Spirits of the night

SPIRITS OF THE NIGHT There was a time in the town when you could walk out alone at night and not have to fear anything. You could leave your doors unlocked and your car in the driveway without worry. You could drop the kids off at the cinema downtown and not think a thing of it. Or stroll through the park on a Saturday evening without watching every shadow or movement in the evening twilight. …

…angelic smile had been. Elliott was frozen in horror as the specter moved closer, its eyes the color of flame. It engulfed his body swiftly and the pain was briefly intense. Elliott cried out, the sound reminiscent of a whipped dog. Then the specter moved up and off; Elliott fell hard onto the pavement. He moaned once, rolled over and breathed no more. The spirits continued down the tree lined street and out of town.