Page 39 of Like A Moth To A Flame

My heart was hammering in my chest, slamming against my sternum and rattling me where I stood. Periodically, I held my breath, listening for voices, screaming, or anything else that could tell me what was going on inside. Before long, I heard the heavy footfalls approaching, and the front door popped open. Tommy came out first, his brown eyes watching the ground as he walked, long legs moving past me and toward the truck. The two rookies were next out, one, a baby-faced blonde, looked sad and defeated. The next was a tall, lanky redhead, and the look on his face could only be described as angry, except with no one to be angry at. Not long after, Dale walked out of the house, flashing me a wide, cheesy grin as he stepped toward me. Dale reminded me of the classic 1980s sitcom Dad, with a mustache and deep, soulful blue eyes. He even had the beer belly to match. Something about him always seemed so calming.

“Electrical fire,” he said, coming over to stand beside the Sheriff and me. “Didn’t even flare up, just smoke. But you’ll need to get it looked at.”

I sighed.

Of course. More bad news. Just what I needed.

“Do you think it’s safe for me to stay here tonight?” I asked, reaching up and running a shaking hand through my hair.

“Oh, yeah.” Dale waved a hand through the air. “You’re fine. The breakers off—good job there, by the way—and we went ahead and capped off the affected wires. You’re gold, kiddo.”

I snorted. Kiddo. Some things never changed. Most things in this town, actually.

“Alright,” I sighed, forcing a smile. “Thank you, Dale.”

“Oh, no problem,” he said. “Happy to help.”

I expected him to walk away, but he stayed where he was, a contemplating look on his face.

“Do you happen to know who did your wiring?” Dale asked.

I shook my head.

“Alright,” he said, and he looked defeated. “Just… get it looked at soon, alright? Things looked a little wonky in there, and I’d hate somethin’ bad to happen to you.”

“Wonky like… tampered with?”

He shrugged.

“I wouldn’t say that necessarily. Maybe just old?”

I told them my goodbyes and retreated back into the house. I watched out the window as the enormous truck backed down the driveway and out of sight. When most people thought of firetrucks, they imagined huge, lumbering red beasts, but not this one. Dad had always said it was common in more rural areas, without the bright city lights, but our fire truck was highlighter yellow.

When it was gone and the house was quiet, I found myself wishing they’d come back. I didn’t want to be here anymore. I didn’t want to be alone out here in the darkness with no one to save me from the monsters hidden in plain sight. Part of me wondered if I should get into the car and drive over to Barrett’s house, poundingon the door until he woke up to let me in. I didn’t want to be alone. I didn’t want to—

The sound of the phone in the kitchen tore through my thoughts, and my heart leaped to life once again. I turned to look into the kitchen, a finger of dread dragging, icy cold, down my spine. Immediately, I felt eyes on me, and something crawled beneath my skin, something with many watching eyes and millions of tiny, scurrying legs.

“You have got to be—”

It trilled again, cutting me off.

Maybe if I ignored it, whoever it was would decide I’d gone to sleep and leave me alone.

It rang again, shrill and screaming through the fragile silence.

Please stop. Please, just stop.

Leave me alone. I don’t wanna do this.

Ican’tdo this. Not now. Not after everything else.

It rang again, and this one seemed louder, drilling into my inner ears until my head buzzed.

I moved away from the door, my arms wrapped around my stomach and my lower lip quivering. I pulled it into my mouth and bit down, hoping the pain would drive away the tears that stung the corners of my eyes. The ring sounded again, and I continued into the kitchen, my shaking fingers grabbing it from the cradle and lifting it.

Odd. I hadn’t remembered hanging it up after calling 911.

Why was that the thought that was stuck in my head?

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