MY HUSBAND SAID SOMETHING ABOUT A “DEBT” AND THEN THE POWER WENT OUT
My palms were slick against the worn wood of the dining table, waiting for him to speak after I asked about the missing money. He wouldn’t look at me, tracing an invisible line on the grain while the old grandfather clock in the hall ticked too loudly. The air felt thick and still, holding its breath with us.
“It’s complicated,” he finally mumbled, his voice tight, not meeting my eyes as he shifted in his seat. My stomach twisted; “complicated” was always code for something bad. I could feel the heat rising on my neck, pushing past patience.
“Complicated how? Did you lose it gambling again, Mark?” I snapped, the words sharp, cutting through the quiet. That’s when he finally looked up, and the look in his eyes was pure panic, something I hadn’t seen before.
He leaned in, his voice a low, urgent whisper barely above the refrigerator’s hum. “It’s not gambling this time. It’s… a debt. To people you don’t want to know about.” That’s when the house lights flickered once and died, plunging us into sudden darkness.
Then came a sharp rap at the back door I hadn’t locked yet.
👇 *Full story continued in the comments…*The sudden blackness was absolute, swallowing the kitchen whole. My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic bird trying to escape. The tapping on the back door echoed unnervingly in the silence. I reached out blindly, my hand finding Mark’s arm, gripping it tight. His hand was clammy beneath my touch.
“Who is it?” I whispered, my voice trembling.
He shook his head, his breath hot against my ear. “Don’t open the door. Don’t say anything.”
Another, more insistent rap sounded, followed by a muffled voice. “Mark? We know you’re in there. We just want to talk.”
My mind raced. Who were these people? What kind of debt could be so serious? Mark was a good man, a hard worker. How could he possibly be mixed up in something like this? Doubt gnawed at me, whispering insidious possibilities I didn’t want to entertain.
Suddenly, a beam of light sliced through the darkness, a flashlight illuminating Mark’s face, highlighting the fear etched there. He flinched, pulling away from my grip. “Go upstairs,” he breathed, his voice barely audible. “Hide.”
“No! I’m not leaving you,” I hissed, digging my heels in.
The door creaked open, a sliver of light widening to reveal two figures silhouetted against the dark night. They were large, imposing, their faces obscured by the shadows.
“Mark,” the first figure said, his voice a low growl. “We’ve been patient.”
Mark stepped forward, his shoulders slumping. “I… I need more time. I’m working on it.”
“Time’s up,” the second figure said, his voice cold and devoid of emotion.
I couldn’t stand it anymore. I stepped in front of Mark, my voice shaking but firm. “Leave him alone! Whatever he owes you, I’ll pay it back. Just tell me how much.”
The figures exchanged a look. The first one chuckled, a chilling sound that sent shivers down my spine. “This isn’t about money anymore, sweetheart. Mark made a promise he couldn’t keep.”
Then, the unthinkable happened. Mark shoved me aside, his face contorted with desperation. “Take it! Take it and leave us alone!” He pulled a small, intricately carved wooden box from his pocket and thrust it towards them.
The figures reached for the box, their fingers brushing against Mark’s. In that instant, a blinding flash of light erupted from the box, followed by a deafening roar. I threw my arms up to shield my eyes, screaming.
When I could see again, the figures were gone. The back door stood open, letting in the cool night air. Mark was kneeling on the floor, trembling, the empty space where the box had been glowing faintly.
“What was that?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
He looked up at me, his eyes filled with a mixture of fear and relief. “I don’t know,” he said, “But I think… I think we’re finally free.” The power flickered back on, bathing the kitchen in a warm, familiar light. The grandfather clock in the hall chimed the hour, a steady, reassuring sound. As I looked at Mark, the man I thought I knew, I realized our life had just changed forever. The “debt” was gone, but the questions lingered, hanging heavy in the air, and I knew, somehow, that we would never truly be the same.