Storm Front – Friday Flash

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STORM FRONT

By Melissa L. Webb

Joy Westcott stood at her window; streaks of light in the sky dancing merrily, heralding in the dark bank of the clouds looming behind.  She shivered as the first drops of rain struck the glass, beating out a hypnotic rhythm, lulling her into false tranquility.

She breathed out; condensation coating the glass where her foggy exhale touched it.  Stepping back she checked the thermostat on the wall.  70 degrees and holding.  She tapped at it, convinced it was broken.

“But it’s so cold,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around herself, her teeth beginning to chatter.  Moving to the window once again, she was mesmerized by the lightning tearing apart the sky outside.  Thunder boomed overhead.  The floor beneath her shook, quivering like a frightened child.  She looked around confused.  When did the ground ever react to the sky?  The tremor grew stronger and then stopped, falling silent before the storm.

Joy gasped as the air chilled even more around her.  She felt as if she was on a tundra, exposed to the harsh elements instead of tucked away in her own home.

The lights flickered and then went out, as another rumble split the sky.  She glanced at the emergency candles glowing brightly in the gloom.  Thank God, she’d thought ahead.  Tonight wasn’t a night to be in the dark.  It wasn’t safe.

 

She was surprised that thought would creep into her mind.  This was her home.  Her haven.  She’d always been safe here.  Why would one little storm change all that?

But, as she watched the clouds drawing closer, she realized it was true.  A prophetic shudder crept up her shoulders.  It weighed upon her as much as anything alive would.  This very well might be the last night of her life.  It might also be the end of every life on this Earth.

She pressed her face closer to the glass.  Lightning flared, turning the large bay window into a mirror.  Immediately her eyes moved to the reflected candlelight burning behind her.  In that instant, a figure moved, blocking one of the candles from view.

Joy gasped as the lighting died, once again gazing out onto her neighborhood.  Fear flooded through her, fast and hard, cementing her to that spot.  Something was behind her.  It couldn’t be.  She was alone.  The house was locked up tight.  There couldn’t be anyone behind her.  Yet she knew there was.  She’d seen it move.

A jagged gasp emitted from her throat as a slithering occurred behind her.  She wanted to turn, to see what lay in wait for her, but fear still held her body tight.  It constricted around her as real as any solid bands.  She was helpless, nothing more than prey for whatever lurked behind.

Hearing a sharp hiss of breath, the room filled with darkness.  A scream ripped from Joy’s throat, terror crushing the sound into nothing more than a gurgle.  This was it.  She was going to die and she’d never even see it coming.  Her mind raced.  Why her?  Why now?  These were things she wanted to know.  If her life was going to end tonight, shouldn’t she at least be given that much?

Opening her mouth, she tried to force actual words past her lips.  “Did you blow out the candles?”

The slithering sounded again, moving closer.  “Yes,” a voice answered, barely more human than a garbage disposal.  “After all, it is my birthday.”

Joy cringed at his choice of words.  Something had been born into the world.  Something dark and sinister.  Something that should never be.  “What are you?” she asked.  She had to know.

“Hungry,” it hissed, moving so close she could feel it behind her.

Closing her eyes, she shook in despair, waiting for her demise as the storm raged on outside.

© 2012 Melissa L. Webb

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