Beyond the Door
Flash Fiction
The door looms over me. A metal door sitting at the end of my hall. I never once saw it in all the years I lived in this house. My heart races in my chest. Rain beats against the other side, washing out any other sound.
I look down at the threshold. Droplets puddle together and leak into the hallway. I reach for the silver knob. My hand trembles. My chest feels heavy.
The knob turns without resistance. A squeal pierces through the rain. The door loosens from the frame. I freeze for a second. Thunder erupts from the other side. They are reminiscent of starving lions fighting for the last taste of flesh.
I could turn the knob back and walk away. My curiosity plays tug of war with my fear. Curiosity wins. I push the door open, but a gust of wind rips the knob from my hand. The pools of droplets slip under my shoes. Goosebumps rise across my skin.
Drops of rain splatter against my face. The hardwood of my hallway stops at the threshold of the door. On the other side is a large cliff-side. My eyes stretch open. Beyond the cliff is a vast landscape of mountains surrounding an empty valley. No life in sight.
Storm clouds stretch over the land far beyond the horizon. Darkness blankets the land. Thunder roars again, but no lighting takes shape in the sky. It is a wasteland void of any light. I shiver as the rain drips from my clothes and puddles under me.
Something within the valley catches my attention. Something moving in the darkness. I set one foot over the threshold onto the slickrock. Thunder bellows and another gust of wind slams into me. The darkness bubbles. Roars of thunder persist.
The shadows rise from the valley. I stagger back inside and stare up at the shadows rising before my eyes. Two spheres of fire flicker from within. A shapeless entity of pure darkness looms over the mountains. I reach my arm through the doorway and grab the metal knob.
A gust of wind pushes against the door like ten men holding it open. The darkness inches across the valley toward me. I grit my teeth and pull on the knob, but the continuous wind holds it open. Thunder roars again, sending a shiver up my spine. I plant a foot on the frame of the doorway and pull harder.
Pressure swells in my skull. The wind stops and the door slams. I lose my balance and fall back. A heavy blow to my back knocks the wind out of me. I lay on the floor, wheezing.
The pain throbs in my back and the pressure pounds against my skull. Silence blankets the hall as I take a breath. No sounds of rain. No sounds of thunder. I open my eyes, but I couldn’t move my arms or legs. The pain vibrates through my entire body.
“Dad, are you okay?”
My daughter’s voice splits through the silence.
“Dad!”
I look over and see the wall at the end of the hall with the picture of my late wife. No door. Something warm puddles under my head. Dark splotches cloud my vision. Someone drops down and grabs my hand. It must be my daughter.
“Eric! Call 9-1-1!”
Killer Klowns from Outer Space
Movie Review #18
Killer Klowns from Outer Space is a 1988 film about aliens who invade a small town. Written by Charles, Edward, and Stephen Chiodo and directed by Stephen Chiodo, this film is a phenomenal blend of sci-fi, comedy, and horror. An obvious low budget film executes a fun entertaining story with creative kills, great practical effects, and antagonists that landed a spot on my top five list of favorite aliens from horror movies. If you want a weird film that can make you both laugh and shudder in fear Killer Klowns from Outer Space is for you.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Glen Picotte's Mind to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.