Free Harrowing by S.E. Amadis

study where I could work from home, one into a fitness room and the third was now reserved for guests. My own bedroom, along with the four others the house now sported, was on the second floor.
    This was a peaceful neighbourhood. Nothing ever happened here, so far from the city centre and its hoards of beggars, delinquents and homeless people. But for some reason I couldn’t help feeling uneasy tonight.
    I glanced at Lulu. She’d guzzled an inordinate amount of scotch and it had taken its toll on her. Now she lay snoring like a freight train on her chaise longue, her dressing gown spread out in a heap around her, barely concealing her more intimate regions.
    I opened the curtain just a smidgen and peered out into the dark. Nothing moved. Nothing was supposed to move. But I thought I saw a shadow. A darker darkness out there in the blackness. I shook my head sheepishly.
    Aw, come off it, Bruno, I said to myself. A big, grown man like yourself, over six feet tall and scared of the dark?
    I laughed a little nervously. Stepped backwards, hands on the edges of the curtains, ready to close them again.
    But then I saw it.
    It was just a faint movement.
    It could have been the rustling of the wind through the trees. There were a few in my front yard. I’d never taken much notice of them. After all, trees don’t serve much purpose in life. They only litter your front yard and make you dirty your hands clearing out the useless branches and dried leaves. But on the other hand, as long as they didn’t step on my toes or get in my way, I didn’t really have a problem with them either.
    Whatever it was moved again.
    It could also have been just a hare. A raccoon or a skunk. Goodness knows there were plenty of those kinds of vermin round here.
    But somehow I didn’t think it was any sort of creature.
    I thought the eyes, gleaming in the blackness, looked human.
    I thought I could ignore it. But somehow, it bothered me. Goaded at me. At last, arming myself with courage, I pulled open the front door and flicked on the porch light.
    There was nothing out there.
    I laughed softly to myself. Me and my crazy imagination.
    Of course there was nothing out there.
    I turned off the light and stepped back, ready to close the door.
    “I’m gonna kill you, Bruno Jarvas,” a voice taunted in a whisper.
    It sounded like it was right next to my ear.
    I nearly jumped out of my skin.
    Furious, I reached out and switched on the light again.
    There was nothing there.
    “Kids!” I yelled. “Damn, stupid, bloody asshole kids. Scat, or I’m calling the police.”
    I waited. There was no reply.
    I waved my hands, turned off the light and closed the door.
    This time, there was only silence.
    I locked the door. Pushed all the bolts home.
    Then I slid over to the broad bay window. My hand hesitated on the curtain. At last, trembling like a schoolkid in spite of my tough exterior, I pulled the curtains aside one bare inch.
    A gory, blood-covered face with ashen skin as pale as a corpse’s plastered itself against the glass.
    I leapt back, screaming like all bloody hell was after me.
    The face disappeared.
    Quaking, I dashed for the door. My blood was roaring in my ears. My hands shook as I fumbled with the bolts and locks. At last I managed to get the door open and flick on the light switch as fast as my cramped muscles could move.
    There was no one in the yard.
    This time, I didn’t dare turn off the light when I closed the door.

Chapter 8
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Calvin was moping about morosely. I settled him onto the comfy sofa-futon and spread my palms over his shoulders, massaging with tenderness.
    “What’s up, babe?” I said. “You’re really tense. How come you got in so late tonight?”
    He chewed on his lip.
    “New project,” he mumbled incoherently without meeting my gaze. “Fomfing new they’re looking at... D’nno fftit’s about. They... er... had a meeting to... um... to talk ‘bout this new project.”
    “At night? That’s