By Ambrose Bierce
ReadOasis Step 3
(Part 3)

He was afraid beyond the power to cry out or move. He waited, waited there in the darkness through what seemed like centuries of such fear. Fear as one may know, but yet live to tell. He tried but failed to speak the dead woman’s name. He tried but failed to stretch his hand across the table to learn if she was there. His throat was powerless. His arms and hands were like lead.

Then something frightful happened. It seemed as if a heavy body was throw...