Darkness behind the curtain

You hum

Scrubbing your scalp 

Strands of wet hair clings to your perfect face

Shampoo bubbles your hair

Hot water shoots out of the nozzle

Suddenly

The bathroom lights flicker

Then shine again.

You glance around:

The lights flicker again

And this time

You are plunged into utter darkness. 

The water turns cold

You inhale sharply

Panic rising in your chest

Blocking up your throat

A low voice hisses,

"Hello."

A laugh 

A deep

Chilling

Laugh

The sound is like tendrils of darkness

Like fingers grasping at you

Hands wrapped around your throat

Like shifting shadows

Darkness laced with a malevolent contempt

The lights turn back on again

Trembling,

You rinse out your hair

Afraid to move the curtain aside

Afraid

Of what you might see.