Lightening Flashed Against the Darkness

Lightening flashed illuminating the house against the dark, swirling sky. Electricity permeated the air, but the house on the corner of Redwood Ave stood tall in spite of the storm. Strong winds moaned and cried like a chorus of angry voices. Leaves danced chaotically with the wind along with shingles, garbage, and other storm debris. Rain pummeled the house as if demanding entrance. But the house stood like a stalwart rock; a fortress against attack.

Struggling against the fierce winds, Laurenz Anger hurried down the block to the house. He stopped every few seconds to pull his coat tighter around him and taking furtive glances over his shoulder. He rushed up the walk and into the house, slamming the door behind him. A picture of him and his wife fell off a nearby wall and shattered. The broken glass sliced up his half of the picture. Laurenz signed the cross as a cold breeze tickled the back of his neck.

Out from the room ahead of Laurenz came a short, solid dark haired woman. She wore a simple gingham dress covered by an apron. In one hand she carried a rolling pin. With a quick look, she noted Laurenz' state and the picture on the floor.

"Let me get a broom," she stated to turn around.

Laurenz shook his head and passed her. "No, Hilde, I'll clean it up. It’s..."

Hilde rolled her eyes while placing her hands on her hips. "We don't live in the old country anymore."

"I know that." He came back with a broom and a dustpan. Laurenz knelt down, sweeping up the breaking glass. The torn picture he placed on a nearby table.

"You're too superstitious. What did you see this time?"

"Nothing."

"Laurenz."

"A doppelganger."

Hilde threw her hands up. "I'm going to finish dinner."

"It followed me home."

Hilde harrumphed. From the kitchen she spo...

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...was a playroom. They begged their grandma to let them go up there and play. Their grandma gave them reluctant permission.

But the two girls never made it up the stairs. When they got to the bottom of the stairs, they saw someone that they shouldn't have seen at the top. A woman with long black hair and in a white dress. Not a lady, but a ghost.

“Help, my father is dying.” The ghost in white begged. But the two kids just stared at her frozen in fear while the ghost tried again. “My name is Hunger Anger, please help!”

But still the girls just stood there, shaking. The ghost spoke again. “Please help, he's dying!”

And this time while the girls stared in shock, the ghost faded away. Then, only then, did the girls run. They slid under the kitchen table in the dark kitchen. And they screamed for help in the same kitchen that Hilde called for help in many years earlier.