– Zumana Hazarika
Jane woke up from a nap. It was late fall. The air was getting crispier with the cold winds. The clock showed 8:47 p.m. She drowsily got up from her bed and made her way to the lounge area, where “Haven” was supposed to air its new episode at 9:00 p.m., exact. On her way, she decided to make some tea and grab some smores as a snack from the kitchen. She always switches on the T.V. before going to the kitchen. The background noises give her company in the lone apartment.
She recalled her meeting with Ben today at the dock while making tea. He seemed a bit off since she last saw him at her father’s funeral two months ago. He was acting a bit ‘queasy’ if that is how to put it. His fingers rubbing against each other and his eyes meeting everything and everyone but hers. She wondered if it was because of what her father told him just before passing away, which no one but them knew about. Was it too much to ask for? Is that what is troubling him? But he didn’t say anything today. All this thinking exhausted her. She looked at the clock again. It was 8:58 p.m. She looked at the fireplace underneath the mantle. The crackling blaze of the warm fire with the little pieces of wood flying in it never looked so mesmerizing before. She stared at it until her attention broke with the intro music of “Haven”. It was time.
She made her way to the couch with the packet of smores in one hand and tea in the other and just as she was about to sit down on the couch, she heard the doorbell ring. Who could it be at this hour? And just when her show started. She let out a soft sigh and made her way to the door barefoot in her socks. She opened it. There was no one. She looked around. No one in sight. Someone must have played a prank or mistaken it to be theirs. Just as she was about to close the door she saw an orange envelope on the doormat. She slowly picked it up. It was addressed to her. She went inside and opened it, sliding up a white sheet of folded paper. She unfolded it.
“I know you killed him”
……………………………….
[This story was submitted for the horror fiction writing competition organized as part of the HS Fright Fest.]
Design by Vasuki
Article 19 