Page 113 - TheRedSon_PrintInterior_430pp_5.5x8.5_9-22-2019_v1

The first creature immediately recoiled from the invading
illumination, shielding its eyes and hissing. Surprisingly, it
spoke. “Keep the light to yourssself, you blind idiot!”
The creature from above ignored the insult and croaked
back in only slightly less inhuman tones. “Isss he down
there?” I was being sought out, and I was sure it wasn’t to
congratulate me on my latest work.
“He’sss down here,” said the first, “I’m sure of it. I can
sssmell the death clinging to him. Come to me, Family Man.
Hiding is for prey.” The taunt was absurd on its face, but
required a retort nonetheless. I decided I would savor my
time with the thing in the basement, so I departed for the
creature above me, as silent stairs go both ways. I had retired
to the kitchen, clumsily roaming through the cupboards, of
all places. The windows of the room were without curtains,
and when the creature finally shined the light near the glass,
my reflection betrayed my presence directly behind it.
The reflection also granted me a brief look at the creature,
allowing me to measure the difference between itself and its
companion in the basement. It was essentially the same kind
of being, differing only by way of its greater share of human
features, which were likely diminishing over time. This was
typically the case with Post-Darkness afflictions, I had come
to learn. The thing quickly spun around and I seized it by
the throat, crushing its windpipe before it could marshal any
kind of alarm. I didn’t want to spill its blood, as I desired to
remain as traceless as possible.
I had just finished packing the creature’s body into
the small fireplace when I heard more of them, this time
entering through both the front and back of the house. A
nearby window showed me the restless crowd of townsfolk,
composed of creatures much like the ones I’d encountered,
except for one. A massive figure passed through the crowd
like a praying mantis strolling among tangles of swarming
ants. However, these ants seemed to bow to the mantis,
as opposed to attacking it. They gathered behind this new
116 | Mark Anzalone