A Harrowing Howl
Darkness. There is nothing but darkness. I am lying in the dead of night, surrounded by the eternal blackness. I wake up. Gasping for air. I have never felt so afraid. I suddenly jolt as a loud and unrelenting hoot of an owl is heard just outside my window. I turn my head. The owls piercing eyes staring me down. I have never felt so afraid. Thud! A noise from downstairs sent my heart rate through the roof. I have never felt so afraid. ‘I live alone,’ I thought. Who could it be? What could it be? I am engulfed in the fear of the unknown. A voice told me to check it out. Slowly I rise from my bed and gingerly make my way towards the door. The floorboards creaking with my every step. I place my hand on the cold, steel door handle. Another hoot from the owl outside threw me straight back under the covers. I have never felt so afraid. Why is this happening? What had led me to this point in life? Overcome with fear and paranoia. What event had occurred in my past, forcing me to live like this? I want to be brave. Fear cannot rule my life anymore. I throw back the covers and make my way out of the door. I begin my descent down the spiralled staircase. After what seemed like hours. I reach the bottom. The hallway had never seemed so long. I walk. Carefully making my way towards the kitchen. Turning my head constantly to make sure nothing was waiting in the dark… waiting to pounce. The end of my journey was nigh. It was now or never. Closing my eyes, I muster up all my courage and burst through the door to the kitchen. I expect the worst… but there is nothing. Nothing. My kitchen is as boring and as normal as any other day. A sigh of relief flowed out of my body. A smile crept across my worried face. ‘Back to bed then,’ I thought. It was late, and I have work in the morning. I leave the kitchen and head back up the stairs to get back into my bed. I reach the end of my summit. Ding. The doorbell. Who could it possibly be at this time of night? Just like that, the smile was wiped from my face. I creep slowly back down the stairs. “Who is it?” I call.
