The Insomniac

When I close my eyes, and drift off to sleep; that's when he comes. 
Stalking the moonlit streets, dealing death to those that he takes a fancy to. 
The police believe that it's me who's doing it, but it's not. 
I would never do such horrific things as he does to those poor souls. 
I've done my best to keep him at bay. I haven't slept in a week, but I'm so goddamned tired! 
It would be so much easier to deal with, if I had just a little bit of sleep. 
God, forgive me. 
I'm just... 
Too... 
Tired... 
To...

Pandemic

It happened so quickly, no one was prepared; not even those that thought they were. 
First, they said, "Nothing to worry about. Go about your business." 
Then, they said, "Sure, it's bad, but it couldn't happen here, we have the infrastructure to handle it." 
But they didn't. 
Stores were ransacked, and emptied. People were attacked, and victimized whenever they ventured out. 
We were told, "Don't go outside, or you'll be shot." 
Airborne disease, and martial law; that was the 'new normal'. 
My kids are hungry; I'll risk the bullet, and the contagion. 
What? Oh, it's nothing; just a little cough.

House-Sitting

House-sitting had always been a way for Jack to make extra money, and he'd never regretted that.
Until tonight.
The house was legendary in the neighborhood for its checkered past; some said it was haunted.
Jack was starting to believe it.
He'd been here a few hours, and there'd been plenty of bumps and creaks; those he could handle.
The bawling of an infant coming from upstairs; that's what'd unnerved him.
The phantom wail stopped after a few minutes, which should have relieved him.
And it would've, if it hadn't been replaced by the sound of a rocking chair.