The Outside

Section VI

 Marion and I sit in rickety wooden dining chairs next to the burning fire. I stare into the dancing embers. Marion watches me carefully, like a student listening to a teacher's enthusiastic lecture. She teeters around in her chair, making a loud squeak with every miniscule movement.

Creeeeak, Croooak, Creeeeak, Croooak

On and on, the aching floorboards groan under her endlessly shifting weight. On and on.

The smoke rises from the red hot, burning embers in the fireplace. It rises like the tendrils of an eldritch beast, twisting and climbing through the air. Contorting themselves into odd shapes, billowing out in rings from the cool breeze flowing through the cracks in the walls.

Creeeeak

The space above my fireplace stands empty and barren. As if waiting to be taken up by something. Perhaps the recently severed wolf head? No. It wouldn't fit the room. This is a more intimate place than that. This is no hunter's lodge or rich man's foyer. This is a family place. Even if it is only a family of one.

Croooak

A family of one with the addition of one interloper at least.

Thwip thwip

Creeea-

My hand shoots out to catch Marion's chair.

Thwip thwip

She looks at me, puzzled.

Thwip thwip

It's coming from the blank space above my fireplace.

Thwip thwip

I stand up, staring at the empty place.

Thwip thwip

Marion starts up; "Edgar---"

Thwip thwip

I silence her with a finger, still staring with wide eyes at the empty space.

Thwip thwip

"Edgar, it's only a branch---"

Thwip thwip

"---or the wind---"

Thwip thwip

"---it's nothing---"

Thwip thwip

"---really."

Thwip thwip

I lift the axe silently from its position resting against my chair.

Thwip thwip

I finish half a step.

Nothing.

The sound is gone.

I finish the step, which turns into a sprint for the door.

"Edgar! It's nothing, I'm sure!"