Across the Street

They had this nice view of a part of the city. Watching its bustle, the vehicles ride by and the crowds travel. Five years working, living and watching this city. Enjoying the view of the city. They could even see the lives of the other homes around me. Of families, couples and individuals just going by with their lives. Five years of just watching people flow with the world. But the one that’s been oddly void of any activity is this apartment directly across the street from them. For five years, not a single shred of any life. Vacant in the day and empty at night. Absolutely nothing at all. So by their surprise recently… lights came on. It took a bit to notice the light at first, was just taken by surprise when it came to their attention. They thought someone finally moved in, but they saw no activity. Just the lights turning on and then turning off at a certain time. It happened a few times for a few nights. At first, they believed it was just an electrical fault with the lights turning on randomly. However, there’s been a pattern to it, starting at six o’clock on the very dot. Every single night. And finishing at midnight. So it lasts for six hours. For the past couple of nights, they see this shine blinking on and then off in that apartment. And that’s all it did turning on and off for that time.

They just watch it, hoping for something, anything to happen across the street in this vacant apartment. Nothing, just that simply turning on and off of that apartment light. They almost surrendered, decided to ignore it. To forget about this ever-curious occurrence. Almost. Then suddenly a person appeared at the window. Standing alone. This dark lone figure. They stared at this figure aghast at this sudden stranger. Then the lights turned off. The figure lost. The next night, at six o’clock the lights turned on and the figure appeared. They watched them, waved at them cautiously to see if this figure noticed them. The figure doesn’t respond. The third night, they watch them. Even getting binoculars to examine them. To notice details about them. But this dark figure remained elusive, nothing but just a shadowy figure. They stepped away as if feeling that something in them, almost instinctually was deeply and utterly afraid. Two nights later, they tried to ignore it, but they couldn’t. The figure just standing there.

They broke and called the authorities, reporting a stranger that has been watching them. The officers came that night, arriving and searching the place, but no luck. They arrived two minutes before six and left just an hour later. These officials of the law talked with the frightened viewer, telling them about the lights, the shadowed figure, the panic, fear and distraught in their voice as they retold the experience. The officers calm the person. That was was nobody there, some looked at them disappointed and frustrated for how dare they waste their time. They calmed them down, told them it was probably just some trick of the light, that they will investigate it. These officers just wanted to leave, for drinks and to shrug off the incident. So they left. The shocked person tries to compose themselves, they look out and see the apartment across the street now dark, empty and nothing more to worry about. So they relax, they eat dinner, they do their chores, shower and enjoy a nice leisurely activity. Finally at peace. They look at the clock, just a minute before twelve. They think for a laugh, that they’ll take one last look, to feel assured that this was all just nonsense. Mind playing tricks. They looked out their window looked at the apartment across the street. And screamed. The lights were on and the dark figure stood where they were. By the final seconds, they couldn’t look away, just utterly and truly in shock. When the apartment falls into darkness. The frightened watcher runs and hides. Unable to sleep, hiding in their closet.

The day goes by, no more, angry and exhausted, they head out, crossing the street and into the apartment building. Climbing the stairs till they finally reach where they need to be. The floor that levels and looks out to their apartment. They search the floor until they reach a door just open by a few inches. They walk towards it, carefully taking the handle and slowly opening the door. The apartment is bare and dark, they find a light switch, seeing now just a blank and plain apartment. They survey the place, looking into every room, closet, cupboard and any space that could hide such an individual. Nothing. They find nothing. So they look out the window and see their own home. Dark and vacant, but their own home. A home that’s lived in. He even looks at the time, six minutes past six. They turn around to leave to forget all about this. But on this sixth night, they saw me.

They looked at me, speechless, the lights go out, the door slams shut and I grasp at their throat. I hold them, suffocating them. I lift them from the ground as they struggle and kick in futile resistance. They cough and croak for help. But no air enters them and no voice could leave from them. I bring them closer to my face, I could even see the red glowing sheen of my eyes reflect from theirs. I open wide as slick black tendrils slip out from me, and dive into my victim’s face. I devour them, their frantic resistance becomes futile. By the end, they wither to a husk and from a husk to dust. Now dust like all the rest. So I go back where I stand and wait in the dark, till someone is lured by the light, to watch them spiral in curiosity and eventually be welcomed to die in the dark.

#horror #flashfiction #fiction #supernatural