I saw a strange man
beckoning
at the end
of a long and narrow street.
Under the flickering
streetlight
in the witching
hour:
a tall, thin
silhouette—
looming and
desolate.
As I approached, he emerged—
A pinstriped, three-piece suit,
tailored perfectly.
Jet black hair swept to the side,
ink black, thick and tarry.
And a smile.
Under the flickering light,
I felt his gaze,
his lips parting,
revealing
something uncanny.
Pearly white squares, perfect and iridescent—
but far too many.
Teeth,
spilling from his mouth.
Ethereal stones
shimmering against the light.
The hum of the streetlight
grew louder,
the flickering
faster.
My heartbeat
banging
against my chest,
a rabid animal
against its cage.
My heartbeat
banging
and the flicker
of the light—
a symphony
to score
my fear.
The man twisted,
hunching over me,
forcing us
face to face
and he smiled,
ear to ear,
a shit-eating grin.
My skin crawled,
his smile stretched wider.
Teeth
shimmering against the light,
but far too many.
Teeth,
shifting,
curving,
pointing,
to a central
place.
Lengthening,
stretching,
into fine needles.
Their color faded,
Once
white and pure,
now
dun yellow.
Snaggled.
Rotten.
Maggoty.
The hum of the streetlight
grew louder,
the flickering
faster.
My heartbeat
in my ears now,
blood pounding,
racing
the flicker of light.
Then,
one loud hum,
a flash of light,
the street goes dark.
My heartbeat.
And as quick as it went
out,
the light came back
on.
And he was gone.
I still hear
his breathing.
I still see
his smile,
still feel
his cold
breath
on my dry eyes.
