Nightmares

Thump, clack, thud. What's going on? A spear of light penetrates Shadow's meager defenses like an alien probe, searching. Smack, bang, crack. Am I awake? "Open the door!" an angry voice pierces the night silence. Adrenaline mixes with sleep, my body is frozen. The 4runner shivers on it's frame rails. I can feel his presence gaining fervor. "Come out here!" he demands. Flash, scan, zap. The spotlight pulses. Tiny luminescent fingers reach through every gap, stretching, inches from the raised hairs on my exposed neck. Where is he? My mind finally catches up with reality. A thousand thoughts rush through my head. My adventure is over. I'm busted. The cops found me. Some one is robbing me, or worse. "Unlock the door!" The voice is raging with hate. Where is he? Sharp slits of yellow light slice my swollen pupils. He's everywhere! My head is spinning in this hollow cavern, this house of mirrors. God, help me! End it! Deliver me! Silence. Pause. Thunk, a car door slams. Ticka, ticka, vroom, a car engine roars. Screech, a quick getaway. Silence. Is he gone? There could be others. Peering out of a crack in my cardboard shutters, the coast looks clear. The cold vinyl stings my thigh as I slide over the center console into the front seat and quickly pull the sunshade down. I won't be using this street again. Looking in the rear view mirror as I pull away I catch a glimpse of my guardian angel. It's a passerby who stopped to check his oil. He must have scared away my attacker as he pulled in behind with headlights flooding the scene, chasing away the dark.