StoryVerse〔26〕

Take a Sip

With the bottle of whiskey in your hand, you fumble with the cork. With a pop, the cork falls to the floor at the feet of the dark figure standing before you.

“Don’t just stand there. Fill some glasses and have a seat.” The voice is that of an old woman.

She ignites a cigarette lighter. The tiny flame illuminates the coarse features of her face. Her eyes! They are dark and silver-gray, and for a moment your waning terror surges again!

Relax. She’s a harmless, old, blind woman.

There are two glasses on the kitchen table, and you fill each.

Raising one to your lips, you take a sip and let the aged, amber fluid warm you.

As the old woman seats herself at the small table, you notice the blood on her feet.

Do you finish the bottle of whiskey or help to clean the cuts on the old woman’s feet?

〔⍺〕〔go back〕〔finish the whiskey〕〔clean the old woman’s feet〕

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David Sheley is the author of The Artifact, a collection of science fiction short stories, each with original narration.