the light, but Tom minded the dark like a motherfucker; he would be seriously disadvantaged in the dark. It was no good panicking about it, though; it was a wonder that he hadn't passed out in his room, and he had no urge to do it now. The power was out, and that was that. What he needed to do was find a flashlight, and a weapon.
"And then I'll lock up the windows," Tom said aloud. "I'll lock up the windows and wait."
He slowly crept down the hallway, towards the laundry room, where his mom always kept two battery-powered flashlights in case the power went out, as it often did in Northern Michigan. He tried to force his eyes to dilate; to allow him to see at least a few feet in front of him, but he had no luck - his only hope of seeing was the flashlight. His hand felt along the wall, until it twisted into the entrance room. The storm was still raging, but there was enough light shining in from the window on the front door to allow Tom a vague idea of where things were. He considered locking this door, but decided against it; he didn't plan on running outside, but he might need to later.