RAGE. Ravening, Angry, Growing, Energy. That's what's coursing thru' my veins tonight. RAGE at him. RAGE at me. RAGE at the world. Any little thing sets me off. Waiting for the famed, clichéd last straw. What will happen when it comes?
It's been festering all day. Like a pot of water getting ready to boil over. Maybe if I go for a walk it will help. I step outside. Night has settled like a dark blanked over the town. The starless sky is as black as my mood. I should be able to blend in perfectly with the night.
I head down the darkened street. Not paying attention to anything around me. Not caring. I am so lost in my own black hole that I do not hear the footsteps that fall in time with mine behind me.
Every step I took seemed to stoke the fire instead of extinguish it. I don't know where the RAGE came from. It seemed to come from deep inside. I guess replaying our argument over and over in my mind was fuel for the fire too. I needed a distraction. I picked up my pace a little. Glad that I was wearing my tennis shoes instead of my boots.
All of a sudden, my virtual black hole became real. Not only did the night's natural light disappear, so did all sound. No traffic, no people, no crickets. Nothing. The sights, sounds and even smells of the night were just gone. Like the life had been sucked right out of the night. I stopped dead in my tracks. I turned around, but I couldn't see my hand in front of my face.
I wasn't scared. I had too much angry energy burning in me. Maybe I should have been. Looking back, I guess I should have been. At least cautious. I was neither. I just stood there. I was puzzled.
"Great. This is all I need. What the hell is going on?!" I was actually starting to get even more pissed off if that was possible. I thought I heard a chuckle. Then I was sure I heard an evil laugh.
"Who's there?!" I yelled. I was really pissed. "Show yourself! Stop being a coward!" Of course, I might as well have saved my breath. There was no answer save more laughter.
Just as I was about to let out a very frustrated scream, everything came rushing back. There was almost a literal whoosh-pop, as everything came back. Smells, sounds. Light. There was a n unnatural light to the night now. I don't know where it came from. There were still no stars or moon in the sky. No street lights. I was confused, but still pissed so I continued on.
I had only taken about 10 steps when I heard them. My sneakers were quiet on the sidewalk. Barely a whisper of noise, but I heard footsteps. I turned around quickly. No one was there of course. Someone was messing with me. I turned around determined to keep going. I had to get rid of this anger. I stomped off. I was at my wit's end. I didn't know what to do.
"I can help you with that," said a low masculine voice from behind me.
I whipped around to yell at him only to find myself looking into a pair of cobalt eyes. The yell never made it past my lips. In fact, it died in my throat.
"I can feel all the energy you're producing. Very angry. I can help you get rid of that anger."
"And just what do you think you know about my anger?!" I yelled at him.
"I can feel it. It's coming off you in waves. Standing this close to you, I feel like a man who's been caught in a riptide and is drowning. I f I feel that way, you must be sinking."
All I could do was stare at him. Who the hell did he think he was to presume to know how I felt? I did NOT feel like I was sinking into some ocean! "I feel like I'm on fire! Burning from the inside out! I feel like I'm being consumed by an ever burning flame! Like I've been struck by lightning and been set afire!" As soon as I said this, lightning streaked across the sky.
The man laughed. "My mistake. Not a water elemental then. Unless you want to stand here all night flooding the sky with lightning, I suggest you come with me."
"What are you talking about? I didn't cause the lightning! Why would I go anywhere with you?! I don't even know you!" I let my anger come out at this man who was crazy enough to think I'd go anywhere with him!
"And why would I go anywhere with you?! I don't know you!"
"I told you. I can help you get rid of your anger. Come on."