Click

Click A sharp rap like metal hitting pitch familiar pendulum balls tapping. Looking up at the moon hoping the light would bring ease illuminating the dark path. But wayward branches untended for too long blocked my sight. Click It didn’t. Click Rattled. Extended leaves scratched my cool skin. A withered hand with long bony fingers trailed under my nose dragged across my cheek. Click Unmistakable. The tightening in my chest balled the air in my lungs. A small pebble stuck in a straw blocking the flow. Again. Click My fist thudded against my chest reminding me to breathe. Sudden ragged breaths forced outward heightened by each sinister tap from behind. Click Precise. Mocking my footsteps. My heavy thuds stamped the broken road almost clouding my hearing. Almost— It's there. Click Click Advancing faster than the porch light in the distance. Night's chill pushed back, as much a threat as the grinding clicks growing louder. Cold sweat stung my eyes, timed with the roll of loose stone beneath my feet. Arms flailed forward. My knees buckled, hitting gravel and stone. Click Click Click Click Click A colder pressure on my shoulder forced my scream into the night. Heaving breaths. I waited. Click.