Eyes of the night

Eyes of the night – Vanessa Chan

  In the dead of the night, you awaken from your slumber. It is stuffy in your apartment. You crack open the window and your skin prickles from the bitter air that rushes to greet you. As you stare out into the open street down below, you notice a faint rumbling in the distance. You register a subtle drone. It is of a magnitude so small, it usually remains undetectable amidst the cacophony of vehicular activity. However, this night is different. Unlike other nights, where you have stood and relish the delectable shivers that emanate through your body, this night is still. The street below is cast in a peculiar mélange of unnatural shades of orange and white. You notice how the gentle glow of the moon filters through forbidding clouds. A figure of a man approaches. He crawled out from deep within shadows from the alley on the right side of the street. The hairs on your neck stand. Out of curiosity, you lift the window all the way up. You stick your head out the window. The figure stops. For a moment, you are frozen in place, just as the figure is. By now, your eyes have adjusted to the tenebrous night. You stare at the figure as it possibly stares back at you. Warning sirens go off in your head. You snap out of your trance. The figure resumes its movement. It worms its way around the concentric pools of synthetic light. It is hesitant.

  The droning begins to get louder. It echoes all around you. It tightly wraps around you. It is suffocating. The figure raises its head. Two embers glow brightly. The figure’s gaze is piercing. You cannot catch your breath. The raw chill of the night air turns stale. It creeps in through the window. It snakes around your neck. Your fingertips and toes curl. Your chest is tight. Your eyes start to tear. The embers burn fiercely. A searing heat emanates through your body. Beads of sweat appear on your skin. Your eyes start to sting. You become frozen.

  Time passes.

You are one with the night.

You are still.

   The figure recedes back into the cover of shadows. Your body is no longer your own. You will roam the streets with eyes of the night.

My momma always said

To never get out of bed

When all is still outside

You don’t know what

Is awaiting you

Beyond your bedroom window

Never look at lurking figures

They are tormented

Souls

Never disregard these words

They will keep you

Safe

Eyes of night

They burn so bright

You are see-through

And the night is watching

you