Literal Darkness Short Story Collection Book 1: Blank State

5:30 P.M.

I look at my watch. It's finally time to go home. I pick up everything I brought with me and walk out to my truck. I set it all down in the back, and notice something on my shirt. It's covered in red. I don't remember spilling that much paint on me, but I guess I wasn't paying that much attention.  I look at my hands. There's even more on my hands than my shirt. Did I dip my hands in the bucket or something?

I wipe my hands off as best I can with a grease rag and take off my shirt for the ride home, hoping not to get it all over my seat. I throw them both in the back with my tools and head home.

2 hours later...

I get ready to head down to the bar with a few friends. I usually go for a drink to wind down from work. As I'm about to walk out of the house, something on the television catches my attention. It's a breaking news segment about a killing not too far from where I live. Some guy found the body under his porch. This is the third murder in this neighborhood in the past month. 

I start getting a little uneasy. What if he's there? I look down at my watch. I really need to go if I'm gonna get there when I told them I'd arrive. I shake off the nervous thoughts and head out the door.