Skip to main content

Wakeup Call (5-8-18)


[WP] After checking into an inn and waking up the next day, the scenery out the window is pitch black. The inn's manager insists that no one goes outside. [Link to post.]

 My eyes fluttered open after the first ring, but I didn't move another muscle until the sixth ring. At that point I figured whomever it was would not stop bothering me until I told them they had the wrong number. I reached for the old style green rotary phone and manage to lift it off the receiver as the seventh ring started.

 "Hello?" I answered, then noticed it was still dark outside. They'd better have a good reason for bothering me in the middle of the night, I thought to myself. 

 "Good morning! I'm Tim , the manager. I'm sorry to bother you so early but unfortunately we've had a bit of a mix-up," the manager said. He sounded concerned. 

 "Okay," I said, unsure how it affected me. 

 "It's too late to do anything about it right now, but I plan to make it up to you when we get back." Tim said. "In the meantime, I strongly suggest that you don't go outside." I looked out the window again, but saw only darkness.

 "Nah, I'm not planning to go outside till the sun's out at least," I said. "I'm gonna go back to sleep, thanks for checking in." I still felt tired from the road trip and needed more rest. I moved to hang up the phone but Tim's voice stopped me.

 "The sun won't be coming out for a while. If you're curious about the time though, it's 11:00a.m." he said. I stared out the window. For a second I thought I saw the darkness moving, flowing. 

 "What?" I asked, now afraid to take my eyes off the darkness. 

 "You shouldn't have been able to check-in last night, unfortunately my nephew is an idiot," Tim said. I vaguely recalled a 20something stoned stoner with a purple mohawk and tattoos checking me in at midnight. "This Inn has a sort of tradition. I won't bore you with the details, but suffice to say if you want to stay alive, don't go outside." The darkness outside the window moved again. I lifted my shoulder to trap the phone against my ear then turned to move my feet off the bed and onto the brown carpeted floor. 

 "It can't be 11, it's pitch black out." I told Tim while I stepped into my jeans and pulled them up. 

 "Yeah, about that. It'll be a good 100 years or so before you see sunlight again. In the meantime just stay in your room, the TVs interesting." he said. 

 "100 years? What am I gonna do in here for a 100 years." I asked while I put my socks and shoes on. It was not until after I was completely dressed that I realized what I was doing. 

 "Staying inside," Tim said. "Don't worry about food or anything, we've got a system worked out."

 "What's outside?" I asked Tim. "Where are we?"

 "If you leave your room, I can't protect you. That's all you need to know," Tim said. His voice took on a hard edge. "Don't leave you room." I watched the darkness flow outside of the window. The movements followed a predictable pattern, the darkness breathed. In and out. 

 "I've gotta go look outside," I said. I had no idea why I felt the need to tell Tim, but after I stated my intentions I hung the phone up, then stood from the bed to move towards the door. The phone began ringing again the moment I touched the handle. Outside the darkness breathed faster. I watched the black current undulate through the window one last time before I opened the door and stepped out into the darkness. 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Lunch Jitters (6-23-18)

[WP] You are the greatest villain in the world. When you come face to face with your only rival, he says, “Do you want to grab a coffee before we start? I’ve haven’t eaten all day.” [ Link to post .] "I'm so glad you said something, I started late today too," The Shade said. He patted the heavy, dark leather coat over his stomach, then leaned closer to whisper at SunKnight. "Kayla's teeth are coming in, and Lucille's out of town for that thing." He shrugged, then pulled off his black, featureless hood. "I needed an extra 40 winks. Let's do a lunch, meet me at the pizzeria in 20." Keith Slinny, the man under The Shade's mask checked his watch. The rest of his black costume dissipated from his body; black smoke wafted from him like steam escaping a body in winter. "At this point, we'll end up putting it off until tomorrow so I need to book the babysitter now." "The wedding's tomorrow, remember? Let's take t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Heckin' Opportunity (6-20-18)

[WP] You have a shoulder angel and a shoulder devil. This is somewhat unusual, but what makes it worse is that everyone else can see and talk to them. [ Link to post .] "I have an appointment with Mr. Johnston," Michael explained his presence to the short-haired secretary. He stood in front of her desk wearing his nicest suit, and his light brown hair combed as neatly as he could manage it.  "If you take a seat, he'll be right with you," she said as she pointed toward the row of colorful, plastic stiff back chairs on the other side of a small coffee table. Michael nodded, then sat in a red chair. He grabbed one of the dozens of Acting magazines spread on the coffee table. He mumbled to himself while he flipped through the magazine. "This is a bad idea," he said. Then he felt the familiar weight of a tiny angel on his right shoulder. Righty wasted no time in encouraging Michael. "That's just fear talking. This is a great opportunity, i...
1 comment
Read more

Luck be a Lady (10-18-17)

You alone have the ability to give any "power" you wish to anybody any time... but you're also really petty and use it for revenge / personal amusement [ link to post ] “No, it’s fine, go ahead and cut me off you bastard. Obviously you’re more important than I am,” I whined at the green truck that suddenly decided it needed to be in front of me to catch a turn. I needed to pump the brakes a bit, but it was more annoying than dangerous. I breathed deeply, trying to calm down. For my wife’s sake I began taking anger management courses, and they seemed to be working. I calmed down and forgave the rude bastard. It felt good to forgive him, and I smiled to myself when I decided I wanted good things for that person. “Your safety is now a major priority for all policemen within a 10 mile radius of you,” I said aloud. I was alone in my car. Speaking helped me focus, though I did not need to say the words aloud. It was not long before red and blue flashing lights appe...
Post a Comment
Read more