Eyes Open, Ear to the Ground
Fiction by R. Haven
Look, this is just what I’ve heard.
I’m not trying to freak you out. I’m giving you a heads-up, because from my observations, you haven’t even noticed them. I suppose their existence could be part of ‘your normal’; if you’ve lived like this your whole life, then why would it register as unusual?
But it’s not normal. I need you to believe me.
They lurk in your peripheral vision. They only move in that nanosecond of blindness when you shift your gaze. Not by a huge amount, and they don’t tend to bother unless they’re starting to get particularly hungry. They creep up closer by fractions of an inch, and wait for your brain to tell you that’s always where they’ve been before taking another step. They’re patient. And everybody else knows they’re there. Everyone but you.
We take precautions. Have you ever seen strangers, even loved ones, doing things you think are nonsensical? Heard their conversations that seem to all be hidden messages, double meanings? It’s usually that they’re deterring these things. Discussing them. I can’t believe no one’s taught you this stuff –
But then again, I guess it makes sense if you’ve been groomed to be a sacrifice.
They’ve still got to eat. It’s not pleasant to talk about, so I suppose we generally don’t. Universally, though, it’s been decided that you’re the easiest prey. You’ve explained them away since you were a confused kid making sense of the world and your place in it. You sealed your fate all the way back then.
Nothing’s easier to hunt than something that feels safe.
I don’t know, though, I guess I’ve always found it… unfair? I’m a humanitarian at heart, and I like to think knowledge will give you a chance to prepare for the inevitable. You deserve the truth. You deserve to know you’re going to die. That it’s going to be slow. It’s going to be painful. They’re patient, I can’t stress this enough, so even if you run… Even if you think you can hide from them… They’ll always outlast you.
And no one’s going to help. Better you than us, as the saying goes. So keep your eyes open. Ear to the ground. You’ll know when they’re finally making their move because you’ll feel the dread drop into your gut, the certainty of impending death pounding in your chest. Oh, and fear makes you taste that much sweeter. Makes you an even more appealing target.
Oops. Maybe try to forget I said anything.
It’s just what I’ve heard.
R. Haven is a fantasy and horror author hailing from Toronto, Canada. His debut novel, The Other Face of Sympathy, is in bookstores now, and he has won a short story award from the Inkwell Literary Festival. His website is theirritablequeer.com, where you can find information on his other published works.