Kill the Lights

It's only fair, I guess. Here's my take on the "two lights" picture!



"Kill the Lights"
by Jason Evans


Outside, nothing moved in the spring night. Alone, Amy stared at the television with the sound dialed down.

The telephone rang.

Her breath froze.

Wide-eyed, she watched the answering machine clip the forth ring.

"Hi, this is Amy. I can't come to the phone right now...."

Her heart thumped through the long beep.

"Tonight!" a voice hissed. The line cut.

In the distance, a car engine revved. Tires screeched.

Amy leapt from the couch and grabbed the lamp. She spun the switch too fast. The bulb flashed on and off before it doused.

She ran.

The overhead light. Out.

The kitchen light. Out.

Another squeal. His muscled-up car shook the night.

In the near dark, she couldn't find the remote. Scenes from the television danced on the walls. Precious seconds bled away as she patted the set for the switch.

On her road now. Then, the gravel driveway. Headlights washed across the windows.

The television winked out. She charged up the stairs.

He skidded up to the house and slammed the car door.

As she reached the second floor, he threw himself against the lock. The threshold splintered.

In fuzzy socks, she raced past the little table without a sound. Two lights glowed. No time to stop.

In the far bedroom, she crept into the floor shadows by the bed. Her mouth pulled into a silent scream.

Scraping on the stairs.

Sneaking.

Stalking.

A dark shape slid around the far wall. Two points like stars glistened in its crystalline eyes.