has a Flash Fearsday-challenge now and then: write a horror story in 140 characters.
Of course, I misread it this time and thought 140 words... So I thought I'll just post it here instead.
The monster who hunts when you blink
stares back –
if I don’t attack,
it won’t attack.
And in this equilibrium we sit and wait to the beat of a hum;
the distress signal that echoes position
location
resignation, all to which I succumb.
A monotonous reminder to the rest of the crew –
orbiting above us, like tiniest doves –
to avoid and to ignore
to go back to Earth before…
My eyes are sore.
I remember the embrace of my eyelids,
a hug of soothing water I so long for!
Like rusty cogs, I turn my gaze
(how long now? Minutes, hours, days?)
slightly to the left;
a gun, within my reach!
But with all hope and humanity in me bereft,
should I use the rays for my own release?
The monster who hunts when you blink –
grins, as I think.