Short Stories

Him

He stood in front of the narrow doorway, blocking all light from its source. The room became a dark abyss and nothing told me where each of the walls remained. The blinding light peeking out from around his mundane figure made his face plain and without features. As to why he was blocking my exit, I was unsure. The wooden planks that formed the stairs creaked as I shifted my weight onto my other leg. Apprehensively I took another step up only for his hand to meet my chest and push me back down. My breathing rate increasing as I realised that he wasn't going to let me out. Again I took a step forward and held both arms to the sides of me for support. And again his force caused me to fall.

I took a step down and heart a slight laugh escape from his lips. His figure became bolder and he stood tall and rolled his shoulders. Menacingly he placed a foot onto a lower step, coming towards me. For each step her took down, I took one too. Almost like a dance intended for the fierce and scared.

His arm swung forward and presented my face with a searing pain. A whimper escaped from my lips. An uncertainty washed over me and I tried to recall what I had done to make him this way. And a wave of panic drowned me as I couldn't recall a single thing.

Each step he took created more light but still not enough to fill the basement. Around me I could faintly see the shine of a framed painting and a wire hanging dangerously low from the ceiling. The entire time that we engaged in this panic stirring dance, his gaze never left my eyes.

I chanced a quick look around and turned to look back at him, only to see that he had advanced greatly. My back finally hit into a cold, solid barrier. Creaking echoed throughout the underground cavern. The slice of light provided from the door had halved and was still slowly disappearing. He must have noticed this as his head shot in the direction of the door and then back at me. He began to run towards me in an attempt to catch me in the light.

The lights went off. The booming sound of his running becoming closer. I dived to the left and his behind a pile of boxes. The infinite darkness masking me from him and him from me. A thumping sound followed by a groan told me that he had found the spot where I had been standing.

Shuffling became the only noise audible in the room. A game of blindman's bluff taking place. I tried to stay still, all the while still feeling unsure as to why all of this was happening.