Awake by A. M. Huff

Author:A. M. Huff
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: AWAKE, post-apocalyptic, sci-fi thriller, sci-fi mystery, dystopian, thriller, mystery
Publisher: James M. McCracken
Published: 2017-04-30T00:00:00+00:00

Episode IV:

The Undesirables

Darkness surrounded Tim, squeezing him in its grasp like a giant hand and making it hard for him to breathe. He struggled within himself to remain calm but it was a battle he was quickly losing. At age twenty-eight, soon to be twenty-nine, he hated to admit that he was still afraid of the dark or rather, not being able to see. Scotomaphobia, his therapist called it. Either way, it was a paralyzing fear.

Tim stood frozen, unable to remember where things were in his parents’ front room. With each breath, he could feel the panic in his chest begin to swell and overtake him.

Mom! he screamed in his head.

Stay calm. Derrick said the SAC has a battery backup. She’ll be okay. Besides, it could be just a tripped circuit. Just because there’s no power here, doesn’t mean the whole town is out, a calmer inner voice reasoned.

Slowly Tim’s eyes began to adjust to the darkness. He began to make out shadows. He could see the window to his right, a lighter shade of gray than the wall. He could make out Derrick’s form still standing in the doorway where he had been when the lights went out.

Slowly Tim inched his way across the floor, sliding his feet so as not to bump into some unseen piece of furniture. With every step he drew nearer to the only other person in the room. Tim grabbed Derrick’s arm. He felt his strength return and a sense of calm replace his fear.

“I think my mom has some candles in the dining room buffet,” Tim said.

“Okay,” Derrick answered. His voice was steady and unwavering and it worked to keep Tim’s anxiety from returning.

With blind confidence, Tim walked into the dining room, around the table to the front of the buffet which stood against the opposite wall from the foyer door. He slid the top drawer open and felt through its contents of linen tablecloths and napkins. Then he found what he was searching for.

“Aha!” he announced and picked up a taper, holding it up for no one to see.

Just then there was a thud and the table shook. Derrick grunted in pain.

“You okay?” Tim asked.

“Yeah, I didn’t want children anyway,” he moaned.

“I’m sorry,” Tim apologized and grimaced. “I found the candles.”

“Great,” Derrick said, sounding less than enthused. “So how are we going to light it?”

“My mom keeps matches in an old matchstick holder on the wall by the stove in the kitchen.”

Tim walked to the end of the table. Derrick put his hand on Tim’s shoulder, letting Tim guide him. Tim slowly made his way into the kitchen and left Derrick by the breakfast table. Still sliding his feet, he made his way to the stove. The matchstick holder was where he remembered. He took out one wooden stick and struck it on the side of the holder. The tip flared up and instantly the darkness retreated. Tim lit the candle.

The kitchen became a bit brighter but Tim could still see the darkness lurking a few feet away.

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