The Night Owls

Food is scarce, there's no power, and the weather? It’s the middle of July yet there’s 3 inches of snow on the ground. Despite the suddenness of the apocalypse, my partner and I managed to find refuge in an old barn. He usually scavenges for food and supplies throughout the day while I protect and maintain our “base”. But, it’s getting late and there’s still no sign of his return.

I try to fill my mind with positive thoughts and distract myself by cleaning, but I can’t help but worry. This world has driven everybody mad. I can vividly remember the cults, cannibals, and other crazies that Mark and I have encountered thus far, and at this point I'm just praying he makes it back.

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It’s now dark outside and Mark still hasn’t returned. I been having a staring contest with a barn owl in the window for what seems like an hour now. When I get up to look outside once again, the owl “whoo” and flies away. As I look out of the window, my heart sinks into a pool of fear. Four strangers, dressed in white cloaks are standing outside. They each have on these strange, yet haunting owl masks. One of them starts walking to the door with open arms and in her hands I see a knife, freshly bathed in blood.

I rush to barricade the door using the plan that Mark and I made in case of an emergency. I check the ammo of my pistol, which unfortunately only has four bullets, then back away pointing it at the door.

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.

“Pretty lady…pret-ty, pret-ty lady.” The woman taunts with an eerie voice that would give even a yeti chills. “The owl has chosen you.”

“Go away before I shoot!” I say aiming at the door.

There’s a moment of silence when out of nowhere I hear her starting to cry.

“Why the pretty lady so mean, we just want to help…”

“I don’t need your f*cking-"

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!

The door is repeatedly pierced with the knife as she begins stabbing it and yells.

“WE JUST WANT TO HELP! LET US HELP YOU!”

I shoot at the door, hitting the psycho and she begins screaming in pain.

“SHE HURT ME; THE PRETTY LADY HURT ME!”

As she screams in the background, I become so scared to the point where I start crying and plead.

“Please, just leave me alone!”

It gets quiet and I can no longer hear her screaming. In fact, I actually start to hear her laughing.

“The pretty lady makes it so hard to help but that’s ok. We have good climbers.”

Out of nowhere I am hit in the temple and fall to the ground, dropping my gun. It takes me a minute to regain focus as I was hit so hard that I started to see stars. When I open my eyes, I see a nimble member of the cult removing the barricade and opening the door. I look over and see my pistol but just as I try to reach for it, my hand is stepped on.

“Pretty lady…such a strong pretty lady.” says the wounded woman slowly approaching me with the knife. “The owl will appreciate your sacrifice.”

As I begin to accept my faith, the person standing on my hand picks up my gun. He checks the ammo and points it at me. I look at his boots and instantly recognize a distinct stain. They’re the same boots that I bought Mark who managed to stain them with oil in the exact same spot, with the exact same shape.

I look up at the masked man.

“Mark…?”

BANG, BANG, BANG!