Who’s There?

In the murky distance, it could’ve been anything. If she hadn’t said it, I would’ve kept going.

“It’s turned cold, Mitchell. Stop! That’s someone ahead.”

“Where? I don’t see anyone, babe.”

She leaned in and whispered, “He’s there. Right there. You see him, right?”

“Him? I see a shape, not a person.”

“Shhh! That’s someone, Mitchell. Hold me. I’m telling you. He’s watching.”

“No, it’s not, Nina. It’s a tree. It looks like a tree to me.”

“A tree?”

“Yeah, or a void.”

“A what? No way. It’s not changing. I see him. He’s staring at us.”

“You’re imagining things. Why would a man stand on the path and look at us? It doesn’t make sense. Keep walking. You’ll see. It’ll be nothing-“

“No. Stop. You go. I’ll stay here.”

“Stay? You’re being stupid.”

“No, I’m not. I’m not going anywhere. You go look. Come back and tell me why he’s there.”

“Okay, if that’s – I’ll have a look.”

“Right, yes, you do that. I’ll come when it’s clear.”

“Okay, but you’ll have to let go of my arm.”

“What? Oh, yes, there you go. Thanks, but hurry.”

“Okay, I’ll be back in a sec’.”

“Good. And come back. Quickly. Don’t leave me here.”

Mitchell stepped back. “Okay. I’ll go check it out.”

“You come back too.”

“Okay. Got it. Check it out. Come back. Get you.” Mitchell gave her a thumbs-up, smiled and turned away.

“Don’t leave me here. Come back. Okay?”

“Right.”

He walked away and raised a hand as if to acknowledge her request.

The hand and his body slowly dissolved into the fog. She whispered, “You come back and get me, Mr Mitchell Felding.”

The shape faded completely.

“Hey! Stop! Wait for me! Don’t leave me here!”

–Michael Forman (Dark Fiction Author)

‘Forman’s writing style is artful, with the protagonist Mitchell’s warped thought processes masterfully exposed. The author has a powerful and vivid command of language and his word pictures are stark and disturbingly real.’

Linda J Bettenay, author of ‘Secrets Mothers Keep’ and ‘Wishes For Starlight’