Page 14 of Like A Moth To A Flame

“No way,” I said. I already knew what sick little thoughts were in his head behind that mischievous smile. Always a drama whore, Barrett wanted to track down the fire and watch the firemen work.

“Oh, come on,” Barrett whined. “Hot firefighters? That’s on Lake Street! I know exactly where that is!”

I shook my head. He wasn’t gonna let this go.

“Nah, you go. I’ve had a few too many.” I raised the beer in my hand before I finished the last couple of swigs.

“Sixtoo many,” Barrett laughed, standing from the couch. “Maybe I’ll get a number or two for ya.”

“Spare me,” I grunted, and he laughed as he walked out the door.

He left, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Long after he left, I listened to the silence, and the sound of the crickets calling outside, searching for their one true love—or at least a one-night fling.

I should be doing the same thing. Everyone around me told me so. I just couldn’t be bothered. I didn’t wanna deal with online dating, and awkward, cringy first dates where you sweat and shake and try not to step on each other’s toes.

I didn’t want anything to do with it. I tried it once, back in college, and I quickly discovered it just wasn’t for me.

Sometime in the next few minutes—maybe because of the beer—I’d fallen asleep. I woke up to the roar of static on the TV. Groaning, I reached for the remote on the coffee table and flipped it off. What fucking time was it? Where was Barrett? I grabbed my phone and squinted at the blaring white screen as I pulled up an unread text.

Headed home. The fire was out before I got there. See you tomorrow!

Sighing, I threw my phone down on the couch. Damn it. Alone again.

The creak of a footstep across the porch caught my ear, and when I looked up, I felt my heart stop in my chest.

Someone was standing there, looking in the window. It was just a shadow in the darkness, but it sent a horrible, prickling feeling scuttling across the back of my neck. I swallowed hard, my fingers shaking and my heart slamming against my sternum so hard that it hurt. If I could have caught my breath, I would have screamed, but something in me had frozen solid, and I couldn’t move. I could feel the weight of eyes upon me, crawling up my spine until it slammed into my head with enough force that it threw me into motion.

I dropped my eyes to the couch, searching for my phone, but by the time I found it and looked up, the shadow was gone. Finally, I let out my breath in a deep whoosh, and when I sucked it back in, it was ragged and shaking.

Heart pounding, I stood on wobbling legs and tiptoed to the foyer. Barrett left the front door open, with only the screen door shut to keep me safe.

Good job, Barrett. Good fucking job. I could’ve been raped and murdered.

Or worse?

Wait… what was worse than murder?

I could still feel that uneasy feeling—the weight of eyes watching me, like a predator lurking in the darkness.

I looked one way, and all that greeted me was shadows and darkness. Looking the other way, I could see the outline of my convertible and the looming specter of the old barn.

Nothing. I was alone again.

Only this time, it was a lot less of a depressing feeling.

Sighing, I looked down, and something caught my eye.

There was a clear glass dome on the front porch, with something fluttering around inside. It shimmered in the moonlight, illuminating a shape flittering about.

Reaching over, I flipped on the porch light and jumped when it flicked on.

Great. Now I was gonna be a jumpy mess for the rest of the night, and possibly tomorrow.

Shivering, I stepped out onto the porch, carefully looking around. When I was content that there was nothing there, I kneeled, taking a closer look.

Underneath the dome, glimmering under the dull yellow glow of the porch light, a moth fluttered against the glass. I recognized it immediately. It was a Luna Moth, easily identified by the light blue color of its wings and the long, thin tear-drop shapes they tapered into.

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