When Lightening Strikes by Mary Lane
Do you believe in Gods? Yeah, I didn’t think so. I didn’t either. Not until one showed up to my friend’s college party my sophomore year at State.
The music blared loudly all around the room. The sound irritated me, so I stood in the corner furthest from any speakers with my drink in hand. I took a sip and surveyed the room.
My best friend Derek was dancing with his boyfriend, occasionally casting a glance at my corner, beckoning me to join in. I gave him a meek smile and a thumbs up in response, signaling I would in fact, not be joining in. Derek and I had met in a Gen-ed cooking class last year and became fast friends. We bonded over being the worst students, burning many a crepe and I do recall a certain incident that involved a salt/sugar mix-up. He was much more out-going than I was but living with him had been the best living situation I’d had to date. We would hang out in the living room together, passing joints back and forth and playing Mario Kart when neither of us had anything to do, but for the most part Derek was clean for a boy and left me alone.
I craned my neck to see the crowd before me a little better. I recognized no one since this was an event Derek invited me to and his social circle included every history major at our school due to his academic affiliations (Yeah, History Frats are a thing, I guess?) and my circle was consistent of me, my switch, and my bed. I took another swig of my drink, some God-awful pink lemonade vodka mixed with an off-brand Sprite. I gagged instinctively.
My eyes wandered to the exits as I planned my escape. I finished my drink and made my way through the dancing crowd, refraining from covering my ears as I neared the biggest of the subs. Just as I meant to duck out of the living room, into the safety of the well-lit kitchen, a figure emerged from the same doorway.
The kitchen cast a shadow over his face, obscuring his features. He was tall and bathed in the warm light of the nearby room. He halted as we met and slowly took a step backward.
In the light, I could see his hair was honey-colored with curls that fell messily around his strong jaw. His eyes were a grey-blue color that I imagined looked brighter in natural sunlight. He wore a white t-shirt and black jeans and I’d never seen anyone who looked so out of place, yet perfectly fit in.
His lips transformed into a smile that spread to his whole face. We were still only a few feet apart and he reached out his hand. I grabbed it without thinking and he pulled me towards him swiftly. The music was still blaring in the other room, so he leaned in and shouted, “Hey! You look as lost as I feel.”
I leaned in closer to his ear and shouted back, “I’m headed outside, wanna come?”
The boy smiled again and nodded enthusiastically. He followed as I walked out of the door that led to the backyard. I checked to see if there was anyone in the kitchen who might see me walking outside alone with this complete stranger, but there was no one there. I thought I’d just have a cigarette, grab Derek and ask him to drive me back to our apartment that was a measly 4 minutes away. He could come back if he wanted to. That was the plan, or so I thought.
Outside was cooler than I’d expected. It was early fall and the leaves hadn’t starting changing yet but the nights were getting cold. I loved the smell of the seasons changing and I breathed in deeply before reaching into my pockets for a cigarette and lighter.
“Can I have one?” He asked, motioning toward my pack of Marlboro Black 100s.
“Hope ya like Menthol,” I said as I handed him one gently. It was dark and I could no longer make out his expression.
He chuckled and leaned into the lighter as I lit it for him. The flame illuminated his chiseled features again and I felt myself blush. We had said no more than ten words to one another, but I felt oddly drawn to him. I remember thinking to myself, okay so what if he was cute? Men have proven to me more often than not how useless they really are.
He interrupted my thoughts, “Well, what’s your name? I’m Zee,” He drew a long drag of the cigarette.
“It’s Dahlia. I’m here with my roommate Derek, I don’t know if you, um, know him,” I responded flustered, “but I don’t know anyone else here, hence” I raised my cigarette into the air slightly. The trees swayed in the cool breeze and the music was barely audible from out here. The sky above was cloudy, leaving the moon nothing but a thin crescent of light peering through the fog.
