Flash Fiction – ‘Night Moves’

Posted by on May 3, 2019
Posted in: Music.

Night Moves

The first night in the new house was restless. I chalked it up to exhaustion and stress from the move. The following morning I was still tired and had a headache.

That evening I began to see them. They were just shadows I thought at first, shadows from the unfamiliar new environment. But the next night I heard them too.

When I unlocked the front door I heard a thud. It was clear and distinct and not my imagination. I did my best to put aside my fear and searched the entire house from top to bottom and found no one and nothing out of place. That night I couldn’t sleep at all.

The next nights were even worse. They would expose themselves only when I wasn’t looking but I would notice them out of the corner of my eye, a fleeting dark image across the wall, or in the hall mirror. I could feel them behind me and chills touched the back of my neck.

My work began to suffer as I would fall asleep at my desk. I couldn’t concentrate on anything. Unlike my co-workers, I feared the coming weekend.

Saturday there was no respite from the shadows. Even the bright sunny day brought vague patterns moving towards me as I tried to clean or make lunch. I finally left and went shopping just to gain a release from their oppressiveness.

When I returned in the evening it was already dark and there on the kitchen table I saw a roll of paper towels. I know I didn’t leave it there, did I? Something moved it, just to taunt me. Upstairs when I went to hang up my clothes I noticed things were out of place. They had been going through my things, touching them. I felt violated.

I sat in bed all that night awake, searching the room around me for them but as long as I watched, they wouldn’t come out. But then I heard a sound downstairs, it was clearly someone walking. I called the police.

The policemen were polite but found nothing though they searched everywhere. I didn’t tell them about the shadows, just that I felt I was being watched sometimes. They were polite but not very helpful. One of the cops suggested I should get some ‘protection’.

Sunday I went shopping again. I went to a gun store. The man suggested a .38 caliber revolver since it was simple and easy to use. Then I learned there was a five day waiting period. I bought it anyway.

When I returned, after avoiding it as long as possible, I heard a noise again as soon as I opened the door. It must be them running to hide away. Again I found nothing. That night I couldn’t eat or sleep.

At work my boss was concerned but growing frustrated with me. He suggested I should concentrate. My job was in jeopardy. I downed cup after cup of coffee which only resulted in another pounding headache. I went outside at lunch time to a small park to relax. I saw the leaves moving, there was no wind. They are following me.

That night I tried to take a shower but when I closed the curtain and turned on the water I would hear them. Each time I turned off the water they would be quiet. I tried again and again and then I saw one in the bathroom mirror, spying on me. I gave up trying to shower but I was afraid to open the shower curtain. I stayed in the tub a long time. I think I fell asleep in there.

Tuesday was the worst so far. I tried sleeping in the tub but it was so hard my body ached. Around 2 am I crawled out and sat on the bed hunched up against the headboard. I heard a soft step and looked to the window but out of the corner of my eye I saw one creep across the room. They are fast, they always hide.

Then there was a loud bang, I think it came from the attic. I called the police again. Having the cops there last night made me feel safe for a while but of course they found nothing. The attic was full of moving boxes; they said one probably fell over. I got enough nerve to go up there later and saw the footprints in the dust. Why didn’t the police notice those? I called them back but they never came.

The next two nights I found more things moved around the house. My toothbrush was turned around. They touched it so I couldn’t use it anymore. My shoes were rearranged too.

I can’t eat anymore. When I’m home I believe they have touched my food. When I’m at work my stomach is too upset for food. People at work are avoiding me like they can see them over my shoulder.

Friday evening I think the waiting period is up, but I’m told I need to wait until Saturday. That night was the worst of all. Nothing in the house looks familiar anymore. Everything has been moved or is out of place. I’m too afraid to go upstairs. I close the curtains to shut out the outside.

They touched my hair around midnight. I think I drifted off to sleep and they took the opportunity to touch me. I just need to hold out until morning.

I have my gun now. I search the whole house, paying special attention to my closet and under my bed. Someone put shoes under there. They aren’t mine. Using a broom handle I slide them out and throw them in the trash.

Darkness falls; I’m ready for them…

KTLA News: And in another chapter in the bizarre suicide epidemic sweeping the city, another woman was found shot to death in her Westside house after she didn’t report for work. Police confirm they had been at the house several times previously but found nothing…