Alone

Sometimes being on your own can be a wonderful thing. Other times, like now, it can be the scariest thing in the world.

For the last ten minutes or so I have been sitting in my darkened lounge room trying to figure out if that strange shape I can see outside was there earlier in the day, before the power went out. With the final rays of the setting sun streaking across the sky, I realise I have missed my chance to determine just what it is. Each time I look there, it seems to take on a different shape; it's times like this I wish I hadn't seen so many horror movies, or read so many scary novels.

It's so quiet here now, except for the occasional crash of thunder, it's almost as if I am the only person alive. The power went out about half an hour ago; lightning must have hit the power line, at least that is what I want to believe. I am no longer listening to the little voice in my head that tells me that whatever the thing outside is, it had something to do with the blackout.

Another quick glance out the window, and now I am sure it has gotten closer but I still can't quite make out what it is. Surely it's just a tree, heck it could even be a kangaroo coming out to graze. The voice is getting louder now, it seems intent on proving that every movement I see out of the corner of my eye is the thing's gnarled limbs reaching out to me. My nerves seem to be in agreement with the voice; my hands are starting to shake lightly, I can feel the sweat starting to trickle down my neck and my stomach is churning.

I am still sitting in the same spot, too terrified to move, because if I move that thing out there may see me; if I stay here it may think no-one is home and go away. I keep hoping there will be a big flash of lightning that will brighten up the surroundings enough for me to see what it is. I no longer trust the moonlight; it keeps casting these horrible shadows through the trees.

If only the power would come back on, I could turn the radio on and hope it would drown out the annoying little voice in my head. The voice is now positive the thing is moving closer and the creaking I hear is not just the house settling, but is in fact one of the thing's friends that started to sneak up behind me.

Trying to convince myself I am just being silly, I finally decide to move. After slowly worming my way off the lounge, I get down on my hands and knees and crawl under the window. As I am making my way through the lounge room, I hear a horrible scratching noise; any other time I hear a noise like that I know it is just a possum running across the roof, but tonight, well tonight it seems to be coming from inside the house. Stopping to listen; and to give my heart time to slow to its normal rhythm, I can tell the noise is coming from the direction of my bedroom, but I can't tell if it's inside or on the roof. Of course the little voice decided to pop up and tell me that it was definitely coming from inside.

As I sit here on the floor, trying to work out just what I am going to do, I hold my breath, hoping it will let me hear better, so I can work out just what all these creaks and groans are. A quick glance towards the window confirms the thing is still out there, but at this stage, I am more concerned about what may or may not be in the house with me. For every creak that I can give a reason for, the little voice comes up with another meaning.

Finally, I realise that I need to do something. Gathering my wits, I stand and head towards the front door. I have decided to prove the know-it-all voice wrong and show it that the thing outside is nothing out of the ordinary. At this stage I have realised that, on the off chance the voice is right, I would rather be outside with one thing where I have more room to run, than trapped inside with lots of them.

As I am about to open the front door, there is a loud banging coming from the other side. Almost passing out in fright, I finally have the presence of mind to realise the thing probably wouldn't knock on the door; at least that's what I told the voice. After opening the front door, I am frozen in place trying to work out what it is I am looking at. After who knows how long, I was finally able to work out it was my neighbour standing there. He, unfortunately, was holding his torch up towards his face.

He came to tell me that the power would be on in about another hour and wondered if I needed any torches or candles to see me through until then. I, of course, told him I was fine. As he was leaving he pointed towards a tree that had a Christmas decoration stuck in it and told me he would give me a hand taking it down in the morning.

Hiding my blush after realising just what it was that had scared me so much I thanked him and headed back inside.

Strangely enough, not long after I went back inside there were several more creaks and groans, but this time the little voice inside my head had nothing at all to say. I can only hope it has gone for good, but I know that it will return.