The Scream
The scream pierced the quiet night. He heard it clearly
through his open window. He jumped up startled as it carried down the street.
He ran out onto his front lawn to see what commotion it caused. He looked up
and down the street, but saw nothing. A few lights came on in his neighbors
houses. The firefighter that lived two doors down came out to check out the
scream as well.
Together, they walked around the immediate area looking for
the source of the anguished cry. It had sounded like a young woman or girl.
They weren't sure just what kind of scream it was. It could have been one of
fear, or just some kids screwing around. A couple of dogs had started to
bark but they soon settled down. He stood with his neighbor waiting to hear if
the scream came again.
They talked for a while about things in general. He really
didn't know his neighbors all that well. He'd only lived in the neighborhood a
few months. The firefighter told him he had a teenage daughter that was
supposed to be home an hour ago. He was starting to worry and feared the scream
may have been hers
.
The firefighter seemed like a nice guy. They walked around
the block just to check out the neighborhood while he tried to reassure the
worried father that he was certain his daughter would turn up. Still, he was a
firefighter. Guys like him were hard-wired to respond to such cries. His
instincts told him his daughter was in trouble.
The firefighter was about to start checking people's back
yards when his daughter arrived in a friend's car. He watched amused as the
angry father gave the kid hell, all the while hugging her tightly. The scream
was forgotten after she came home safely.
The firefighter thanked his neighbor and went back into his
home. The lights that had come on started to go out. Curtains that had parted
closed as the people went back about their business.
No sound could be heard along the quiet suburban street. He
was grateful for the silence. He headed out back to his garage. He was getting
old and careless. These kind of things never happened to him when he was
younger. He was slipping.
He felt lucky that the girl locked in the box in his garage
only had the strength to let out one scream before she passed out. He would
make sure she didn't scream again.
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