“Dahlia, that’s pretty, it’s a flower, right?” He continued,
I explained how my mom had indeed named me after the flower she saw on the hike she was on with my dad when he proposed to her. We talked for a while about our families and how he was a senior finishing his history degree with an emphasis in Greek Mythology. “I don’t know anyone here though. This isn’t really my kind of thing.”
“Yeah, no, me neither. I’m more into like, watching movies and hanging out with my kid sister.” I laughed, thinking about Fiona. I’m sure she was in bed by now, but I would have half a dozen missed texts and FaceTimes from my mom’s phone that Fiona somehow managed to snag from her while she was doing laundry or cooking dinner. “She’s only five and already she’s super smart. She can read and write and she wants to play soccer like I did when she’s older. She wants to be just like me, but I can tell she’s going to be someone even better. All I ever wanted was a little sister growing up, so it kinda sucks being at school away from her.” I smiled into the dark, missing her just enough to feel the twinge of pain in my heart. “I don’t know why I’m rambling, maybe those drinks weren’t as watered down as I assumed.” I was suddenly self-conscious about how much I was talking so I brought my cigarette back up to my mouth.
“I have big family, so I can imagine how nice it was to finally have someone else around, I think it’s cool that you and your sister are close despite the age gap. My relationship with my family has always been kind of strange, so getting away from them for a while is somewhat.. necessary for the good our of relationship,” His vulnerability reassured me that I didn’t need to be embarrassed, but before I could ask him what he meant by ‘strange’, he said something else, “Would you want to go see a movie right now?”
I furrowed my eyebrows, “What?” I asked, making sure I heard him correctly.
“Well, you said the other thing you like doing is watching movies and I happen to love movies. Would you want to go see a movie with me?” I could hear the smile in his words and I found myself smiling back.
“Yeah, that sounds fun,” I responded, putting the butt of my cigarette out on the bottom of my boot. “We might have limited options though, seeing as it’s already 11:00.”
“Oh, I didn’t say we were going to see a good movie,” I thought I saw Zee hold his hand out though it was too dark to tell for sure without the burning end of the American Spirits lighting the night anymore, “If you want me to drive, I can help you get to my car,” His fingertips brushed mine and I grabbed onto it as support while he guided me around the side of the house towards the parking lot full of vehicles. I choked down the butterflies in my I let my mind wander mentally here, debating whether I should get in his car or if I needed to come up with an excuse now. I thought about Derek and remembered that I had my phone and could text him what was the plan was. I wasn’t getting any bad vibes from this guy yet and I was looking for an excuse to leave the party anyways.
When we got to the lit parking lot, Zee released my hand and continued walking. “So, if we’re not going to see a good movie, then what did you have in mind?”
“Let’s find out,” He flashed me another grin and ducked into his low black car. I could hardly hear the radio on the way to the nearest movie theater because we talked about the latest movies we’d seen. I was strangely comfortable around him, like I had known him much longer than 20 minutes.
“Do you have a boyfriend, or a girlfriend?” He asked, turning right into the parking lot.
I froze and contemplated my options. If I lied and said yes it might keep him from getting creepy on me, but then he might also decide to abandon me here at this theater miles from my own car. If I told him the truth, which was yes, I ran the risk of being stuck here with a creepy guy. I thought of the fully charged phone in my pocket and decided to take my chances.
“No, I haven’t met anyone at this college worth knowing so far. Apart from my roommate, and he’s gay.”
“That sounds like a challenge to me,” He climbed out of the car and slammed the door, running around the other side to grab mine. “I am very much worth knowing.”
I smiled again as I let him help me out of the car and we walked toward the movie theater. Half of the lights were out on the sign and the indoors appear just as bleak, however as if they were motion sensor, all of lights on the marquis flickered on. I knew it had to have been a coincidence, but it felt magical. Inside, the theater was circular with high ceilings and bar in the center. Usually, this place was full of people, chattering about which movies they were seeing, or just saw, and crunching on overpriced snacks. Now, the theater was empty, except for us and the teenagers behind the counter. Zee didn’t seem to notice the lights get bright all of a sudden and approached the ticket booth while my eyes followed the carousel, moving slowly without any patrons - glittering light reflecting off the shiny bright surfaces all around it.
