THE VISITOR

FLASH FICTION

Hunger gnawed at Fera’s belly. As darkness fell It crept from it’s home in search of food. Hidden in the shadows, it sought opportunities. Fera made it's way down quiet streets, avoiding groups of people. Passing industrial buildings that had closed for the day, it came to a newly finished apartment block at the end of a cul de sac. Other incomplete buildings provided the ideal vantage point to observe comings and goings. Fera's natural camouflage allowed it to blend in with it's surroundings, and with supernatural patience it watched and waited. There! The third floor balcony at the rear of the property provided an enticing possibility. Fera quickly and easily scaled the brick fasciae, clambered onto the balcony and attempted to open the window but it was locked and there was no give. The window opening was minuscule, yet somehow Fera managed to insinuate itself into the gap between frame and wall. Once inside the apartment, Fera froze on high alert. A television blared from an adjacent room. Blue light danced across the ceiling. Risking exposure,  Fera crept along the wall towards the sound. Pausing, arms and legs akimbo. Fera slid into a slit between wall and cabinet. A door opened, and with that, white light seeped into it’s hiding place. Fera pressed itself flat against the rear of the cabinet. There were footsteps and a voice said, “What is it, Boy?” Peeking from its' hiding place, Fera saw a paunchy man in a robe that did little to cover his Buddha belly.

Entering the kitchen, the man turned on the ceiling light. Cupboard doors opened and closed, taps turned on and off. Plates clattered, cutlery clinked. Fridge and freezer doors opened and shut as food and drink were prepared. A second person joined the first and busied herself with cutting vegetables. Though they were nearby, it's hunger overrode all other considerations and while the people were occupied, Fera took the chance that it was safe to emerge from it’s hiding place and crept silently down the wall and along the floor. A small, furry creature came into view. Fera watched and waited. The creature didn’t bark like a dog. It had no discernible tail like a cat. Fera seized the opportunity for an appetiser, keeping the people in mind for main course and dessert. When the creature was near, Fera rose up on it’s back legs, fangs poised, but the creature squeaked, alerting the people in the kitchen. Fera tried to run, but the second person attacked with a knife screaming, “Ahhh! Gary! Gary! Quick! Kill it! Kill it!” The knife was ineffectual as it grazed Fera's carapace. The woman dropped the knife and attacked with a meat cleaver. With fearsome curved fangs, Fera lunged at the woman, but the man came at Fera with a cast iron frying pan. Greenish yellow goo oozed from the crack in the carapace.  The man bashed and bashed and bludgeoned and bludgeoned until Fera lay motionless on the dining room floor. The man and woman made noises of disgust over it’s remains. Boy, the guinea pig, sniffed it and ran into it's cage. 

The man and woman stood staring in disbelief, the man said, "What the hell is that?"

The woman replied, "Is it a spider or a man? It's neither and both. Errgh."

"Do you think there are any more of them?"

"Hope not."

The woman cleaned up the mess, gagging as she did so.  The man, with a great deal of effort, bagged Fera's remains and hefted the bag into the garbage shoot muttering, "Eight legged freak!"