Resigned

Night falls and brings with it the cold certainty of whispers and terrors in the darkness
Until the sun rises in the morn you are under the thumb of those who control the dark & its inhabitants
You see & hear the sounds & sights you have feared your entire life
A crash! breaking glass tinkles as it spins & slides along the floor
Your heart pounds.
A shadow slinks past the window; illuminated by the moonlight
You can hear your breath coming in short gasps
worse yet, you hear breathing that is not yours
and..it sounds quite..calm.
measured.
hissing slowly from behind you, and to the left - the direction from which you just came
You want to turn to look
See the face of evil
But you are paralyzed by fear; feet firmly planted on the carpet
A creak..
A tick..
Time no longer exists. It races on...oblivious
The earth turns while you wait, straining to hear another clue
Who waits in the murky light filtering in the window?
You dare not breathe. Move. Turn.
A whisper sends your flesh crawling, paralyzing you further
"Will you join?" it asks
Too scared to answer, you pretend it's just... your imagination
You hear it move, a shifting weight
"Will you join??" it hisses
You draw a breath.....
Your head drops in resignation, shoulders slump forward
The weight of the entire human race upon them
"I can't"
And you know it's over.