The Visitor

The lights began to flicker. Once, twice… pop! A wave of energy zipped through the house as the lights went out and pushed my back against the chair. The shock of the pop startled me. I spilled my coffee into my lap, splattering the pages of my National Geographic magazine. The coffee burned through my clothing, soaking into my skin. A nice, steamy, unsolicited espresso bath… because why not. I close my eyes and let out a growl of frustration. Of course this would happen but… what the hell was that?

I stand up aching with my fresh coffee burns and race over to the kitchen with outstretched arms searching for the countertop. Got it. I pull myself towards the bar of the kitchen. My hands fumble through the key bowl where I keep my lighter. I ignite the flame so I can see and begin lighting the candles I have scattered around the room. The light from the flames cascades a shadowy dance along the walls. Spooky, sinister. Just how I like it.

Ahhhh.

Most people find power outages inconvenient. I find them relaxing. It feels good to unplug from the chaos and comforts of the world and just… be.

A knock at the door disturbs me from my thoughts. Hesitantly, I walk towards the door and slowly pull back the drapes covering the window. A woman. She looks frozen, confused and worried. Against everything screaming inside my bones to not open the door, I open it.

“Hi…are you okay?” I ask.

“Please, I need to use a phone,” she pleaded. “My car broke down a few blocks back and my phone is dead. No one will answer their door. Can I please come in and use your phone? I am miles from home.”

My insides start to churn with nervousness. I am instantly uncomfortable. This is how it happens right? You let a woman into your house out of the kindness of your heart, and the next thing you know, you are on dateline for unexplained murder mysteries. No thanks.

“I’m sorry, I know you must be cold. I can bring you a blanket and my phone, but I can’t let you in.”

The woman’s face changed. Her expression transformed from sorrowful, broken and exhausted to angry. Her eyes pierced mine. I shivered as prickles of nerves raced down my spine. She went from desperate and pathetic to wicked in two seconds.

“It’s freezing out here,” she hissed. The tone was almost accusatory, as if I was somehow to blame for the freezing weather.

“I know it’s cold, ma’am, but given the circumstances, I can’t invite you in,” I explained. “I will be happy to call the police or let you use my phone so someone can come get you. As I mentioned before, I will bring you a warm blanket and some hot coffee if you’d like.”

She paused for a moment, her expression growing increasingly bitter. “Fine," she hissed.

I close the door and lock it behind me.

Awfully demanding for someone who needs help right now.

I race to the living room to grab my cell phone and my favorite blanket. I pause. Nope, not this one. I put my favorite, fluffy white blanket back on the couch and run to the closet to get something… that I won’t miss. Just in case. I run back to the door and open it. She’s gone.

Cautiously, I slowly place one foot outside the door frame and peak my head out so I can see down the street.

“Hello?” I call. “Ma’am? Are you still there?”

Silence. My eyes skim across the shadows of the street. I stop breathing for a moment, to hear better. Exhale. I take another breath and hold it for another moment.

“Aaaahhhh!” a woman screams off in the distance. I fall backwards through the doorway, scuffing my arms against the door frame as I fall through. I gasp for breath as my heart pounds hard against my chest. On my knees, I slam the door shut, fumbling to lock the bolt. I quickly cover the window with the drapes, my hands shaking from adrenaline. Frantically, I search for my phone and dial the police.

“911, what’s your emergency?”

“There’s a woman… outside, her.. her.. her car broke down, an- and she asked to use my phone. But… I wouldn’t let her come inside. She’s gone… she’s gone, and I don’t know where she went and I heard a scream! Please send the cops… please… send help!” I demand, my voice cracking.

What just happened? Did someone hurt her? It’s my fault… I didn’t let her in. Oh my God… oh my god…oh my god

Panic began nestling its way into every crevice of my body. Moments passed which felt like an eternity. My back was pressed up against the door. The thought of moving away from it felt insanely unsafe. My back ached from the tension in my muscles. I covered myself with the old dusty blanket. I tried to steady my breathing. I was shaking uncontrollably, shivering… not from the cold… from fear.

Another knock on the door.

“Ah!” I let out an involuntary scream, startled out of my thoughts.

Shit! Damn it!

“Ma’am, are you okay?” asked an authoritative voice. “It’s the police.”

I rush to my feet and swing the door wide open, unloading all of the events of the night onto an unexpecting officer. After I relived my story, the officer reached into his pocket and pulled out a driver’s license.

“Is this the woman you saw?”

I examine the picture and immediately recognize the sorrowful expression on the women’s face. Even in her picture she looks pitifully dreadful.

“Yes! That’s her!”

The officer stared at me for just a moment. Almost suspiciously, as if I had anything to do with the unsuspecting events of the night.

I didn’t do anything. All I did was answer the damn door.

“Ma’am,” the officer started, “We found this woman in her car a few blocks back. The coroner says she’s been dead for several hours… are you sure this only happened minutes ago? That… wouldn’t be possible.”

My heart stopped. The blood drained from my face. The room began to spin as I plummeted to the ground in a faint.