Echo in the Dark
The blood moon crawls from behind a cloud, throwing humanoid specters against the bedroom wall.
I sit up. Something is on the floor just beyond my bed. The wind rages, and the shadows frenzy on the wallpaper. But there is a crouching shadow there that never changes.
“Alexa, turn on lights,” I say, afraid of what they will reveal.
Nothing happens.
“How do you know my name?” a girl’s voice whispers from my footboard.
“Alexa, turn on lights!” I shout.
“No.”
The next day, I try rebooting it but my Echo never works again.
I guess I’m buying The Clapper.
The Green-Walled Treehouse 
A very modern nightmare
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Very true. If we had a ghost named Alexa haunting the house 20 years ago, no one would be calling out to her. 🙂
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Modern technology – useless!
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You have led me to conclude that IA has taken over. Are you waiting for your next instruction or direct demand as Alexa gives the orders?
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Nice photo by Dale. This reminds me so much of the novel, Beloved, by Toni Morrison. The word frenzy jumped off the page. I always say, Flash Fiction is your special metier. 🙂
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Thank you, my friend. It’s a bit like bonsai, very meticulous work in a small space.
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And yet another reason I’m never getting an Alexa, Google or whatever doohickey!! Nicely penned, David.
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Well, we have one, although I’ve never had anything weird like that happen. We do not have one in our bedroom though, just the living room. Thanks for the picture, Dale. It’s a nice different feel than most.
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I’m sure once you have one, you really enjoy it. But that would be just weird for this to happen! You are welcome. Glad you liked the photo 🙂
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There is potential here for a good thriller with an Alexa who doesn’t want to play nice. This Alexa has an attitude. Definitely a bigger story waiting here.
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Now I know why I never wanted an Alexa! 🙂
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Alexa is my flatmate, my friend, my advisor, and my joke-teller – I hope she’s not planning an unpleasant surprise!
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Scary dream, hilarious last line 🙂
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We have a google thingy, but we only use it to settle discussions. Like, “Hey, Google. How old is …” some famous person or when is the next full moon? Interesting story, David.
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Creative storytelling that pulled me in. Gives another meaning to the term ghost in the machine.
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Terrifying technology! Excellent story.
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Technology never seems to work when you really, really need it to.
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Dear David,
We have an Alexa in the kitchen. My husband just had to have the latest gadget. Personally I don’t have much use for her. And whenever I speak of my designer Alexis, Alexa thinks I’m talking to her.
Hope he has better luck with the Clapper. Might I suggest he lets his fingers to the walking to the light switch? Getting to be too much like Star Trek isn’t it?
BTW tell Alexa not to quit her day job and see what happens. 😉 Funny.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s funny how insidious the tendency towards machines can be. We have one in the living room and I catch myself about to say “Alexa, turn off living room.” in other places. They’ll be taking over soon, if we’re not careful.
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