Hide and Seek

We'd reach a corner and wait and listen, holding our flashlights close

to the ground. Then we'd throw the beams around the corner and I'd hit

the wall opposite us, pitchfork high and ready, while Steve waited to

crack somebody's skull with the axe handle.

I think we got the procedure off cops shows.

But it felt good and efficient anyway.

Four times we did this. Each time- nothing.

I was waiting, hoping to feel it like I'd felt it before -that sense of

something out there just out of reach and out of sight. Something big

and dangerous waiting for me and ready, just as I was ready for him

this time. I had my backup and my long pointed stick. I was ready.

The hell I was.

I hit the fifth wall. I was sure we were close now.

All the beam showed us was another passageway. Empty, silent.

The corridor was as hort one. Six steps maybe. We got halfway down

and then stopped. I don't know why we stopped. Butagain.it was

simultaneous. There was a moment there where all we did was look at

one another. Eyes like black little beads in our heads.

And I think we knew.

Something rough and jagged was happening to my heartbeat. I remember

he gave me a little smile. That same curl to the lip as when he was

being cute and ironic, only it wasn't that way this time. It was like

hello and good-bye all at once.

Just like that.

And between those things lay all life, all time, for both of us.

I turned my light to the ground. The walls loomed with shadows. I

stepped into them and threw my beam ahead of me.

And saw what was happening to Casey.