My eyes feel heavy when I get home, even though it is 5:30 in the afternoon. Daylight savings time never made any sense to me. I brush off the snow on my jacket. It started snowing on my drive back from work, that never bothered me much, but the mist that rolled in gave me some chills.
I walk over to the fireplace and flip the switch, it sparks but doesn't light. I try again to no avail. I sigh, “I guess I’m out of gas, I’m gonna need to get some tomorrow,” I make a mental note as I walk across my apartment's laminate flooring.
I grab a blanket and wrap it around myself. My apartment was almost as cold as outside, it makes sense there is no installation to keep the warmth in. I look around for my roommate, I knock on his door. I don’t get a response, so I try opening it. It was locked.
I chuckle, “He can sleep through an earthquake.” I walk back to the living area and sit down on the couch. I grab the remote and press the power button, the television remains black, seconds later the lights shut off. I sigh as I get up, walking over to the coffee table and pulling the dresser out.
The faint glow of a glow-in-the-dark flashlight. I click the button on the flashlight and the light flickers on, I scan the area looking for the fuse box. I couldn’t find anything that appears to be vaguely a fusebox. I check the bathroom, nothing, I check the closet, also nothing. I walk back to the living area and grab a key to unlock my roommate’s.
I walk down the hallway, and knock on the door to his room. “I’m coming in,” I say, not expecting a response.
He stutters, “What is happening?” He asks, I knew he has nyctophobia.
“The snow probably knocked out a power line, it should be fixed in about an hour.” I tell him, “Do you mind if I come in?”
“I would like that.” He says as his voice shakes in genuine terror.
I unlock his door and shine the light towards his bed, his eyes are bloodshot, tears run down his face. He seems to relax when he sees the light. I sit at the foot of his bed and look at him. His wiry black hair dripping with sweat, his dilated eyes shows pure fear.
I rub his leg trying to comfort him, “Let’s watch the snow fall, it’ll help calm you down.”
He nods and slides the blankets off his legs, his prosthetic leg creaks as he steps on the floor. We walk to the balcony of our apartment, our path alight by the flashlight. I grab some blankets and a lantern, I hand him a blanket and open the door as I help him step on the balcony.
We sit in a pair of chairs on the balcony and I turn on the lantern and set it on the little table. We look across the field behind our apartment complex, snowflakes dancing down to earth. The white blanket of the snow covers the ground as it reflects the moonlight, the beauty of winter makes my eyes dazzle.
I turn to my roommate, his brilliant light blue eyes shine in the beauty of falling snow. The soft angle of his chin, his smile of wonder, and his soft lips all seem perfect in the light of the moonlight. I reach over and lay my hand on his, he turns to look at me and smiles a loving smile. He has such an amazing smile.
I hear some of the snow shifting in the field and turn to look for the source. A path of disturbed snow trails into some trees. I scan the treeline, looking for any sign of life. I start to stand up but my roommate grabs my sleeve.
“Did you hear that?” He says as his grip tightens.
“Did I hear what?” I ask, trying to keep him calm.
“There is chattering, like the type one would make if they’re cold.” The fear returns in his eyes.
I strain to hear the chattering, but I couldn’t hear the chattering he was speaking off. A shine caught my eyes in the woods. I see a pair of eyes, sickly yellow eyes. They stare at me as they approach. The snow crunching under the silhouette of the creature as it stepped towards us.
My breath tightens as I look at the creature. My roommate looks where the creature is and back at me concerned. He grabs my face and pulls it down to look at him.
“What are you looking at?” He says, “There is nothing over there.”
“Is the chattering coming from over there?” I say as I start to worry.
He nods, fear growing in his eyes. He suddenly looks down and clumsily drags me into the apartment. His full body weight lands on me, knocking the wind out of me. I look out at the balcony, two yellow eyes emerge from a hole in the balcony. A long boney arm reaches out and grabs my roommate’s prosthetic leg. I undo the latches of his leg and it flies off.
I pick him up and carry him to my room. I grab a piece of paper and an old-style pen. I scribble down words describing the creature I saw as it approaches me and my roommate. The creature grips my leg and pulls.
I fall on the floor, the wind leaves me once again. I struggle to leave its grasp, a warm feeling runs up my leg and I can’t feel my foot. All I feel is immense pain, I can hear my bones breaking, and my roommate screaming my name as my vision fades. I look at my roommate’s face one last time, a sinister smile on his lips as a demonic laugh fills my last moments.
My laugh fills the air as my pet rips his body apart, the blood seeping into the floorboards. The sweet metallic scent fills my nostrils. My pet pulls off his left leg and hands the appendage to me. I attach the leg to me as it morphs into me, adapting to my body. I stand on my new leg for the first time, I’m whole again, and everyone will learn to fear me. The beauty of the winter weather sure is amazing. Reader, enjoy it while you can.
YOU ARE READING
A Winter's Beauty
Short StoryCover art link: https://www.dreamstime.com/man-silhouette-scary-dark-haunted-forest-fog-mysterious-man-silhouette-dark-haunted-forest-fog-halloween-image129841127 A small short suspense story meant as a one and done.