Steve cursed. They waited for a few seconds for the lights to flicker back on. Nothing happened. “Do you think the power lines are down?” Michelle asked anxiously. “Could be. Listen to that wind howling.” Steve’s voice came as a disembodied sound in the darkness, but Michelle was inordinately relieved to hear it. There was something frightening about being plunged into this impenetrable blackness and something reassuring to know that she wasn’t alone. Even if the other person there did happen to be Steve-The-Snake-Saraceni. And then it struck her. “If there is no electricity, there won’t be any heat.” “I’m sure it’ll be on again soon,” Steve said soothingly, wishing he believed it. It was windy and freezing, the roads were impassable, and the chances of a line crew going out to work on downed power lines seemed slim to none. Another minute passed in dark silence.
