Blackout.

'Beep! Beep!, A Ford Anglia came bumping down a ruddy road. Christine peeped out of the window. It was her father's car. Christine ran out of her house and opened the front gate. Holding her hands over her nose, she waved to her dad, as the car made its way in from the dusty street. Christines father, Raymond was the owner of the 'Sweet Ville' ranch and Christine's house was at close quarters to the ranch. 'Had a good day dad? Christine asked her dad as he stepped out of the car. 'Yeah dear it was awesome' 'What kept you dad.....it's almost eight and mum has worried herself sick' 'Oh! Oh! I thought I said to her I would be late, said Christine's dad as he hurried in, mumbling to himself, 'Oh dear! Its gonna be a storm inside'....Christine chuckled as she closed the door and followed her dad in. 'Hazel where are you? Dear?, Mr. Raymond called out uncertainly. Hazel was Christine's mum, she was chatting with one of the ranch workers in the inner room. 'Here I am, and what is the time that you come, Mr.Raymond', fumed Hazel....but as soon as she realized her neighbors presence she cut short and retorted, 'Well "honey, did you have anything for dinner?' 'Yep! Hazel, on the way back myself and Mr. Huxley had dinner at the 'Wild West' ......uh..well would you do me a favour?' 'What is it? snapped Hazel. 'Well I am really exhausteduh....so, I am going to sleep, shrugged Mr. Raymond. Just don't disturb me for supper or anythin'. I'm pissed off!!!!. Immediately the ranch worker rose up to leave. Looking at it, Mr. Raymond asked her not to mind and that he would suit himself in the living room couch. Mr. Raymond retreated to the living room. But, all the while, the ranch worker got up to leave. As she stepped out, she turned and paused for a moment. Then whispered to Hazel, Did you know the Dean's house, a few miles from here? "Yeah...What's with it?" "Well... a few days ago everybody had gone out for a dinner and when they returned they found a bloody mess....the maid was shot dead in the dining hall and the place was ransacked. Its like that the mafia group follows a new way of things; at first they cut the telephone lines, the power supply and tend things in the dark. It is rumoured that they call themselves, The Noire". Well hope they don't mess things up here...a warning was issued the other day asking us to be cautious" "Yeah!..."The Noire"...nice name though. Bye! Mrs. Mary-Anne". "Bye! Mrs. Raymond". As soon as Hazel saw her neighbor to the door...she hurried in. Raymond was definitely not his usual self....why did he have to go to the bed so early.......and that too on the couch? As a ranch worker he had never once in all his life gone to bed before eleven. Worried, she drew sheets over him and sat beside him. Suddenly, the rain started and it was a really big downpour. As she looked about she saw that Mrs. Mary-anne had left her hat. So, Hazel went over to the telephone to say it to Mary-Anne. But as she picked the receiver, the lines went dead. Wondering what the problem was, she glanced at Christine. Christine had gone white as a sheet and was staring out through the window. "Chri... "Shh.... Christine silenced her mother.

Both of them could here some voices and the sound of feet. And as suddenly as the rain had started the power went off. It was pitch dark. As Hazel pushed herself closer to the window, she saw the silhouette of a man moving, in the moonlight. Immediately Hazel ran out to see. She opened the wooden door and moved slowly. The man had a dagger in his hands and a short gun thrust in his pockets. Hazel moved back scared. The man hadn't seen her. Christine stood transfixed as she watched through the window. The man twitched - He knew he was being watched. As soon as Christine realized it, she screamed shrilly. Immediately, screaming, Hazel ran in and padlocked the doors behind her. She sat on the couch and began to breathe heavily. As she hugged Christine, she slowly considered her husband. Why hadn't he woken up when Christine screamed? Contemplating, she looked over Christine's head...she saw another man. Pretending to tie up her hair, she saw through the bay window and saw a squat man. Surely she heard feet shuffling upstairs. Slowly thoughts crept in.......Was her husband drugged to sleep? Were the telephone lines really repaired? The power lines meddled?