Every night, at precisely 1:34 am, he would be awakened by a loud, piercing, bone-chilling scream. After the scream ended, the subsequent silence seemed even more unreal.
One night, as he was awakened again, he decided to scream back.
Later that night, he was awakened again by another scream:
“WHY NOT?”
Run.
Run.
Run.
Stop.
Pant.
Breathe.
Scream.
Run.
Run.
Run.
Stop.
Door!
Open.
Light!
Burns!
See.
People.
Frozen.
Confused…
Touch.
Hard?
Yes.
Statues.
Impressed.
Look.
Movement!
Run.
Catch!
Kid?
Midget?
Leprechaun?
Goblin!
Icky…
Bitten!
Scream!
Pain.
Disappeared.
Where?
Door.
Slam!
Lock.
Walk.
Open?
Locked.
Numbness…
Slowing…
Immobile.
Stuck!
Statue.
She looked on in mild distaste as I pulled my upper lip down over my chin. The dinner guests were amazed, but she wasn’t. When the guests had gone, she had me do it again, and then she pulled out a stapler.
I have no mouth, and I must scream!