He knew he heard a scream, but when he turned around he was surprised to see No One was there.
"When did you get back?" He flicked lint off the cuff of his alpaca woolen sweater. It was much too thick for the muggy day, but his mother insisted.
No One slid closer, her eyes glowing orange in the dim hallway. When she opened her mouth to reply, another scream only he heard flew out.
James nodded and walked pass her, motioning for her to follow.
Her presence chilled him and he let out a puff of fog, chest tight. They paused at the head of the stairs. At the turn, a large rain-soaked board was propped up against the broken window, mostly obscuring the muddy lake below.
He pushed his sleeves up, annoyed at the itching and sighing at No One's icy touch.
"You've been here all my life," he said, foot hovering over the top step. He glanced at where No One floated, her lips a milky blue and the family portrait across the hall just visible through her ruddy cheeks.
Her scream split his ears.
James always knew she tried to talk to him, but has only ever gotten The Feeling.
With a deep breath, he let go and crumpled. Tumbling down the stairs, he saw sparks and visions - the house as it should be, the life he should have.
No One screamed and the window shattered for a second time that week as James careened through onto the lawn. Grass slick with days of rain glided him down the slope to the muddy bank.
Pain seared through him, blinding him to the sky and then a cold touch only just guided him back.
"Oh, James," she whispered, a sound like a breeze dancing through red and gold trees - the most beautiful sound he'd ever heard.
YOU ARE READING
The Eternal Return
Short StoryA collection of speculative short stories and flash fiction. A few of these are also posted on my blog and others still I wrote in creative writing classes or for flash fiction contests. Please, let me know what you think.
