Fiction

The Light Switch

Things go bump in the night

Photo by Natalya Letunova on Unsplash

“Evening Tim,” I said to the doorman.

”Mr. Garrett,” he said, pulling the door open.

“It’s just Jack.”

”So you’ve said Mr. Garett.”

Before going through the door, I asked about the police cars down the street.

”Don’t know,” Tim said, “They’ve been down there all day. Won’t let anyone get close to the building.”

”Strange. Have a good night.”

He nodded.

The elevator opened to the fourth floor.

My keys jangled as I fumbled to find the right one. A lot of the buildings around me had electronic keys that unlocked the doors automatically.

But I was always skeptical of them.

Just as I hit the light switch, I heard something run through the apartment.

I quickly flicked the light switch.

The apartment was empty.

At least the kitchen and living room was.

I flicked the light off again.

More running sounds. Like a small person was running through the apartment.

As soon as I flipped the light back on.

Nothing.

My mind had to be playing tricks on me. There was no one there.

I tried it one last time.

This time there were no footsteps.

But my keys jingled as someone grabbed them off the counter.

Now utterly terrified I turned the lights back on. Again.

No one.

It was just me.

This time the light switched off on its own.

The door slammed shut and locked.

I couldn’t open it.

The light would go off.

This time I could hear something laughing each time it got dark.

It was getting closer.

So close.

The light went out for good.

”Mr. Garret,” Tim was shaking me awake.

“Tim! My god we need the police down here.”

”That won’t be necessary Jack,” he said laughing, “We aren’t done with you yet.”

The lights flicked off.