Attacked!

Romaine Johnson, Contributor

Fear had now consumed my entire being, I just sat there in the corner - motionless, waiting to be devoured, with only two questions transcending to the furthest reach of my cranium. Was this it? Am I really done for? Then Mr Reality stepped in and answered my question. I was, in fact, doomed, done for as the alien-like creature drew closer with its so-called eyes, locked on to me like green to a leaf. I could feel my chest constricting, my rapidly beating heart as if telling it to get a grip. There and then, the events leading up to this unfortunate predicament flashed into my already congested thoughts.

It was the eve of my birthday and I was now becoming 12. Mom had had everything planned for the day to come and I was to know nothing of it. It is a pity my dad did not know I was not to know about the day to come. So when he called from the States, he told me everything, and everything was that I was going to get a cake, yeah, I know right! I thought it was going to be something big too.

Mom had gone out to purchase some goods at the market and I was alone in the big house. I sat in the sofa playing a video game when all of a sudden, an ominous feeling crept over me. Just then, I thought I heard something. I did, it sounded like some sort of rattling. Instantaneously, I muted the television so I could determine the location of the sound.

bag of chips

My ears surveyed the room as if it were a satellite dish searching for better reception, there! The sound was coming from the kitchen. I got up from the sofa slowly, and, at an even slower rate, walked in the direction of the kitchen, the sound got even louder, it sounded as if someone were eating a bag of chips.

I got to the door of the kitchen and peered inside, hoping the sound would stop, but it did not. Instead, the rattling only got louder and I heard exactly where it was coming from. One of the cupboards was partly opened. I walked over to it, stretched my arm out, and as I was about to open the door, I was interrupted by a knocking at the front door and a voice called out, "JJ, come get the door for mommy!" I breathed a sigh of relief.

The sound had stopped, yet I had to see if anything was there, I opened the cupboard, but only an empty bag of chips remained. I closed the door and went to my mother's aid.

The following day, mom called a few of my friends over and we had some cake and enjoyed the day. Night fell as if it was never day to begin with and, by then, all my friends had gone home. It was time for me to shower, so I did just that and headed to bed. I glanced around the room as the thought of what I had heard but not seen dawned on me but only for a few minutes. I then faded off to sleep.

About an hour later, I got up. I seemed to have had too much cake and so I needed a cool drink of water. I got up, slid into my slippers and headed to the kitchen.

slice of my cake

On entering the kitchen, I heard a sound. What had happened the day before flashed back into mind. I told myself it was nothing. As I reached for the light switch, a chill ran down my spine, all thoughts of the cool drink of water were completely overshadowed by the fear of what I might see when the light clicked on. Be brave is what I told myself as I again reached for the switch. As light flooded the room, I watched in horror as it just stood there eating away at a slice of my cake. I wanted to run, but all my completely immobile body allowed me to do was reach for the light switch, and it went click again and darkness flooded the room. Was this merely a dream? I stood still, unable to move my feet, but my hands again flicked the switch, the room was again lit, this time my heart shrunk to size of a pin head and it was official. It had seen me. I fell back against the door of the kitchen. Now, here I am. Fear had now consumed my entire being. I just sat there in the corner motionless, waiting to be devoured by this ... by this roach.