Make It Stop

The dark was as much in Henry's mind as it was in his sightless eyes.

Contest Prompt

ablation, cavernous, freeze, Infinitesimal. Use Dark as one of your genre, and use the title 'Make It Stop'.

The freeze was sudden. Overnight, Halloween became an ablation of its former self. “Dark, dark, is the night, my thoughts darker still.” Henry Adams blind man’s cane tap, tap, tapped the icy surface of the sidewalk.

He’d been sighted nine months ago. This was an entirely different cavernous world. Echoes in his ears alone told him where he was and who was about. “Your other senses will learn to adapt.” His occupational therapist, Sara Adams, had tried to reassure him.

Henry had decided to walk home from her office rather than try the arduous journey of waiting for the bus and hearing the pity dripping from other rider’s echoing voices. The Halloween nightmare storm had caught him unaware of its terrifying magnitude. “Not much further to go.”

Being alone and walking the streets was infinitesimally better than facing the pile of debt waiting for him at home. Medical bills from his freak accident kept claiming falling unconscious in the park and a youthful gang lighting gasoline on his face after he got drunk was not covered. “For in that sleep of death, what dreams may come? Old Will, I’m asking the same question.”

Savannah, his wife of ten years, had died in a hit-and-run the same night as his tragedy played out. Thus his black out drunk. “Watch your step. It’s slick out here.”

The crunch of snow told Henry whoever was approaching was making their own path, not following the sidewalk. The familiar sound of the voice echoed evilly in his mind.

“Look at the freak. It’s the same dude we lit on fire.”

There was only one voice, the one excited crunch of fast moving steps. Henry waited until the sound was replaced by shoes sliding on ice. The invisible monster was close enough.

“Let’s dance.” Henry knelt for better purchase. He swept his blind man’s cane whistling towards the oncoming threat.

“Missed. Hold still.” Hands brushed his face. A wire sank around his throat. It tightened. He couldn’t breathe.

The feeling of his own warm blood weeping out threw him into a frenzy of motion. ‘Make it stop’ his mind screamed at him.

“Make it stop!” The words were repeated in the voice of his assailant. Henry’s long bony fingers had reached back and found the man’s eyes. They felt like jelly popping wetly as the man slipped on ice and fell closer.

“Welcome to the fold, brother.” Henry gasped. The relief of the wire releasing its hold allowed a cloud of cold air to rush in and out of his mouth. He left the man writhing on the frozen sidewalk.



The smell of smoke grew as he approached his home. “It’s a total loss. More work from your fire gang. They left a letter addressed to you. Here. They are obsessed with you, why?" She paused, suddenly aware of his new look. Sarah Adams touched his throat. "What happened to you?”

“I must look like a Halloween nightmare. Same monster that lit my face up found me again. He’s back at the park. What are you doing here?”

The hug Sarah enveloped him in wasn’t just one of friendship. “I was worried about you making it back home. You've been talking about the fire gang hanging around your place lately. You know I live in a gated community. You can stay at my place until we sort things out.”

“I’m so thankful you aren’t in that Hell-fire. It made me realize how much I care for you.” The kiss was tender and sweet. It echoed hope and love in every fiber of Henry’s being. With his home in flames, his past was gone. The insurance and his disability checks might just cover his debts and offer a future.

"Are you sure?" Henry's voice choked with emotion. "We'd better inform the fire chief about my attack."

He didn’t feel so cold and dark anymore. Sarah’s hand slipping to grasp his seemed to feel likewise.

WC 600