Haven 12: Invitations

Qomrades

[Oral Record of Haven Urban Legend #51: Eyes]

My mama told me this one and if you knew her you'd understand. She once lectured me about my nonsense for avoiding cracks 'cause I figured why risk breaking her back even if the other kids were lying to me?

Anyway, I remember it was getting colder out because I was wearing my ratty hoodie she kept begging me to throw out. I was riding my bike against the sun and the sun whooped my ass. No contest, I was halfway home by the time the streetlights came on.

I saw them in the bushes first. A pair of yellow eyes straight out of a cartoon, shining in the dark. Except it's not so funny when it's in real life. I rode harder and I saw four in the tree in front of me, buried deep in the shadows, yellow like someone had drawn them there.

I swear to God above, the house across the street hadn't lit up yet, guess the owners weren't home, because their whole yard was staring at me. I dropped my key and pounded on the door and my ma scooped me up in a rush, leaving my bike outside and shutting the door behind me.

I was panting and crying and asking if she saw 'em and she told me no, but held me like I might fade away at any moment. When I stopped crying I talked and she listened and she got this real serious look on her face, the kind she got when I said something so bad she couldn't ignore it.

"Adrian, you need to get home before dark." I asked why, she replied, "Because they're looking for you. They'll stop if they can't find you long enough, it's only at night that they watch." I asked what would happen if they found me and she shook her head slowly, staring directly into my eyes. "Don't let them. Promise me." I promised.

I didn't see the night time for months. I never saw them again, but even twenty years later I watch the dark, praying I'll never make eye contact.

[File Ends]

This week on Haven Aurelia gives the Running Grounds a run for their money, and everyone gets an invitation

Hosted by Vince (@Windjammah)

Featuring Jack (@toyourstations and itch.io) as Max, Rowan (@ceardannan and @pom_and_fiber) as Aurelia, Julianna ([not found]) as Wren, and Jenny (@hereticpride) as Orion

Produced by Vince

You can find the show (@Qomrades) on Twitter or at Qomrades.com

Music composed by Peter Silk (@kestrelpi) with Hannah Lever (@_anewlow) on Trombone

Text by Vince

Cover Art by Hannah Culbert, freelance illustrator, on social media @ThistleBeetle ! They are also a cast member and product designer for the podcast Dames and Dragons, @dragondames on Twitter!

You can find Vince and Jack’s other podcast at aapapappod

You can find the Let’s Plays Vince makes at TheHereticRoad.com