As I left the office last night the intermixed snow and sleeting rain had begun to fall. The pavement reflected light with a dull shine like that of a glistening, rain soaked, tombstone. As I opened the car door I felt a chill come over me. A chill I had not felt before. A weight fell upon me. It was hard to breath. I could sense his presence, but who was he?
I travel the back roads from my office to my home, passing from town to town, as I slowing crested the small hill that boarders the towns of Hampton and Rye I notice an ominous darkness ahead. The houses were dark, the streets empty. As I crept forward it seemed the night closed in around me. The darkness was heavy, and carried with it a foreboding message, a message of sorrow and despair. As I arrived at my home I noticed but one candle in the window. I was surprised still to see my house dark, knowing all along the town was black. As I made my way to my door I felt a rush, not of excitement but rather as if being chased, chased by a force unseen. I throw open the door and slammed it behind me. The rush of air extinguished the light. As I search for the matches the feeling returned, I was being watched. I fumbled with the matches, dropping a few, and finally I re-light the candle. I slowly turned around to see my wife and small child sitting silently on the sofa, before them a package. A package which marked my doom.

I had been stricken, the reaper was upon me.

My head spun, I sat silent. Later I fell into an uneasy slumber. When I awoke this morning it seemed I was in a fog, seeing through another’s eyes. I performed my morning routine as usual. Still, I felt off.

I remember getting into the car, but nothing else. I briefly awoke from this dream, but I was not in the car, rather standing in the hockey store, staring at the plain, bone-white goalie masks. I was taken back, why was I here? I stumbled from the store, dripping in sweat. I’m confused, lost, what is going on here. Darkness.

Again I awake, now I am in Home Depot, in lawn and garden. The axes, chain saws and machetes, so clean, so pure, so right.

Now I understand.

Now I know what to do.

I will be calling on one of you.