Page 34 of I'll Be Waiting

“With weird buzzing noises?”

“The fact it’s weird is our downfall. It doesn’t sound scary or threatening. Just odd. So we open the door and he’s right there, waiting.”

“He? That’s a little sexist.”

Jin shakes his head and grabs the doorknob.

“On the count of three,” I say. Then I meet his eyes. “I gotchu, boo.”

“Fuck off.”

I bite back a laugh as he pulls the door oh-so-casually. It swings open and—

Bugs rush at us.

“Holy shit!” I say, lunging to grab the knob in his hands even as he shoves the door shut.

We both lean against it, as if we have indeed just slammed it on a serial killer. I lift my head toward the hall light, where a dozen bugs circle. Then I burst into a snickering, choking laugh.

“So… killer bugs?” I say.

“How do you know they’re not?”

“Because they’re attacking the light instead of us.”

That’s not exactly true. While the hall light drew them in, they aren’t buzzing around it. Some have landed on the wall, and I peer at one. It looks like a mosquito, with the narrow thorax and long legs, but it’s obviously not, since they aren’t bothering with us.

“Guesswe’regoing to be the killers tonight,” I say as I take a tissue from a nearby table. I smush the bug, and it almost disintegrates, leaving an oily smear. When I rub at the smear, it stays on the wallpaper.

“Well, shit,” I say. “This is going to take a little more finesse. What are they anyway?”

“Ugly.” He swats at one as it bumps into his face, as if it didn’t see him there. “Also stupid.”

“Hey, no insect shaming.” I shut off the hall light and pull back the curtain on the door window. Still nothing but darkness. “I think the light brought them in. We should be fine with it off. I’m going to open this again.”

“I’ll be right behind you.”

“Uh-huh.”

I carefully open the door. When it seems safe enough, I ease outside onto the porch. The buzzing is louder, but I still can’t see the yard. Everything is dark. I move toward the railing and—

“Holyshit,” I say. I step forward and grip the railing. “Are you seeing this?”

“If you mean a giant cloud of flying insects filling the entire freaking yard? Yes, I’m seeing that, and I’d really like to get back—” He swats a hand. “Fuck. They’re—” Another swat. “Fuck!”

Bugs float past. They’re flying, but it looks more like floating, that aimless, lazy flight as they bump into us. I open my mouth… and one sails in. I back up fast, spitting as we retreat into the house and quickly close the door. I may even turn the lock for good measure.

Jin bends over, coughing as he runs his hands through his hair. I pluck at my nightshirt and shake off bugs.

“What the hell are those?” he says. “You can’t tell me that’s normal.”

“Not being an entomologist, I cannot tell you anything about them. Except that, while creepy as hell, they don’t seem to be biting. I’ll contact the owner in the morning and ask.”

“You do realize you’re being unnaturally calm about an entire yard full of buzzing insects.”

I shrug. “Shania and I saw a black cloud over the lake under clear skies. I heard buzzing last night when no one else did. I’m just happy to have a logical explanation. It’s bugs. Lots and lots of bugs, whichdon’t seem to be biting or attacking. They just leave stains on the walls, so kill them carefully, keep the windows shut, and I’ll get answers in the morning.”

He exhales. “Fine. Yes. It’s creepy but probably not a sign of the apocalypse.Probably.” He looks at me. “I am not going back to bed, though. Not for a while anyway. Drink?”

---