Darkness: Chapter 1: "A Bad Night"

I turned the key. The engine clicked twice. I sighed letting the ignition turn back. With another twist, i tapped the pedal this time. The engine clicked then clicked some more.

I looked out the window to the darkened grocery store. I hated closing, it was the worst. The lights above from the “Discount Grocer”, which was missing the last four and the first word completely, cast a yellow glow through my windshield.

I sighed heavily. I didn’t much like the dark. I only lived five minutes away by car. I could walk. But... I didn’t like the dark. With another flick and a kick, I tried the key again. The car responded with a series of clicks that sounded like ticking bomb. I released my hold. My hands slammed down on the steering wheel as a slew of curses left my lips. Just fuckin’ great.

I stared out the window down the street towards home. So close, yet so far. There were street lamps, but not the whole way. Well maybe there was, but a good portion of them have been burned out for so long they may as not matter. I would be fine though. I could do this. There was no reason to be scared. Yet, I could feel the fear creeping up my spine threatening to grip my heart.

I reached for my purse, while still staring out the window. It caught on something as I pulled. Just as I looked down, the snag released sending the contents of my well-endowed purse tumbling across the seat and floor of the passenger side. The purse itself hung from a broken strap in my hand. Well, shit.

I ran my fingers through my dirty blonde hair as I sucked in a calming breath. It didn’t really work. I could feel anger and frustration bubbling to the surface. Why me? Wasn’t my life crappy enough? Hadn’t I suffered enough for one lifetime?

Muttering more curse words, I started gathering the fallen items and hamming them into my broken purse. Of course, I couldn’t reach everything, because of the damned seat belt. I pressed my thumb on the buckle. My thumbnail bent back. I jerked my hand back and shook it then stuffed it in my mouth to stanch the blood and stifle a scream.

The seat belt threatened to choke the life from me. It was one of those that tried to save your life by never giving up. The more I struggle, the more it tightened. I pulled the thumb from my mouth then ducked swiftly beneath the murderous belt.

I looked back outside. I was pissed off enough now that the fear of darkness was pushed to the back of my mind. I swung open the door to my car. The hinge creaked with such protest I was surprised the door didn’t just fall off.

As I stepped out, I whacked my head on the car ceiling so hard my vision went blurry for a second and triggered my vertigo. I held my head in my hands waiting for my swimming vision to settle. Oh my fucking god, could this night get any worse?

I stomped around the blasted car. After a good bout of fumbling with the key, I managed to open the door with very little harm to myself. I snatched the rest of purse’s contents including my flip phone. That’s right, you heard me, a freaking flip phone. I should be exempt from all this bad karma because I was reduced to a flip phone, reserved only for the elderly, the technically inept, and the very, very poor.

I pushed the lock down on the door and slammed the orange metal door shut. The door popped back open. I rolled my eyes at the stupid car. I leaned against the door and shoved it with my hip until it clicked shut.

I turned around to face the darkened parking lot. After a breath, I hiked the one working strap of my purse up my shoulder then pinched it with my arm. After one more breath, I started my journey. I only hoped my night didn’t get any worse. I would be very sadly disappointed.

Copyright Ava Altair 2019

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