Alarmed

Standing in the paddock alone. Listening the sticks of the bonfire collapse onto one another slowly, as the thumping gets louder and louder. Closer and closer. As I tilt my head further up, the statue kept revealing itself slowly, eventually to its own face, staring back down at me. The thumping continues to travel near us, until silence had approached the two motionless figures. But not motionless or silent for much longer.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

The time above the bonfire had announced it was up. What does it mean? What is it set up for? Why has it been sut up here in the first place?

As large, somber clouds began advancing towards the farm, thunder vibrated through the ground. The slight tremors caught us off guard as the land beneath our feet shook. It was about time I ran back to the house, anyway. Once I started trekking to the gate, the thumping had reoccurred. But it was different this time. Not much attention was paid towards the noises. Not before it progressed to get louder. I swiftly swung my head to glance behind me, before my face was wiped to pure horror. Smash!

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Time was up.

‘Honey, could you turn off the oven for me?’ my Mum projected.

‘Yep.’ I replied, as I rubbed my weary eyes. ‘I’ll do it in a second.’

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Stretching my legs as I placed my feet onto the wooden planks beneath me. But it felt different. It can’t be described in a way that will make me look insane, but things were just… different. The feeling of the floor. The way I heard my Mum’s voice. But there was one thing, just one, that was the same. It felt strange, but familiar. New, but forgotten.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

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