Awakened by a strange noise, Herbert slowly rose to get a view of his surroundings. The time on his clock said it was just past 2am. Still half asleep, he surveyed his bedroom trying to see what had awoken him, but it was useless, it was pitch black. Convincing himself that it was only the wind, or maybe a stray cat on his window ledge, he rested his head back on his pillow.

     THUD, THUD, THUNK

     This time he couldn't just ignore the noise, if just out of curiosity he had to see what was causing this strange sound. Leaping out of bed he walked over to his light switch and turned it on. A careful view of his surroundings showed nothing out of the ordinary. His desk, chair, and bed were the only items around him and they all looked exactly the same as when he had went to sleep 4 hours earlier. Even the abstract painting of a juggler that his friend had made for him just before he passed away was hanging perfectly straight on the wall above his desk. Beginning to think that he was just hearing things Herbert turned the light back off.

     "Johnny," a voice crackled.

     At this name, the name of his long departed friend, the hair rose on Herbert's neck. "Wh-who's there," he feebly cried.

     "Johnny, what have you done to me? Why did you kill me?"

     Herbert turned on the lights again, still nothing around him. "What do you want? Who are you," he cried out.

     "I want life, I want your life Johnny. Free me!" answered the eerie voice

     Herbert's heart began to race as he gathered what courage he could to mutter, "I'm not Johnny, leave me alone. I'll call the police."

     "Call them Johnny," taunted the voice. "Tell them you're crazy, tell them you're hearing voices that have no body. Do whatever makes you happy, but you will free me tonight."

     More alarmed than ever, Herbert was just about to run out of his room and leave the house behind when something caught his eye. Looking at the painting his long departed friend had painted he thought he perceived a small smile on the lips of the abstract character. A smile that until now had never been there. Momentarily losing his fear he walked toward the painting to get a closer view.

     "Yes Johnny, come closer," a whisper greeted him.

     As if in a daze Herbert reached out his hand toward the painting. "Free me Johnny, free me," the voice encouraged him.

     Transfixed by the image on the painting he let out a sigh and touched the outstretched hand of the painted figure. The next day when his neighbors found his body, they couldn't explain it but there appeared to be a smile on Herbert's face. As his body was being removed from the house a strange voice cackled, "We're free Johnny, we're free!"