Ruby 4

Her tires crunching on the gravel-lined dirt road, Ruby pulled off of Hwy. 476 and onto Miller Fork Road. It had taken her longer than usual to get here. She had been driving slowly ever since she had almost hit that kid who was playing in the road a few miles back.

What was with that kid anyway? she thought to herself. He had acted like he was a little out of it…or maybe he was just slow. God knew that there were enough drug babies in this county. Of course, with a mother like his, maybe he was just afraid to do or say anything. Ruby was still seething at the encounter with the old cow.

The view of Gran’s old house in the distance made all of her troubles melt away though. In the low light of dusk, she could just barely make it out. But there was no mistaking that old white, two-story farmhouse for anything else but the home of her childhood. She had spent many years coming here…visiting Gran in the summers, helping gather eggs, hoeing in the garden, wading in the creek. She treasured those memories.

But it was darker than she had thought it would be. Flipping on her headlights, she glanced at her clock and was surprised to see that it was already 8:45. She had to be at work by 10! She wasn’t working a full shift tonight, but she had promised Hank, the owner, that she would come in and close. That meant that she would only have time for quick visit with Gran…maybe 45 minutes. At least she could check up on her and give her those groceries…and the moonshine.

She quickly pulled into the driveway and honked her horn three times. It was her special signal that she always did when she visited Gran…to let her know who she was. It was silly…she knew that Gran could just look out the window and see her car. But it was just a little tradition that they had started many years ago when Ruby had first learned to drive. Some things die hard.

Ruby grabbed the groceries and alcohol and started walking up the stone walkway to Gran’s side porch. She noticed again how dark the house looked. Usually Gran would have a few lights on. She wasn’t much for the dark. But Ruby noticed that there weren’t any lights burning in the house. She hoped that nothing was wrong. Concern made her steps quicken.

Walking up on the side porch, Ruby set the supplies down and knocked on the door. She couldn’t hear anyone rustling around inside the house. There wasn’t any television on or anything as far as she could hear. That wasn’t like Gran. She knocked again. Nothing.

“Gran?” she asked, trying the knob. It turned easily in her hand. The door swung open. Inside, the house was as dark as a tomb. The heat rushed out at her. Apparently, Gran hadn’t been using her air-conditioner either. Fear stabbed at her heart. She hoped that nothing was wrong.

“Gran?” she cried out, walking into the house. She tried the light switch but nothing happened. Taking her cigarette lighter out of her purse, she clicked on a little light. The hallway was empty. The flickering light didn’t really help things all that much as she made her way toward the kitchen. It was light…that was true. But the flame just made things seem more surreal…more eerie.

Just then, she heard something shuffling behind her. A hand fell on her shoulder. She let out a scream and dropped the lighter. The room went black.