He paid for us to see Wreck It Ralph 2 which was hilarious both intentionally and unintentionally and being the only two in the theater, we laughed through the entire movie and left the theater clutching our sides. I reached into my pocket for my phone and checked the time, 1:24. The air outside was colder now and it was still cloudy overhead. “What do you want to do next?” I asked as we walked back to his car.
“Next?” He responded.
“Oh I mean, well, If you want to bring me back to the party or something. Or back to my a-“
He interrupted me, “I’m starting to think you like hanging out with me.” He opened the car door for me again and I slid down into the seat.
“Are you hungry?” He asked, turning the car on. I shivered in my thin long sleeve. He noticed and reached into the backseat and pulled out a sweater. It was dark red and grey, the colors of the University we went to. I hesitated at first, but he insisted and I slipped it over my head as he exited the parking lot. I uncovered my eyes and got a glimpse of the theater in the side mirror. Half of the letters were out again.
We pull into the drive-thru and Zee ordered onion rings, French fries, two Whoppers, and a large chocolate shake for both of us. He raised an eyebrow at me when the voice crackled through asking if there was anything else we wanted. Clear disdain was in her voice and I’m sure it had all to do with people coming through her Burger King at 2AM ordering a shake. I shook my head, not wanting to add to the guilty I already felt about admitting to Zee that I wanted ice cream. How did I know he’d take me seriously? I was excited for the milkshake regardless and I realized I had no idea what was going on back at the party or if there even was a party anymore. I figured Derek probably already made his way back to our apartment and there would be a couple of joints waiting for me on the coffee table when I returned.
We kept driving out of town a little bit up the nearby hills until we reached a small patch of land, or a park of some kind. I had no idea how he could’ve known this was here unless he lived around here, but it was a hidden gem. There were no houses or no cars around and you could see the whole city from up there. The lights were twinkling and the trees around us shielded us from the bitter wind.
Sitting on the hood of the car, I dipped my French fry deep into the ketchup I squirted onto the wrapper of the burger I was eating. “It’s so beautiful up here, how did you find it?” I asked, taking a bite.
“I just stumbled upon it one day when I was driving. I come here to relax, be alone.” He was staring at the city below and I could see something deeper in his eyes. The desire to be a part of something. To understand. I knew that feeling well.
I took a picture of the city and texted it to my mom, asking her to show it to Fiona when she woke up in the morning because I knew she’d think it was cool. “It’s too bad the sky is so cloudy tonight; this would be a great place to look at the stars, too.”
“It really is. It’s actually the best for that.” We looked up at the foggy sky together and Zee sighed and shifted to face me. We stayed like that for a moment, staring at each other in the dim forest. Then, behind his face I could see the sky clear just enough to reveal the moon and a cluster of nearby constellations. I covered my mouth in awe and leaned to the right to see the stars better.
“I can’t believe it!” It looked surreal, like every other part of the sky was out of focus but for the moon and the surrounding stars. When I finally returned his gaze, he looked nervous.
“Can I kiss you?” He said in the small space between us.
“Only if you can tell me which constellations those are, oh great Greek Mythology master,” I half-joked, now feeling nervous myself.
Without looking behind him, he began “Orion, Cassiopea, Urs-“
Then, I interrupted him by closing the gap between our lips.
Something moving in the trees nearby scared me and I pulled away. Zee’s demeanor changed and he started looking for his keys. “Ready to go home yet? I don’t know about you, but I’m getting tired,” He covered his mouth to yawn.
I couldn’t tell if the kiss was what had caused him to suddenly want to leave, but I was getting tired. I yawned instinctively and nodded.
He let me play music as I directed him to my apartment. Once we reached the complex, I got out and walked to the other side of the car. He looked at me through the rolled down window, and I don’t know what gave me the courage to do it, but I asked, “Can I see you again?”
