Miscellanea from the Lost Quarter and beyond.

Next Door

Distant screams reach their ears, pricking the skin on their arms. At first they are uncertain, unwilling even, to hear them for what they are. Some strangeness with the wind or the elements they tell themselves. It is a windswept and lonely place with everyone living at a far remove from each other. They hear things that those in more populous places would never notice, the sounds drowned out by the general cacophony of life. This is something like that, unfamiliar as it is, and nothing to cause concern. 

As it persists, growing in volume, it becomes undeniable. Those are screams, of hundreds, maybe thousands of individuals. A chorus of despair and agony. It is too disturbing to contemplate and their first instinct is to retreat, to distance themselves from the sounds. To not hear and not bear witness. The voices are still far away and they inhabit a vast expanse. There are many places to go where they might not hear.  

But, they tell themselves, this is their home and whatever is happening beyond the horizon they should remain. It is theirs, after all. They wonder if they should investigate, to see what is the cause of such suffering, but they tell themselves it is not their affair. There are enough problems here without taking on others and anyway, matters will resolve themselves eventually. But they know it is their own fear that stays their hands. 

The screams grow louder and louder. There is no denying they are getting closer. A few decide they can no longer stand aside and live with themselves. They head toward the horizon. Those who stay argue amongst themselves about what they should do. Nothing is resolved and the screams grow louder, invading every moment of every day.  

Two things become apparent. What at a distance sounded like pain and suffering now sounds more like rage and joy. Untold multitudes baying for blood. And as those who left to investigate fail to return and the voices grow ever louder, there can be no denying whose blood they are calling for.