The time and date in the corner of the Resident’s computer both changed. The dreaded midnight had finally come. Suddenly, there was a bright flash of light so bright that it penetrated the thick curtains accompanied by a deafening crack of thunder. “That must have been close,” grumbled the Resident. He took a big gulp of his coffee and began his work again, hastily clicking the articles away.
The rain no longer sounded like rain. Instead, the noise was constant, like there were no drops, just a solid river rushing from the clouds and plunging through the air to the Earth. The Resident jumped in his chair as the abrupt sound of shattering glass filled the night. That must be from the house next door, he thought, but at least I’m alright. The light on his desk flickered, but as long as he was doing this job, he knew it would not go out.
The Resident focused on his computer, only removing a hand to take another sip of coffee. “This is my life,” he remarked. And although he was sure he spoke the words, he could not hear them over the rain and thunder. The thought of his parents and sister arose in his mind. He vigorously shook his head until the thought passed so he could once again focus on his work.
There was a loud banging on the door, but the Resident just ignored it and continued his work. No one could be out there in weather like this. Then, there was more banging, so he finally stood and walked to the door, turning on the lights as he went. He looked at the screen, but there was nothing but blackness. He put his face up against the wooden door and yelled, “Hello? Is anyone out there?” Again there was banging, but he heard no response. “Say something,” he called, but there was no voice. Only banging. “I must be going crazy,” muttered the Resident. “No one could be out there right now. They would drown in the rain.” He shook his head and sauntered back to his desk, turning off the lights as he went.
He sat down, took another gulp of his cooling coffee, and got back to work, trying to forget the desperate yet impossible banging. The Resident looked up from his work and straight ahead into the dark hall. The hall was short, but the desk lamp that could dimly light an entire room could not quite cut through the thick darkness looming within.
The Resident had always felt safe in his home, and he had never feared anything, but things were changing. The uneasy feeling he had would not go away. The storms got worse every night, and the dark got darker every night, and every night, the Resident felt more and more uneasy. I just have to keep working. In the morning, the house and the streets will be filled with sunlight, he thought. He threw all of his energy into his work, and he tried to ignore the tempestuous rain and thunder outside.
YOU ARE READING
The Resident
Science FictionIn a strange town in a strange world, the Resident must survive the increasingly damaging nighttime storms.
