A Dark Light

The boy stopped outside the circle of light cast by the old brass lantern. He looked left, right, turned and looked behind him. The street was empty, everyone tucked into bed, where he should be.

He took four more steps, now fully within the yellow glow. He reached, but the handle of the umbrella was too high. He lifted onto his toes, but still couldn’t reach.

As he dropped back onto his feet, a clawed hand reached from the lantern and yanked the boy inside.
Again, the street was empty, only the ghost of a giggle floating through the air.

NOTES:
Photo by Ali Karimiboroujeni on Unsplash
This month I attempted a one hundred word story. How’d I do?