Encounters Read Online Free Page B

they opened. Helen gave him a perplexed smile when she saw him come in, but laughed when he explained. She was still laughing as she led him to the break room and poured him a cup of coffee. He thanked her and shuffled over to the magazine section and gingerly lowered himself into a chair to read the paper.
    Around noon Helen startled him by touching his shoulder and he realized that he ’d drifted off while reading. He glanced around and saw several half concealed smiles on faces. He rose from the chair blinking and rubbing his eyes.
    “I guess I fell asleep. Sign of getting old I suppose.”
    “Happens to the best of us. Old man” she added with a smile. “How about I buy you lunch?”
    “That’s the best offer I’ve had all day. I’ll fly if you buy.”
    She giggled and followed him out to his car. He turned the key and the car came to life and with it came the radio. For a moment country flowed from the speakers but it was replaced by screeching static; and then they heard a voice.
    “Help Me!”
    Tommy was frantically trying to turn the volume down from the deafening level it was at but the knob had no effect.
    “Oh my God, that’s Stephen’s voice” Helen cried out.
    “It hurts! Help me! Make it stop!”
    Suddenly the radio and the car died. Tommy tried to crank it back but it wouldn’t start.
    “Come on. Crank damn you.”
    On the third attempt the engine roared to life and the radio was back to playing country music. He glanced over to see Helen taking in quick breaths, hand on her chest. Her eyes were staring straight ahead and he had to snap his fingers in front of her face to get her attention. She met his eyes but it took her a minute to speak.
    “What was that?”
    “I don’t know” he replied. “That was even stronger than through the ham radio at home.”
    “I don’t think I’m hungry anymore.”
    “Honestly I don’t think I am either.”
    She started to respond but instead leaned over quickly and kissed him on the cheek. Grabbing her purse she jumped out of the car. She left the door open and in the rearview mirror he could see her covering her mouth as she walked briskly back inside. He turned the radio off altogether before leaning over to close the door. The silence seemed much preferable on the way home.
    Day 5: Sunday
    He spent Sunday in doors hiding from the heat. He briefly debated trying out the Methodist church down the road from his house but decided against it. By that evening he was curled up in his favorite chair reading a book.
    The thunder cracked close enough to make the windows of his house rattle. He sat up in the recliner spilling a glass of sweet tea in his lap. He set the dripping glass on the end table beside and and stood up wiping at his pants.
    “Damn.”
    He swore and walked to the kitchen for a towel. Just as he opened a drawer to grab one the power went out.
    “Damn. Where did I out those candles?”
    He walked around the dark kitchen, with only a few bumps and bruises, opening drawers digging for candles and matches. Finally he found what he was looking for.
    “Let there be light” he said as he struck a match. The match lit and washed the room instantly in pale yellow light. He lifted a candle to light it and jumped back. In the doorway of the kitchen was a figure.
    “Stephen?”
    There in the doorway was Stephen. His arm was outstretched towards Tommy. His lips were moving but no sound was coming out. Tommy was frozen in place until the match reached his fingertips.
    “Ouch” he cried out while flicking his hand in pain. He quickly struck another match but the light revealed an empty kitchen.
    “Stephen? Stephen! Where are you?”
    He quickly walked through the kitchen back into the living room but there was no one there. The thunder boomed again. It sounded like the hammer of a very angry god. Then he heard the rain begin coming down. He lit his candles and used them to find his storm lanterns. He spent awhile staring out the back window