Pavlov's Nightmare

Late at night, Arthur sat in his home office, sweating profusely. His deadline was tomorrow, but the document on his monitor remained entirely blank. Frustrated, he ran his hands through his hair, walked to the kitchen, and poured himself a cup of black coffee. When he returned to the hallway, he stopped dead in his tracks. The office light had inexplicably gone out, leaving the room in pitch blackness. Arthur froze in the doorway. The ceramic mug slipped from his trembling fingers, shattering violently on the hardwood floor. Without even attempting to reach for the light switch just inches away, he spun around, sprinted out the front door, and fled into the night without ever looking back.