Dimmed Lights Flicker Novels & Stories

I strained my ears, hoping to catch any sound or clue that could help me make sense of this bewildering situation. Suddenly, a flicker of light illuminated the passage, casting eerie shadows that danced along the walls. The bulb above continued to play its game of on and off, intensifying the already unnerving atmosphere. With each flicker, my heart skipped a beat, amplifying the feeling of unease that consumed me.

I haven’t been down here in forever. I drag a hand across the surface, pick up a pipe wrench, and head toward the sink. My eyes slide past the cracked clock on the far wall. Midnight. Twelve a.m. I let out a breath and crouch under the sink. The pipes are corroded, one joint leaking. I twist the wrench against stubborn metal. When— Flick. The light flickers. I jerk back. What. The. Hell? It flickers again. Three times. Shit. The wrench clatters to the floor as I straighten, shoulders squared, and move briskly toward the staircase. The hallway opens up, the sitting room ahead, and the light flickers again as I reach the door and press my ear against it.

"The light in my room isn't working properly. Can you help me take a look?" "Sure." Gilbert didn't refuse. In the next second, he got up and followed Marigold to her room. "I don't know why, but the light started flickering all of a sudden. It's kind of scary." Marigold stood beside Gilbert. Looking at the light above, she bit her lip and moved closer to him. Gilbert glanced at it a few times. "It's probably an issue with the circuit. I'll have someone come and take a look tomorrow."

Her office felt different in the early morning light. Peaceful. The city stretched beyond the windows, washed in pale shades of gold as the sun climbed above the skyline. For the first time in days, she almost relaxed. Then the lights flickered. Once. Twice. Charlotte frowned. The building generators almost never failed. A second later, her office phone rang. “Charlotte.” “Morning.” James. “You see that?” “The lights?” “They flickered in my office too.” Before she could answer, another call came through on her mobile.

But it was gone as quickly as it came but it left a wrong and unsettling feeling behind. She shook it off immediately, refocusing her attention on them. “Stay with me,” she said under her breath, though she wasn’t sure who she was talking to anymore. Both of them. Either of them. She reached for the emergency overrides; manual systems, backups, just anything that didn’t rely on the main network. Lights. She needed lights. After a few agonizing seconds came the first dim flicker, then another. The emergency lighting began to sputter to life overhead, casting the room in a dull, uneven glow but just enough to see, but not enough to feel safe.

I probably looked exactly like someone who had just been seconds away from a screaming orgasm. A sudden loud pop and spark came from inside my room. The power in my bedroom flickered, then went completely dark for a few seconds before the lights came back on with a hum. Nick’s eyes widened. “What the hell was that?” He stepped forward, clearly worried. “Let me check. Could be a short in the wiring. This old house….” “No!” I yelped, blocking the doorway with my body. “It’s fine. Really. I’ll sort it out.”

But as she did, her eyes caught a flickering light—faint, but steady. Her heart skipped a beat. There was a light bulb hanging from the ceiling, covered in grime. With a shaky hand, she reached up and twisted the switch. The light flickered to life, casting a faint, yellowish glow over the room. The light was weak, barely enough to illuminate the dusty air, but it gave her a sense of hope.

The cold floor sent chills through the soles of my feet as I walked quietly, doing my best not to make a sound. As I reached the bottom of the stairs, I noticed a soft light glowing from the kitchen. Low voices echoed through the hallway, but I couldn't quite make out what they were saying from where I stood. I crept closer, careful with each step, until I was just outside the kitchen door.

The lights on the lobby flicker on an off, like a lazy lad trying to break free from the hold of sleep. "Are you serious?" I scoff, reach and hand inside and flop the light switch. The bulb in the centre of the room appears a dull red, like ginger hair had been soaked, ground, and splayed over the bulb. It flickers once, twice, and sheds a bright and colorless light on shelves of supplies. "Hello, is there anyone here?" I say. What I hear isn't an answer, it is a medley of almost-quiet that sounds like something is skittering around at the back of the room.

Darkness hung stubbornly in the air. Exchanging a silent glance, they moved forward, their footsteps echoing on the floor, revealing their presence in the oppressive silence. They reached the living room. Malik pressed another switch. For a brief moment, the lights flickered on, casting a dim glow and shimmering shadows on the walls, then went out again, plunging everything into a stifling blackness. Neither of them showed fear, but caution hung in every step, every gesture, every glance. Malik walked on, Dima right behind him, until they reached his room. He pressed the switch, and this time the lights responded, illuminating the room with a faint yellow glow.