When The Clock Strikes One- A Poem

When The Clock Strikes One

K.N. Lee 

When the clock strikes one

The house is quiet

All creaks pause

All mice freeze

The darkness hovers

Smothering

Covering

Straggling the light

The door stands open

As wind sweeps through

I stand in the doorway

Tall

Brave

"I'm not afraid of you!"

Giggles emerge from far behind

I glance over my shoulder

Four girls

Two guys

 They taunt me and tease

"Do it!"

"Do it!"

I hide my shaking knees

Breath in deep

"Let's get to it."

I say these words in my head

Pray for courage

Why couldn't Kate go?

Or one of the guys instead?

My footsteps are too loud

I hold my breath  

Old Man Hickman's house   

Is empty

There's nothing left

But tales of ghosts and ghouls

Murders and suicides

 

I swallow hard

Look at a dark ring on the floor

Not mud

Dried blood

  My flashlight searches in a frenzy

Who is here?

I cannot see

I feel eyes

I hear whispers

"You guys better not be fooling around with me!"

I'm too afraid to shout it

 So I think about it

I hear a thump

I jump and bump

Into something big, hard, cold

Too afraid to look

Not quite bold

I run

Upstairs

Downstairs

Into a cellar of mold

Stuffy air

I don't care

Whatever was there

Won't find me here

Oh dear

Eyes

I scream

I cry

Lights flicker on

Kids in costumes

Friends...

I sigh

Smile

Relief!

And a blade slides across my throat

What a fright!

Four girls

Two guys

Betrayed me

On Hallows Eve night...