Imp

Cold, gloomy, and another rainy day in the small town where Geraldine and her three loves reside. She has a husband, Barry, and two boys, Todd and Emile. They are grown up enough to care for themselves but she does not want to let go of the grip that a mother has on her boys. She smiles at herself in the reflection on the metal napkin holder. Wiping away the lipstick that she had on to try to bring in more tips, but with no one coming in to eat, they, the employees, were afraid that the dinner will close early and no one in this small mining town will be able to eat. But the rain, fifteen days in a row, it had not stopped. The rain had flooded the streets all over town and not allowed anyone out of their homes without fear of being washed away.

She grips the container and places it back down on top the table where she grabbed it from. Looking out the door, the rain was right at the dinner’s doorstep and she wondered how she’d be able to make it home. Luckily for her, the house that she lived in was only a few hundred yards away from the dinner’s entrance. But the water, they way it was rushing… the lights suddenly went out.

Her co-worker screaming in fear of the dark and the sudden surprise of it.

Geraldine rushed over there to her and wrapped her arms around her for comfort, but it was not helping the poor waitress. She kept panicking about how the shadows were emerging and surrounding them. Geraldine did not see anything and was trying her best to sooth the poor girl, but she kicked and punched her way free leaving Geraldine with a black eye as well as a bruised shin as the co-worker ran out screaming.

A sudden gush of water, a few hundred feet high swept passed just as she emerged outside and swept her away. Geraldine’s eyes were huge, fearful, how was she to match wits with mother nature and make it home? She then grabbed the phone off the charger and dialed her husband.

“Babe,” she began, “I don’t know if I’ll make it home.”

“It’s okay. I’ll come get you.”

“No, stay put. I am not leaving here right now.”

“Okay baby, do what you think is right. We are fine here. Wanna talk to the boys?”

“No, I don’t need them to hear me like this. I don’t want to say goodbye.”

“Then don’t.”

“That’s easier said than done. Look, I am going to stay here until the rain dies off. You go and take care of the boys, they need you there without me.”

“Will do. Call me in a little while to check in. I will be up for a long time so, check in regularly.”

“Ok my love. Will do. Be safe, bye for now.”

She clicked the end button and placed the phone back on the charger.

“See her?” a whisper from the phone said.

“Yes.” Said another.

The phone dropped onto the ground. Geraldine reached for it and was slightly shocked by it. She drew her hand back and shook it for a few moments before reaching for it again. She thought that maybe some water spilled on it and that was why the shock happened.

Suddenly the napkin containers on every table fell to the ground all simultaneously. Alarmed she yelled to the back for the cook. No answer, a few moments later she yelled again. Still no answer. Looking into the office where they go when there are no customers, she found him lying in a pool of blood. There were two weird looking coins in his eyes, she dared not touch him. The lights went out again.

The shadows emerged and appeared to be dancing in the lightning that was happening all around them.

A sudden flash that rattled the sign outside of the building produced sparks that caught the building’s roof to catch fire!

“Allow me to introduce myself madam,” came a small quiet voice, “I am Reginald, the self-proclaimed ‘King of the Imps,’ I will need your blood so I will be king officially. Please bow to your new ruler and allow me a sample.”

As if the small weirdly sounding voice was hypnotic, Geraldine bowed down and her throat was slashed open. The last thing she recalled as she drifted off was her family and loving husband, how they now will be alone.

As she saw the burning building falling apart around her, her shadow leapt from her body and joined the massive army of Imps.