He was warm all night, but I knew something happened on the hill. “I hope so,” He gave a small smile and rolled his window up.
I smiled back and made sure I had my keys, phone, and wallet. He was already down the block when I looked down at his sweatshirt still on me. I walked up the steps to my door and shuffled around with my keys to get the correct one. When I turned around, I was startled again. There was a woman, standing in the street. In the dim light of the nearby streetlamp, I fought to make out her features. She was about my age, maybe a little older and her face revealed no expression. She had a strong jaw and blonde curls that fell out of the hood of the black cape she wore. She looked so striking but so familiar, exactly as Zee had appeared to me hours ago. I rubbed my eyes, making sure she was really there when she started heading for me - quickly. I swiveled back to my doorknob, panicking to open the door. I was not interested in what Creepy-Cape-Lady-Standing-Under-My-Streetlamp had to say. I didn’t have cash on me to give her and it was already nearing 3am. My hands shook as I fought to get the key into the key hole when she was already there.
This close, I saw she was beautiful with skin as fair as milk. From far away, I couldn’t tell her countenance, but now her blank stare also betrayed something else: pure rage.
She lifted her hand and blew a fine dust into the small area of the porch stoop. Thankfully, my door gave in at the same time and I fell backward into my apartment, choking on the powder in the doorway. Instinct took over and I slammed the door shut and locked it before the woman outside could make another move.
Racing to the bathroom to flush my eyes out. “What the fuck was that?” I said out loud. Who was that woman? She looked like I should’ve known who she was, yet I knew I didn’t.
I was still freaked out and I saw that Derek’s light was off in his room which either meant he was still gone or home and asleep. I debated on whether to call the police to make sure that woman wasn’t able to get into my apartment. Or going to the hospital to find out what that substance was she had. After a few minutes, I creeped into the kitchen and peered out the front window. The woman was nowhere to be seen. I considered calling Zee then the logical side of my brain convinced me I was overreacting. So, as most of us do, I let it go.
When I turned back around, I noticed something I hadn’t after first stumbling into the apartment. On the kitchen island were two huge plastic bags holding take-out containers. A feeling rose in the pit of my stomach and I suddenly felt famished. My mind became so clouded, like the sky outside, to the point where the hunger overtook everything. Any fear or worry I had moments ago about my strange encounter outside disappeared. I couldn’t remember the last time I ate, or what I ate. The more I thought the less I remembered, until all that was left was hunger. I rushed over to the containers and began opening them up. As if eating for the first time, I reached into the box and began tearing at the chicken wings. They were hot and delicious, the most satisfying thing I’d ever ate. No matter how much I swallowed, I knew my hunger was not even close to being satiated. Sauce dripped down my chin and stuck to my fingers like honey. I stood hunched over the counter until there was nothing left except bones and gristle.
I finish, my hunger finally subsiding when I licked the last one clean. I walked over to the bedroom door to check if Derek was home after all. I carefully opened the door and found a figure his gaming chair.
“Der..?” I start to question. Whatever is in his chair turned around to reveal a creature with one black, gaping hole for a face. In the dark of Derek’s room, I could just make out its two white, dead eyes lolled in the back of its head, loosely in its sockets. I backed away, step by step, when it stood up and began lunging at me. I hurled backwards, tripping over the shoes in his doorway. I lost my balance and fell onto the hardwood floor, pulling the game station down with me in an attempt to save myself. The creature was still coming towards me and I scrambled to distance myself from it.
