Dead Of Night

Dustin ran, stumbling into the open door of the old barn. He hit the straw covered ground, after hitting the doorframe, with a resounding thud. The desperate man scrambled to his feet as straw and dirt clung to the partial dried blood covering his clothing. Dustin closed the door, blocking it with a pitchfork, as he backed up.

The filthy youth kept one eye on the door and the other on the large opening he was making his way too. Dustin froze as he heard heavy foot steps stop at the braced door. A few attempts of opening it led to a loud bang from a shotgun. The door splintered from the blast leaving a gapping hole that allowed a flashlight beam to peer inside.

"You didn't think you got away did you? I told you I would catch you and make you pay!" A gruff satisfied voice yelled into the barn. The flashlight turned off and a hand reached in removing the pitchfork. Dustin ran out of the barn as he heard the door swing open smacking the wall and another shot loaded into the gun.

The scared youth tripped, hitting the ground and rolling a few times, as another shot rang out over his head. It pelted the side of the two story house he was running towards. Dustin scrambled to his feet running to the back of the house and another flashlight coming from the other direction. The cellar door was open in the back of the house and he frantically dove through the opening.

Dustin tumbled from the stairs to the cellar floor. It took him a couple of seconds to get up and scurry underneath them. A flashlight beam narrowly missed his feet as he curled up and held his breath. He watched as the beam surveyed the cellar, quickly peering across the darkness.

A few moments passed and the light disappeared. A high pitched voice screamed into the darkness. "I missed him. Which way do you want me to go?" Heavy foot steps ran up and the gruff voice spoke.

"How did he get past you? Nevermind, you search the woods and I'll search the house!" The footsteps sounded off into the distance as Dustin began to let out a quiet sigh. It was cut short by the heavy footsteps on the floor above.

Dustin heard the heavy footsteps quickly move around the house, bumping into things and opening doors. The scared youth slowly crawled out from under the steps, pausing at the bottom looking out to the night sky. He froze as the steps stopped at the interior cellar door and the handle began to turn. It quickly turned back as the heavy foot steps ran through the house and up another flight of stairs.

Dustin scurried up the stairs into the night as he looked up to see a flashlight searching the top floor. The scared youth headed towards the front of the house until he heard the muffled screams from the second floor. He paused as the beam of light bounced around inside the house and the heavy footsteps ran down and out into the night. Dustin peered around the corner, watching the older man run to a parked truck.

A noise from behind caused Dustin to run back into the old barn, he climbed into the loft, burying himself with the loose straw. The scared youth quietly caught his breath as he heard a muffled conversation by the truck. It ended abruptly, followed by silence and a crickets chirping. For several minutes there was only the sound of nature in the darkness.

Dustin heard rustling and two footsteps stop outside of the barn. The heavier set ran off between the buildings. The high pitched voice rang through the quiet barn.

"I'm not sure who you are Mister. We thought you were the one that kept stealing our vegetables. But, after what the old man saw in the house. He said we have to make sure you don't get away."

The voice went silent as Dustin heard footsteps walk into the barn. He listened intently to the sound of splashing liquid and clang of metal hitting the ground. The footsteps ran to just outside as the voice spoke again.

"It's going to get real hot in there, but not as hot as where your going. It takes a twisted soul to do what you did to the Smith's." The voice went quiet as the sound of a match being struck replaced it.

Dustin smelled the gas fumes just before he felt the intense heat of the flames. He jumped up, looking around for an exit. The old barn was engulfed in flames except the loft door at the top. Dustin leaped through the door, landing on the ground with the sound of his leg snapping on impact.

The scared youth looked at his leg and fainted. The barn continued as a raging inferno. The backside let go and collapsed into a heap.

The old man and the youth stood by the truck, guns in hand, watching the barn burn itself away. Sirens and lights blared up the drive to the house. The fire truck pulled in as the firefighters rushed to put out the blaze. The sheriff and several deputies pulled in behind them.

The sheriff quickly stepped out of the car, walking up to the onlookers. "What the hell is going on here George? It better be good, it has been one crazy night. From the whack-job, covered in blood, that confessed to killing a family and ran off, the missing camper in the bear attack, and now this fire."

The older man gave the sheriff a quick glance before he spoke in his gruff voice. "The Smith's are dead on the second story and your whack-job was burned up in the barn. Tried to call you on radio, but never got a response. Figured the fire would get someone's attention." George continued to stare at the fire.

The sheriff looked at George and his boy before he spoke.