Grahams Guide to Store Chaos

Lights out

   It was pretty late when Romar and I went to bed last night. We hadn't talked much more about what he had told me, and not much after we had passed out on the piles of pillows and blankets strewn about our campsite. I had woken a few hours later, due to some thunder and heavy rain that was pounding on the roof above us. 

   I just sat there, with a small flashlight on, thinking about what Romar had confessed to me. I realized that I now saw a new side of him that explains the eluding nature to his parents. I didn't want to presume things about his life, but I could help but think his parents were pressuring him too much to try and avoid Romar taking the wrong path. Eager to please them but desperate to escape their tight grasp like his brother, he was breaking under their pressure. 

   I am really glad Romar told me about his past. It helped me understand why he felt like he had no choice about his future. Although I still disagreed. I think he should try and forge his own path, like the heroes we watch in movies. With that thought in mind I started to picture Romar in a superman suit. "Romar would make a decent superman." I muttered to myself.

"I don't know, i'm kinda skinny." I heard someone beside me say.

   I shrieked in response and propelled my body across the floor of the campsite, not registering who the words came from. 

"Graham, calm down, it's just me." I now recognized Romar's voice speaking, and I tried to slow my breathing.

"Oh dude," I sighed exasperated, "I didn't know you were awake. That scared the bejesus outta me."

" What were you saying about me being superman? Cause I think I could pull off the Clark Kent look more successfully than a superman look." He said, ignoring my comment.

"That's true." I agreed, still trying to steady my beating heart.

"...Cause get me some glasses, a tie, and a newspaper and i'd be able to pull it off."

"Hey, what are you doing on October 31st?" I asked, wondering if he had plans. 

"Halloween? Why?" He asked, not understanding that I wanted to hang out.

"Because, you could totally be Superman! and I could be Louise Lane....or  Supergirl! THAT WOULD BE SO MUCH FUNNN!!! Or we could go as some scary creatures and HARASS THE LITTLE CHILDREN!!! MWAHAHAHA!!!!"I cackled out over the sound of the storm. When I finished my laughing fit I looked at Romar who was staring silently at me. He had a look on his face like he was ready to whisk me off to a metal hospital at any moment. 

"You..um.. get really into the Halloween spirit-don't you?" He asked cautiously.

"More like, THe HALLoweeN sPIriT Gets inTO MEEEE!" I said jokingly, trying to mimic the voice of a ghostly spirit. It just so happened that at the exact moment after I said those words another round of lightning and thunder shook the building, adding to the effect of the hAlloween conversation. "Wow," I said amazed. "This thunder and lightning gives this chat a real ominous and scary vibe. "

"Yeah, I'm not sure if thats a good thing." Romar said to me, but not looking at me. He was looking out into the dark isles and store surrounding us. My eyes were then drawn to them also, where the shadowy objects created dangerous and frightening images in my mind. Like the jars I had previously seen as candles, were jars with eyes in them. And I could've sworn the brooms at the end of the isle were silhouettes of people, ready to step out and murder us. 

I scooted closer to Romar for comfort and clicked another flashlight on. 

"Ok, I confess. I'm really fucking scared of horror stuff." I admitted. 

"It's a good thing I left a few lights on." He said, grateful of the dim lighting in the rest of the store.

   The storm outside was the worst yet, the howling of wind was unyielding and all other sound was drowned out by the rain pounding on the roof. Lightning flashed in huge bursts and thunder rolled in after.

"Romar... I have something really important I need to tell you." I said urgently. Romar looked at me intrigued, wanting to know what I have to say. "What i'm about to tell you, I need you to support me and not judge me." I continued, about to tell my significant news.  "Romar, I.....Have to pee." I said in all seriousness. 

Romar gave me a look saying, 'Are you kidding me?' and replied, 

"I just wanna let you know I'm judging you right now, and why did you feel the need to tell me that?"

"Because, " I replied, "I need you to walk me to the bathroom!" I said seriously.

"What?! Are you joking?" He asked confused.

"I don't joke." I said with the greatest possible stony face-ness I could muster. If you hadn't spent more than an hour with me you would've believed I was actually a serious person who had never made a joke in my life. "That was a joke," I admitted but still held my flat tone. "The bathroom thing wasn't a joke but the joke thing was a joke...." He stayed silent for a moment which prompted me to keep talking. "So- you don't expect me to go alone do you? After the whole dark and ominous talk. It's scary out there......." After a moment he answered.

"Okay, let's go." He agreed, standing up. At his cue I jumped up also, and stretched my legs.

"Sweet! Thanks Superman! You are my hero!" I quipped. I grabbed my flashlight was we started our walk towards the bathroom. Because we were near the back It didn't take long to reach the employees lounge with the bathrooms inside. 

"Ok i'm gonna go check the road while you are in there and turn another light on. Are you ok to walk back by yourself?" Romar asked before I went in.

"Yeah i'm good. I'll meet you back at camp."I answered.

   We went our separate ways then and I took care I my business quickly, ready to go back to bed. After I washed my hands (because i'm not gross) and dried them I walked out of the lounge and into the dimly lit store.

    I stood there for a moment listening to the storm. It was raining hard still, like it had been for the last 20 minutes, and thunder and lightning was abundant; lighting up the store like fireworks. Above me the lights flickered for a moment, and my breath caught in my throat. I reached to turn on the flashlight I had but found it missing. I realized I had left it next to the sink in the bathroom and I started to panic.

The lights flickered again and I yelled out in growing concern, "RomAR!!!" 

My heart started to race and my throat restricted out of fear. Before I could take a step the lights flickered once more before going out completely, shrouding me in darkness.

Feeling fear overcome me I screeched out, "ROMAR!!!", before darting off into the pitch black store.