Shudder (Part 1)
She closed her eyes
And when she opened them,
An unfamiliar door stood ajar in front of her
As if taunting her to step foot into a different dimension
Or further into one she had already entered
And because the wind whipped her hair to the side
And the cold bit her cheeks as if it were something tangible; a needle, even,
She lifted her hand and opened the door
Then stepped inside the dilapidated building before glancing at what lay in front of her.
"Now."
There's a whisper.
She doesn't know who it is, but it sounds persistent
"Now."
It repeats.
The voice sounds as if it is the wind itself; flowing around her in every direction, but only for a short interval until it passes.
"Now."
This time she feels a tickle on her neck, but finds nothing to be there.
No feather, no shy finger.
"Now."
She looks for the source of the voice, as the door slams shut behind her.
She turns around abruptly, facing its paneled wood.
Before she can react, the door morphs into a window, and she sees civilians outside, kneeling.
All in the same position, they bow their heads and touch their hands together, as if in prayer.
They kneel in perfect rows as if the stars had some say in it, perhaps twenty people in each.
"Now."
His voice repeats.
She turns her back to the window again.
"Now."
In front of her is not a house, but an empty coliseum.
Her only company is a magnificent black panther, sprawled out in front of her.
It stares her down with piercing yellow eyes, and arises from its position.
It slowly paces towards her until they are face to face and can feel each others breath.
The two are still engaged in a tense stare, until the panther breaks the chilling silence.
"Now."