It reached outward and I screamed loudly, hoping someone in a nearby apartment would hear. “Please! No!” I pleaded, scooting across the floor as it continued toward me. Its mouth was gripping spit and slime onto the floor in front of her and it made guttural sounds with its big open throat. Whatever it is fell on top of me and its eyes popped out of the sockets, dangling in front of my face. For a moment, all I can do is stare at the two lifeless eyes, swinging around attached only by a thin piece of viscera. I continued screaming and struggling beneath it. I looked to my left and saw the Nintendo laying on the floor, busted into tiny shards of glass. I reached my hand out and grabbed the station. Flailing my limbs, I got the leverage I needed to wrap the cord around its meaty neck. I pulled with all of the strength I had, causing the creature to choke and spit its secretions onto my face and chest. Holding tight, it reared back and attempted to free itself. The choking sounds and gasping eventually subsided and I let go of the cord. It lay on the living room floor lifeless. The last thing I noticed before running into my own room was that it was wearing human clothes.
Still gasping for air, I ran into my closet and yanked the light on, closing the door behind me. What the fuck was that thing? I wondered if it had already got Derek before I came home and I decided I needed to call the police in case it wasn’t dead at all. My mind started imagining it waking up and walking right into my room to finish me off. Before I could find my phone, my vision blurred and the closet light went out. The air around me changed and I could hear the sound of a distant woman’s laughing. When my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I realized I couldn’t move my legs, arms, or head more than a few inches because of the confines of the space I was in. I traced the flat wood of my confinement. I was somehow in a coffin.
I screamed and pleaded, “What is happening to me?” I began sobbing and my mind was clouded with everything that had happened. Was I already dead?
Chunk, a sound accompanied by the movement of the coffin lid above me indicated only one thing. The laughing was still audible as the shovels of dirt was packed on top of me. Panic setting the nails on my fingers give way and blood oozes down my hands as I dug at the top of the coffin. I screamed at the top of my lungs, “Help me! I’m still alive!” I dug harder, making barely visible indents in the hardwood above me.
Suddenly, the closet door opened and I collapsed into my own room. I looked over at the closet and saw the indents where my fingernails carved into the wood and my blood covered the door. In front of me was the woman from outside my apartment.
She slid her hood off her head, revealing her perfectly shaped features and a crown atop her head. “You’re lucky my husband didn’t get you pregnant yet, I don’t hold back in that case.” She spoke with voice that commanded listening. I didn’t understand yet and she looked down on me, “You see, your little boyfriend Zee is actually husband Zeus.” She paused, then elegantly gestured to herself, “and I am Hera.”
Zee? Zeus? The fog that had invaded my mind began to clear and memories flooded back. New, different memories than what I previously had. Bile rose in my throat as I crawled into the living room. Derek laid sprawled on the ground in the place of the monster I strangled. Derek’s blue eyes bugged out of his head and his face was permanently stuck in a look of horror. The cord from the game station was still wrapped tightly around his neck, purple and black bruising all around it. I looked down at my hands that were covered in blood, not only mine, but Derek’s.
I sobbed and looked around wildly. My stomach ached and I clawed at my wrists, hoping to wake up from this bad dream.
Hera entered the living room, “I do tire of my husband using you mortals to feel something. It really isn’t fair to you, if you think about it. He would’ve got away with it this time if he hadn’t wanted to impress you so badly by with his little clearing the sky trick, that gave me just enough time to spot you two,” She glided passed me, lifting her hood once more to cover her golden curls. She turned back to look at me in the eyes, “By the way, he plays that trick on all the girls.”
She continued toward the door, flipping the kitchen light on when she reached it, “How sweet of your little sister to pay you a surprise visit.” Hera began laughing manically as she exited and shut the door behind her. I looked at the table where just minutes before laid nothing more than chicken bones and hot sauce, now lay scattered pieces of my little sister, recognizable only by the purple bow that sat in the middle of the gore. Unlike Derek, her head was so badly mangled, chewed, that there was no expression left on her half-eaten face.
At the sight, I violently expelled the contents of my stomach until I couldn’t distinguish between my sister’s blood and my own coming out of my mouth. Afterwards, I sobbed until my body ached and I could no long feel anything. I don’t know how long I was on the floor, thinking about what I had done to deserve this. Eventually, I came to the worst conclusion of all. I hadn’t done anything to deserve this.
I was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. How unfortunate to be.
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