Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Once Upon A Few Seconds Ago


Across the park - past the brightly painted swings and slide that stood in gravel pits, just beyond the throw of the streetlight - the trees suddenly crowded into a dense shadow.


blink


For a second he saw a shape - large dark and alive - framed by trees, black against blacker still.


blink


He felt his heart quicken, nothing that big lives here this close to the city.


blink


The shadow in the shadows moved again. He felt or saw it turning towards him.


blink


He caught a whiff of stagnant water, rotting leaves, the sick sweet of fermenting fruit.


blink


A spot, a tiny spot. Now two. Like red pin-pricks of light - side by side, they seemed to train on him. Like eyes - a pair of red eyes that began to stare and...


blink


His breath caught in his chest. He feared the dark, the tiny red lights - the eyes. Perhaps it would not see him if he didn't breathe or move or...


blink


It closed the distance between them in a blur. A smokey streak of midnight carelessly swinging the swings as it passed. Faster than an animal should run or even...


blink


He exhaled a scream.

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