Shiver

    There's a wall of dark in the woods around you.  The flashlight cuts a tunnel through the pitch 'til you can see all the trees around.  They act as support beams, holding up the sky so the stars don't come crashing down.  You ask yourself when you first noticed the noise.  Not when it started but how long you've been standing there while the low droning carried itself closer.  It's loud but it barely sounds above a mumble.
    Since when was the dog barking?  You're afraid to turn your back on what's coming but what if you already have?  Your whole body turns, your feet still glued to the dead pine needles thrust in the grass, to see your dog shaking and yelping and pissing on the porch in the dim light of the outdoor lamp.  It's too late.  You made your decision and turned your back to the dark.  You can see the breath fog your vision in front of you, but you've been holding your breath for just how long?  The mist tickles the back of your neck and the air smells of dirt freshly dug.
    Your legs spring forward and your heart beats so loud nothing else can be heard.  Just losing senses one-by-one.  In one arm you have the dog, sopping-wet, and you dropped the flashlight to slam the door behind you in the other.  Your back is to the door, the dog has run off, and you're sitting there on the floor 'cause your legs won't stop shaking long enough to stand.  The dropped flashlight on the other side of the door shines in the crack underneath and lights your shadow against the living room wall.  In a blink the shadow fades into everything else.  The flashlight turned off.  The droning sound has stopped.  The air is so still and quiet that nothing chirps.  Nothing speaks.  Not even the trees.  Not even the dog.
    The kitchen light is still beaming around the corner.  The porch light outside hints around the edges of the house and you're stuck darting your eyes between the doorway to the kitchen and the windows looking for shadows.  Did you lock the doors and windows out of old superstition or did you tell yourself you were truly alone in these woods and throw caution to the wind?  The low hum was loud enough to rumble your eardrums but nothing in the house shakes.
    Just you.