Where Is Everybody? (569 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 1.2 on 17 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by dodahdave (View user info) at 2005-02-24 13:00:21 EST
I jerked awake moments before dawn.
The grey light seeped through the flimsy, greasy curtains, giving the room that grainy look that under-lit photos have.
I stifled a cough and swung my feet onto the cool floor. Trying to regain my bearings I looked over at my wife's side of the bed.
There was no head resting on the pillow but the depression in the fabric indicated recent departure.
I glanced at the clock. 5:16am.
Fuck.
Hoping she'd gone to the bathroom I stumbled out into the hallway. There was no light coming from the bathroom door, and no sounds from any of the rooms adjoining the hallway.
Nothing had been disturbed in the kitchen, and everything in the dining room was as we'd left it the previous night.
Her shoes were by the door where she'd dropped them last evening. The door was locked. The car sat sleekly in the driveway, reflecting the growing morning light.
"Fuck!" Out loud this time.
A quick glance in the backyard told me what I already knew.
The only question was which of us was missing.
Beginning to panic, I unlocked the door and ran out into the street.
Which was completely vacant.
No birds sang.
Nothing moved except for the sun, which crawled slowly into the blushing sky.
I ran to the house next door, hoping for some indication that what I assumed was happening could be a mistake.
Banging on the door and frantically ringing the doorbell produced no effect; no puffy-faced suburbanite grumpily answered the door, wanting to know what the hell was the matter with me.
I tried the handle, but it was locked.
In an attempt to calm myself I sat on the lawn, not caring how damp the dew made my pajama bottoms.
After a few deep breaths I had managed to convince myself not to try to break down the neighbor's door.
Alright, I thought, what's obvious here?
I'm missing again. I don't know what time it happened. I don't know if the displacement is what woke me, or if it happened during the night. I don't know if my wife has noticed yet that I'm gone. But none of those facts really matter, because none of those facts can drown out the large fact that is rapidly increasing in volume in my head:
I don't know how to get back.
As the panic got the better of me again I pushed myself to my feet and walked down the road away from my house.
I tried to keep a tight rein on my fear but it was ballooning. As it grew, so did my pace down the road.
I tried to argue the fear down - "calm down goddammit, panicking is not going to help, too late asshole I'm already panicking, shutup and slow down, no no I have to find someone to help me, there is no-one to help you idiot there never is, this isn't like the other times, I know that, why is time continuing to run? How the hell should I know? FUCK!" - but I ended up breaking into a full run.
As I turned the corner a scream tore from my throat: "HEEEEEEELLLLP!!!"
It was full light now. Cars were parked on the sides of the street with no people in them. A flag fluttered half-heartedly in the breeze. Based on the fact that it was day now I guessed about half an hour had passed since I'd awoken.
The previous times I'd gone missing time had not seemed to run. It had been hard to tell, though, because each time had been so short.
I had fully expected to come back to my warm bed while I'd been searching the house for my wife, who I thought had been the one missing.
But now I was running as fast as I could down the street between the buildings, screaming with what little breath I could spare, knowing that no-one would answer.
I turned another corner, randomly making turns now, and came to a dead stop.
A man stood in the middle of the street about half a block up the street.
He stood completely still. He was wearing all black and his features were difficult to discern.
After I had regained some of my breath and calmed my heart to some degree I began to approach the man.
As I walked toward him, though, he backed away from me, pace for pace. As I increased my stride so did the man.
I broke into a jog and the man turned his back and began to run from me.
"Please wait!" The man made no sign that he'd heard and quickened his pace around a corner.
When I turned the same corner there was no-one in sight.
"Hello! Please? Where are you?"
A voice whispered in my ear: "Right here."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I jerked awake moments before dawn.
I looked over at my husband's side of the bed.
There was no head resting on the pillow but the depression in the fabric indicated recent departure.
I glanced at the clock. 5:16am.
Fuck.
User Reviews
Submitted by DanielH (user info) at 2005-03-17 00:41:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Well, Puff the Magic Dagon is still in a land called Honalee. If that helps.
+++
Submitted by CanucksFan (user info) at 2005-03-17 00:26:23 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by lojope (user info) at 2005-03-09 16:20:34 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
oc·to·pus ( P ) Pronunciation Key (kt-ps)
n. pl. oc·to·pus·es or oc·to·pi (-p)
:o)
Submitted by hungovermondays (user info) at 2005-02-24 13:42:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
sometimes I feel like this on sunday mornings.
Submitted by ariseymour (user info) at 2005-02-24 13:36:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Not bad.
-2 to InkyFingers for being unable to add up his own numbers.
Submitted by InkyFingers (user info) at 2005-02-24 13:30:01 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
Here is why:
Phonetics: +1
Concept: 0
Sentence and Paragraph Integration: -1
Imagery: +1 for "painting a picture"/ -2 for origionality
Momentum and or ability to captivate reader: -1
Submitted by dodahdave (user info) at 2005-02-24 13:25:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Teephphah (user info) at 2005-02-24 13:16:35 (#)
Ranking: 2
Credit for the title obviously goes to Trent Reznor.
Interestingly enough, I clicked on this one because I was wondering if that was the case.
I wonder why people always pick titles from "The Fragile" though?
I've been thinking about one called "Happiness in Slavery," and I am WAITING for someone to take on "Underneath It All." Hmmmm, I could do it, but my treatment of it would be too blatant, too obvious.
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I think titles from "The Fragile" seem more introspective than, say, "Pretty Hate Machine." Although I'm not sure you could call "Ripe (With Decay)" an introspective title...
But that could just be me.
I think I'll leave "Happiness in Slavery" to you.
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2005-02-24 13:25:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Kinda reminded me of the old '80s movie "Night of the Comet".
Submitted by girlintheworld (user info) at 2005-02-24 13:23:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by TigerLilly (user info) at 2005-02-24 13:14:56 (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Sassmasterr (user info) at 2005-02-24 13:02:15 (#)
Ranking: 2
"I jerked awake"
the only way to start your day!
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OHMYGOD...GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!
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HAHAHAHAHA
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2005-02-24 13:19:50 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Sorry, but I don't get it, although this does have the makings of a future "Twilight Zone" episode.
Submitted by Teephphah (user info) at 2005-02-24 13:16:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Credit for the title obviously goes to Trent Reznor.
Interestingly enough, I clicked on this one because I was wondering if that was the case.
I wonder why people always pick titles from "The Fragile" though?
I've been thinking about one called "Happiness in Slavery," and I am WAITING for someone to take on "Underneath It All." Hmmmm, I could do it, but my treatment of it would be too blatant, too obvious.
Submitted by TigerLilly (user info) at 2005-02-24 13:14:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Sassmasterr (user info) at 2005-02-24 13:02:15 (#)
Ranking: 2
"I jerked awake"
the only way to start your day!
----
OHMYGOD...GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!
Submitted by RamJetMax (user info) at 2005-02-24 13:11:21 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
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Submitted by Sassmasterr (user info) at 2005-02-24 13:02:15 (#)
Ranking: 2
"I jerked awake"
the only way to start your day!
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Submitted by BludKake (user info) at 2005-02-24 13:05:39 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Pretty good. Dreamlike quality.
Submitted by dodahdave (user info) at 2005-02-24 13:04:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Not novel, not meant to be.
Just felt like writing a little something.
Credit for the title obviously goes to Trent Reznor.
Submitted by Sassmasterr (user info) at 2005-02-24 13:02:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
"I jerked awake"
the only way to start your day!
Submitted by CLAIRE1 (user info) at 2005-02-24 13:02:03 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
PREDICTABLE.