The Incubus

Chapter 9, Scene 1

Robert almost didn't hear the knock on his front door. He looked up, but made no effort to get up. He didn't expect any visitors; neither did he want to entertain hawkers or door-to-door salesmen. He rubbed what little grey hair he had left with the palm of his hand and after waiting a moment, re-adjusted his reading glasses and continued filling out his crossword puzzle.

Another knock; louder than the first.

Robert looked up again and sighed. He rubbed the stubble on his face and frowned. 'Who's there?' he shouted down the hallway.

No answer.

'Whatever you're selling,' Robert yelled from his couch, 'I'm not interested! Now git!' There was a moment that nothing happened. Robert leaned forward and looked down the hallway at the door. He couldn't see the silhouette of feet in the thin strip of space between the floor and the door. Whoever it was must have left. Robert grinned.

A sudden slamming on the door, like someone banging against it with a fist made Robert's heart skip a beat. He fumbled with his glasses and threw the magazine on the table next to his couch. 'I'm coming!' Robert shouted as he made his way down the hallway towards the door. 'Hold yer horses!' He mumbled something under his breath as he pulled his robe tighter. He pressed his eye against the peep hole but couldn't see anyone. 'Who's there?' he demanded.

No answer.

Robert unlocked his door, but kept the chain on. He then opened it a crack and peered through it. 'Who's there?' he asked again. Again no one answered. 'Stupid kids,' Robert said and closed the door. He considered locking it, but waited a moment instead. He would catch them in the act and teach them a lesson. On the first bang Robert yanked open the door. The sudden silence was just as disconcerting as the fact that there was no one standing on the other side.

'What the heck—?'

An invisible force struck the door, breaking the chain right off and sending a stunned Robert flying through the air. He crashed into the floor with a sickening thud and struck the back of his head against the side of his wall unit.

The door slammed shut.

'Who...who's there?' Robert yelled. Someone was in the apartment with him. Even though he couldn't see anyone, he could feel it. He could sense the presence of something terribly evil. Robert dashed for the telephone and dialled an emergency number. Before it could ring on the other side, an invisible intruder ripped the phone from his hand and flung it across the room where it shattered as it crashed into the wall.

Robert clutched his chest. Pain stabbed into his left arm. He took one look at the pieces of broken telephone and dashed for the door. Halfway there, a frying pan flew out from the kitchen and smacked him on the side of his head. The force of the blow snapped his neck and he fell to the ground, lifeless.