Noir
The lighthouse orb carousels over the rocks, the ocean, the beach.
It rolls through the window and casts shadows on the parlor floor, the wall, the ceiling. Embers glow in the fireplace, twinkling with the swiveling ray.
The heavy pendulum clock ticks against the wall.
He sits in the armchair, still and silent.
Tick, tick, tick.
A merry-go-round, the beacon.
Light, then shadow on the gaze of steel.
Embers crackle; the sputter of an automobile rolling up the drive.
Tick, tock.
The key turns in the door; the creaking mingles with the ticking clock.
And all the while the light goes around and around in the gloom.
Moonless, starless sky.
The lighthouse sphere swirls on the placid ocean, the water like tar. Licorice fingers of lichen on the rocks. Pebbles roll with the waves upon the beach.
Tick, tock.
A footstep in the hall. The soft tap of stiletto heels as weight rolls to the ball of the foot.
Click, tap. Click, tap.
Keys shuffle and tinkle in the hand. She stifles them.
The ray shimmers through the sidelights and transom window and onto the walls.
Checkered shadows.
Dark house, but for the revolving beam.
She creeps by the parlor; her silhouette large upon the wall.
She pauses, but why?
A peek and she sees the armchair by the fire.
The embers glow red.
The light beam wheels through the room; he has turned the chair around, she notices.
His scowl, raw. It freezes her.
The eyes glow red.
White lightning thunders through the dusky night.
A leaden thud; the crimson trickle on the spotless tile.
The acrid stench of gunpowder.
Bitter the taste of revenge, but sweet the satisfaction.
Black and white the room, red the dying fire.
