Are You Ever Truly Alone

She heard crackling sounds coming up from the cellar

A note left on the table to her, from the seller

She'd bought the house sight unseen, all the furnishings free

"I hope the secrets you find gives you what she gave me"

Too busy to take in what he might be suggesting

A brand new start at life was what she was manifesting

A loaded car and three kids, with so much to unpack

Moving ahead, with no intentions to ever look back

One by one she filled each room with scented candles

But the clear thoughts in her head soon became scrambled

It was her way to cleanse the air and claim it as her own

But she soon began to sense that they were not alone

The candles flickered and the lights began to dim

She thought about that letter that she's received from him

That crackling sound seemed closer to the door

She grabbed a flashlight she found in the side buffet drawer

Her hand on the knob and ear pressed hard to the wall

She opened the door and the shadows went crawling

Distinct, muffled voices seemed to call her by name

A crackling voice said, " Welcome Barb, to the game."

Sitting alone in the corner, completely covered in dust

Sat a transistor radio, dilapidated and busted

Yet, somehow there were voices coming from out of the speaker

With a message for her and how they'd been trying to reach her

Through the static they told her that her family was in danger

Listing facts from her past, making it feel so much stranger

"Are you listening?" they asked, tensions rising much higher

"You must report back, your involvement is dire!"

She fumbled with the the knobs, pressing all the buttons

"Press the one on the right," it said, all of a sudden

She did as they said, and answered, "Is this the one"

"yeeeesssss, " it replied, "this is a simple test run..."

"A test run," she stammered into the small speaker

"...Is this some kind of joke? I only just moved here."

"Yes, we know," it answered, and chills crawled up her spine

"We've been tracking your movement for a very long time."

"It seems you have something of ours and we're anxious to have it."

"Easy or hard - up to you, easiers' better, if you catch my drift."

Startled by the threat, she knocked the radio over, it fell to the floor and it shattered to bits

She started to cry when she went to retrieve it, it continued to talk and it wasn't plugged in.

She ran up the stairs and bolted it closed, she was sure she heard footsteps approaching the door

She went to the table to re-read his letter and there lie the radio on her kitchen floor

"There is no use in running, Barb, you've nowhere to hide."

"You should know by now you've been too easy to find."

Barb found the letter and dialed the phone

"It's been disconnected, " the radio moaned

"It's just a simple process, give the goods and we'll go"

There is just one thing more you should probably know."

"That ex husband of yours was really quite a loser

He got pretty good at keeping us on our toes"

"The deal was with him, but I guess now, you know how it goes

He planted it on you and vaporized like a ghost."

"If you place your finger on the back of your neck

You'll notice a small lump by your ear"

"Go on, do it now, put you hand there and check...

You're getting closer, a little more...there!"

She could practically hear the smile in its voice

"You found it, didn't you, Barb, don't make me ask...twice

Though she tried not to, she let out a gasp

The voice was now sounding a little more rasp

Barb gathered her children and sped away in her car

They hadn't made it down the road very far

Never once checking in her rearview mirror

Till the radio turned on and a voice came through the speaker

"Barb, reconsider, you've got so much to lose

Pull over here, we're sending someone to you

Just a quick snip and it all will be over

He's someone we refer to warmly, as our closer."

"If we have to chase you or find another way to connect

We hate to get ugly, but if you object

We can't guarantee you that it won't get messy

It will be harder for us to grant you any mercy."

As she pulled over another car pulled behind

It was the seller who she had mistaken for kind

She knew him the moment she saw him

He said softly, "move over and let me get in."

He smiled and winked at the children and said

"It's ok, kids, soon it all will be over."

Without warning he wrapped his arms around her head

And he draped a towel over her shoulder

He whispered loudly....."It's best if they don't see this next part."

With a pinch and a pluck and snip and a tuck

He disappeared like he was Houdini

Leaving behind a bit of pixie dust, and with any luck

What was left any of their memories

When Barb opened her eyes she was tucked in her bed

With the sound of a radio playing

An old transistor radio the seller must have left

"This one's for you, Barb," she heard the announcer saying

"I'll take it she said," and casually laughed at the mirror

"You won't hear me making any objections."

"Well, that's good to hear, Barb, I guess we'll just catch you later

As a smile washed over her reflection