Earl heard something in the storm

Earl was huddled in bed next to his wife, Nora. She had a book pressed against her nose. “Nora, do you hear that?” he asked. She looked up from her book and tilted her head. “Hear what?” “I don’t know. It sounds like someone is in the house.” She sighed. “Well, you know it ain’t me. I’m right here.” He chuckled. “I didn’t know you were a comedian,” she said. ... “Nora, did you hear that?” he asked. She looked up from her book. “Earl, I told you, it ain’t me. You hear the storm? It’s raging out there.” “I know. But it sounds like someone is in the house.” She looked around the room. “I don’t see anyone. But you know what they say. It ain’t polite to talk about people behind their backs.” He chuckled dryly. “You hear it? You hear that voice in my ear?” She frowned. “What voice?” “I hear it whispering in my ear.” “Maybe it’s the storm.” He looked at her and his eyes were wide with terror. “What?” she exclaimed. “What is it?” He looked at her and shook his head. “No. Nevermind.” “Earl, what did it say?” Earl looked around the room, then he leaned in close to his wife. “It said it’s hungry.” She rolled her eyes. “Well, I hope it’s full then.” ... “Nora, did you hear that?” he asked. She looked up from her book. “Earl, I’m trying to read. You know I like to read before I go to bed.” “I know. But it sounds like someone is in the house.” She looked around the room. “I don’t see anyone.” He groaned and covered his ears. She looked at him. “What is it?” He didn’t say anything. “What is it, Earl?” “What? You didn’t hear it?” “Hear what?” “That sound? Right next to my ear? It’s deafening.” She frowned. “I don’t hear anything.” He growled and threw the covers off the bed. “Where are you going?” Nora asked. “I’m—” he stopped. His jaw was locked. A moment passed and then he said, “I’m going to go get something to eat.” “When did you get hungry?” “Just now.” “Well, be careful walking around the house. The storm is bad.” He didn’t respond. He just turned and walked to the bedroom door. ... “Nora, did you hear that?” he asked. She looked up from her book. “Earl, I thought you were going to go get something to eat.” He was back in bed, next to her. “I’m starving.” “Then why don’t you go get something to eat?” He frowned. “I have to wait.” “Wait for what?” He didn’t respond. He just looked at the ceiling. “Earl, what did that voice say?” “I can’t repeat it.” ... “Nora, did you hear that?” he asked. She looked up from her book. “Earl, I thought you were going to go get something to eat.” The bed where Nora lay was empty except for her. There was no one next to her. “I’m waiting,” he said. ... Nora pulled the covers up to her nose. It was freezing in the bedroom. She looked around the room, but she was alone. “I’m going to go see what’s taking so long,” she said. ... Nora walked out into the hallway. It was freezing. She could see her breath. But she had turned the heat up in the house before she went to bed. “Earl?” she called out. “You okay? Did you fall asleep or something?” She got no response. ... She checked the living room. He wasn’t there. She didn’t see him in the kitchen or dining room either. The house was freezing. The heat in the house was broken down. ... She walked out into the backyard. The storm was bad and she had to squint just to see anything. She was soaked in a second. A moment passed and she saw a light in the distance. ... She walked towards the light. It was their little cabin they had in the woods. Earl liked to go there to write. He was an author and he liked his peace and quiet. He would go there to write for most of the day. Sometimes he would go for most of the night. Nora would join him if she felt like it. ... She walked into the cabin. Earl was sitting at the desk, writing in his notebook. There was a lantern on the desk. It was what was giving off all the light. Earl looked up from his writing. ... “Finally you decided to join me,” he said. ... “When did you get here?” she asked. ... “A long time ago,” he said. ... “When?” ... “I don’t know.” ... “How did you get here?” ... “I don’t know.” ... “Who’s been talking to you?” ... He just looked at her. ... “Earl, who’s been talking to you? Who’s been whispering in your ear?” ... “My stomach,” he said. ... Then he stood up. “I’m hungry.” ... The next morning Nora walked into the local sheriff station. “Sheriff, I need to report my husband missing.” ... The sheriff looked up from his desk with a frown on his face. “What? Why didn’t you report him missing last night?” ... She thought for a moment. She didn’t know what to say. “I fell asleep.” ... The sheriff grunted. “Alright, well, let’s go out to your house and see if we can’t find him.” ... They walked to the house she shared with her husband. When they got there they called out for him. There was no response. The sheriff looked around the house. He didn’t find anything. Then he went out into the storm. ... He walked through the backyard and into the woods. The weather was freezing and the rain was loud. He walked for a while. Then he saw a light in the distance. He walked towards it. ... When he got to the cabin he tried the door. It was open so he walked in. He called out for Earl. There was no response. He looked around the cabin. There was no one there. Then he noticed the desk. On the desk there was a piece of paper. There were words scribbled on the piece of paper. ... *The storm will never pass. I am forever hungry.*

Earl heard something in the storm

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