Creatures of the Night

Now what were they going to do? The lights were out in the main area of the church, leaving everyone in pitch darkness. Everyone stood around as they looked around.

“What happened?” Aisha asked. She looked up at the ceiling with her hands on her hips.

“Power’s out,” Clyde said.

“I know that!” the leader shouted. “But why though?”

“Where’s the power box?” Tucker asked.

“The basement, I think,” Aisha said. “I don’t really know.”

“Alright,” Tucker said. His wife grabbed him by the arm. He tried to turn around and look in the dark.

“Can you even see where you are going?” Annie asked.

“No…” he said.

“Then take a flashlight with you!” his wife said.

“And where am I going to get that?” he asked.

“I don’t know. But you can’t work in the dark.”

“I know that! Do you have one?”

“No…”

“I have one,” one of the church ladies said. “A lighter, actually.” Tucker tried to look around in the dark.

“Where are you?” he asked.

“I’m by the stage,” she said. “I’ll come to you, I guess.” Meanwhile, the old biddies stayed close to each other.

“Can we go home now?” Muriel asked.

“No,” Aisha said. Her friends groaned.

“Come on!” Lewis said. The leader tried to look at her friends in the dark as her tried to adjust to the dark. She had to take a step back.

“Clyde, do you ever wash your hair?” the leader asked.

“No,” she said. Aisha wrinkled her nose as she frowned.

“Couldn’t you take care of yourself more often?” she asked. “It’s just embarrassing.” Aisha could feel her eyes burning. She couldn’t see Clyde grinning in the dark.

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Annie followed behind with Tucker down the stairs. He looked over his shoulder and frowned.

“Why are you coming down here with me?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” Annie said.

“Then go back upstairs,” Tucker said.

“I don’t want to,” she said. He frowned and rolled his eyes. He didn’t care to argue with her anymore. The kids would be coming to the church in twenty minutes. Annie stayed closed to her husband as they kept walking.

“Can you please back up a bit?” Tucker asked. His wife didn’t respond. They made it down to the bottom step. Tucker looked along the wall with the lighter. He struggled to keep the flame up.

“See where the power box is?” he asked. Annie stood beside him, looking around. Her husband tried to hold the light still for her.

“Hm…” Annie said. She pointed up ahead. “There!” Tucker walked up to the silent box. He could feel the heat just standing in front of it.

“What’s that smell?” his wife asked. Tucker stepped back, covering his nose. He looked around for a cloth. He spotted an old rag in the corner. When Tucker opened the power box, smoke hit in the face. He stepped back, coughing. After he got a better look, Tucker could see the extend of the problem.

“Oh…” he said.

“How bad is it?” Annie asked. Her husband turned around to her.

“We’re going to need someone professional,” he said.

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Tucker and Annie came back upstairs. Everyone looked up in the darkness.

“Well?” Aisha sked. Tucker put up his hands.

“Sorry,” he said. “We will need a professional.” Everyone groaned aloud.

“Can we go home now?” Muriel asked.

“No,” Aisha said. “We will make this work.” Her friends sighed. They couldn’t win, could they?

End