March 7: Write a short story from the first person perspective of a grumpy old man
....
A crash from the other side of the house drew me out of my book. I dropped the novel gingerly on the table and walked out of my study to find out what the noise was all about.
My blood boiled as I stepped into my living room to see that the window was broken. The pesky children that caused the damage were not quick enough to hide before I saw them but because they were young and more agile than I was, they were able to run away before I could even get out of my house.
"You will be sorry the day I catch you, you...children!" I screamed, drawing attention from a few passers-by but I couldn't care less.
I ambled over to the small, red ball that destroyed my window and picked it up, examining it with a scowl on my face.
The scowl deepened as I shifted my glance to the broken window and then to the shards of glass littering the ground.
I sighed deeply and proceeded to get a broom to start cleaning the mess. Before I walked into the house, I overheard a passer- by speak
"I'm serious Emma," the teenage girl said to another with a shaky voice. "If you didn't show up, I don't know what would have happened. The next time I see that book, I'm going to a therapist."
I paused at the door and continued to eavesdrop on their conversation. I know it was wrong but at the mention of a 'book' I was intrigued.
Could it be...?
As they got further away, their voices got fainter so I decided to walk a little closer.
The other girl huffed, "You say you always see this symbol?"
"Yeah, I have drawings of them if you want to see it. This bluish symbol like the number eight but a bit more complicated."
A shiver ran down my spine and caused me to stiffen.
The memories of my youthful days came crashing down on me as I slowly trudged into my house.
I took a seat and rested my head on my palm.
I thought that book had disappeared from the face of the earth?
"You thought you got rid of me?"
I leaped from the chair and fell to the ground.
"Ow," I rubbed my back as I sat up and looked around me wearily.
"Who's that?" I whispered and backed into the couch.
A few moments later, as I sat on the ground trembling, I wondered if the voice I heard, the blinking lights, the shaking objects and the falling books where real or I was just hallucinating.
No...
I shook my head.
That was what I thought. That was what everyone kept saying to me whenever I told them the things I saw. The glowing symbol, the evil talking book.
Until one day in my dreams, it came to me again but to my surprise, I saw it disappear slowly...like it was burning until it finally vanished and I woke up.
I thought it had gone for good. It had stopped haunting me and I hadn't seen it for years.
Hearing that young girl's words terrified the life out of me. And just as I was hoping she was just saying rubbish, this happens.
I'm too old to be going through this...
I needed to speak to that girl and let her explain what exactly she was seeing. Looks like she was coming home from school and hopefully I'll be able to spot her when she walks by tomorrow.
I just hope I don't look like a creepy old man.
***
"Good day...sir?" she greeted as soon as I called for her as politely as I could.
I smiled in a manner that I hoped was sane. "I hope this doesn't sound crazy but yesterday, a bunch of rascals broke my window with their ball and when I came out to check what happened, I overheard you telling your friend about a symbol and a book."
The girls froze and looked back and forth between themselves.
"I promise I wasn't stalking or anything. It's just...it was strange because a similar thing has happened to me...or has been happening but stopped and now...you know what, it's complicated."
They both laughed at me and I was a bit relieved they weren't screaming or running away.
"Would you mind coming in to discuss it?"
They glanced at each other and shrugged.
"We don't mind," the brown haired one said.
***
"And how often do you see these dreams?" I asked.
"Well, before I stopped sleeping, it happened like thrice a week. But I don't see it just in my dreams...I also see it in real life...or in my head. I'm not even sure. I don't know..."
"I understand what you are saying, child. You really are seeing these things. And people will tell you that you're hallucinating or that you have a wild imagination but it is true. Honestly, I don't know enough about it but whenever it comes to me, it says some things...that I try to forget. But that's not important.
I think its trying to get us to listen to it and...follow it. Become a part of it..."
"What?"
"I know, it sounds crazy. But I used to think about it when I was younger. I think it moves from person to person, terrorising them until they either give in or get so overwhelmed and maybe..."
"Is there a way to...stop it from coming to you?"
"I don't know...it just stopped bothering me at a time. This is unnecessary and it is surely dangerous, but I think we need to find out more about this...book and this symbol."
There was silence. Of course. I sounded insane.
"Alright."
I looked up in surprise to see her determined face.
"Are you sure?"
A cackle came from nowhere and we all jumped in fright.
"Yes, this is all I've wanted since the very beginning!"
The lights blinked and objects began to fall off from where they were kept.
"You have given me permission to claim you."
My head spun and I couldn't see clearly anymore. I heard a shreik and a loud cackle after wards.
I wasn't in control of my body anymore. The room had suddenly turned dark and the only thing I could see what the familiar blue symbol.
It was somehow stuck in my eyes.
...And I was stuck to wall.
"Greetings," I heard my own voice say to me.
---
I like the whole idea ✨
