Dr. Bethany Ross was in the lab when I walked in. Dr. Ross and I never really seemed to get along. Sure we had worked side by side for 5 whole years ,but the years, if anything, just seemed to strengthen her resolve not to like me. I say all that so you understand how strange it was when I walked in to a big smile and a greeting from Dr. Ross
“Hello, Dr. Stephens. I just made the most wonderful discovery, come look.”
Dr. Ross waved me over with an enthusiasm I had rarely seen from her. On the table in front of her was a rat in a cage. It scurried back and forth as if looking for an opening to escape from, and at first glance there was nothing different about it.
“What am I looking at?”, I asked
“A rat”, she said with a smirk
“I see that.”
“Ah, but what you don’t see is that this rat is dead. 100% dead” Dr. Ross said, smiling wide.
I inspected the rat closer. It didn’t look dead. As a matter of fact it looked more alive than ever. It looked and acted like a frightened rat in a cage.
Dr. Ross smirked. This might have been the first normal behavior she exhibited since I entered the room. While we both graduated from the same university, Dr. Ross was at the top of class, and she relished every opportunity to show me how much smarter she was than me.
“You don’t see it, do you?”, she said with that awful half smile.
Swallowing my pride, I said, “I do not, what am I supposed to be looking for?”
“Look right on the neck” pointing, she looked at me, seemingly eager for me to finally see what she sees.
I inspected the neck of the rat, and again I found nothing. Starting to get frustrated I was about to turn towards Dr. Ross. About to exclaim that this must be some sort of joke, and I was not amused, but before I could, I saw it. A little black spot on the back of it’s neck. The spot was bald, and perfectly circular.
“It’s a parasite,” I said in wonder
Dr. Ross was ecstatic, “Yes, a parasite, a parasite with full control over the host body. If not for the mark it leaves on the skin it would be completely undetectable through observation alone.”
I kept quiet for a moment, not wanting to admit how cool her discovery actually was. After a moment though, I came up with a question.
“How does the parasite know how the rat would react to the cage?”
“Observation,” Dr. Ross said, without missing a beat, “this parasite can lie dormant for days or even weeks in order to observe the host brain and once it becomes familiar it destroys the host brain and takes over almost seamlessly.”
“Interesting,” I conceded, “and how does this parasite infect the host”
” Ah, the million dollar question, as far as I can tell a simple touch will do the trick.” Dr Ross grinned wide. ” It’s like a parasitic virus, same organism in different hosts.”
In hindsight, I would note this response as strange. Though Dr. Ross and I graduated at the same time, she had always been somewhat of a genius. I wouldn’t go so far as to say she’s smarter than me, but well, she is.
Surely she would have realized the implications of this intelligent, invisible parasite, and would understand just how dangerous it could be if it got out. But instead of taking preventative measures, she just smiled. A smile of genuine excitement, as if she couldn’t be happier by this development.
Dr. Ross looked away for me for a minute, spying the digital clock on the wall.
“Wow, I have been here all night,” she said, “I really should be heading home”
” Right, of course” I responded, my mind preoccupied “Congratulations on your discovery, Dr. Ross”
I extended my hand and she shook it
“Thank you, very much”, she said with a nod, and she exited the building.
Maybe I’m overthinking it, but as she withdrew her hand, I saw a black dot on the tip of her index finger.
Maybe it was just ink.
God, I hope it was just ink.
Author Archives: Tyrek Showels
Roanoke
The ship had just left when she came from the woods.
” You have no right to this land,” she said “, And your presence is unwelcome”
A native it seemed. No need to escalate the situation. Stepping forward I offered my hand. She did not take it.
“We do not seek to harm you” I said with a disarming smile. “We wish to live amongst you in peace”
“You do not respect her, and she will taste your blood”, said the native woman
“Who are we disrespecting,” I offered unsure of where this was going.
The native woman bent down and touched the earth.
“The mother weeps, you do not respect her.” She said.
I had heard that the natives of this land worshipped false gods. They worshipped the earth under their feet. And the trees and things like that, but to see it in progress was, in a word, laughable. Hard to believe. How I wish we would have believed.
With an uneasy laugh “I’m sure “The mother” won’t mind letting us take a few things.” I said, stepping forward towards the woods.
The native woman stepped forward “You cannot take what does not belong to you and You can not stay here. Pay for what you have stolen and leave.”
She was certainly brave, stepping to a bunch of strangers like us. with no clue what we might have brought with us.
“Look, miss , we are settling here. Whether or not you like it. We have been authorized to do so by the king. So excuse us ” I say as we move past her into the woods.
She didn’t move to stop us this time. She just spoke once more
“You will pay for what you have stolen”
And that’s when the holes started appearing.
Mother nature’s maw opened wide. One by one they were all swallowed by the earth. And I watched horrified as all over the settlement people were swallowed, buildings tilted and toppled. Everything we had built was destroyed, everyone I knew was gone. In only a few seconds. The native woman behind me cackled.
“The mother will take what’s due to her. She has named her price.”
Cackling, the native woman walked out to the tree line.
I remained, alive and horrified. Having witnessed the gods of this strange land enact revenge on my friends and family, I wanted nothing more than to leave it all behind. Without a ship though, my only option was to wait.
“Why was I left untouched?” I asked, already dreading the answer.
“Like I said, She will taste your blood”, the native woman replied. As she reached the tree line she placed an index finger on the bark of the tree and as she did it felt as if she had penetrated my chest with a knife.
And slowly she began to trace her fingers along the bark savoring each second as the invisible blade in my chest mirrored her fingers movements
“C”
She lifted her finger momentarily and turned to look at me.
“You should have left”
She touched the bark once more and I screamed out in pain and again the blade in my chest was mirrored by her fingers on the bark.
“R”
This time she didn’t pause she moved on to the next letter. She cackled while I screamed and cried . Our voices mixing together. A symphony of torture and glee. I was no longer standing. I writhed on the floor covered in blood and tears and hear in my head
You do not respect her, and she will have your blood
“O”
A sobbing, bleeding mess, I lay face down. Anticipating the stab to indicate more torture was coming. But nothing happened. I looked up and saw the native woman, standing over me with a smile.
And slowly she turns to leave.
“Why finish?”, she asks, turning back one last time with a smile that struck terror into my heart “After all, this is just the beginning.”
And then, opening her maw wide, The mother finished what she started.
She has named her price
And she will have what’s due to her.
I woke to the sound of crying.
It was early morning when I heard the whispering
I had been sleeping over at my girlfriend, Julia’s apartment when it happened. We had been together for a while and I’ve slept over several times, even still this particular development seemed to bug me. I had never heard her whispering in her sleep before, but more than that her words were a little unnerving if not outright creepy She seemed to be saying,
I have to save them
I have to save them
I have to save them
I have to save them…
Over and over again, Each whisper was like a small needle in my brain, preventing me from sleeping.
Not sure what to do in a situation like this I decided to go to get up and go to the living room. I was already up, with no hope of falling asleep so I decided to watch a little TV until she got up. I wonder if waking her up would have changed anything.
Julia woke up around 11 am. I tend to get up a little earlier anyway so when she woke up and saw my modest attempt at breakfast she just smiled.
“Good morning”
“Good morning, Julia, How did you sleep”
“Good, good. I had a wonderful dream. At least I think so. I can hardly remember it now”
“That’s nice, I would have figured the opposite”
“What? Why?”
“You seemed uneasy when I woke up. You were whispering.”
“Whispering? What was I whispering?”
“I don’t know, it sounded like “I have to save them”, it was pretty creepy actually,” I said with a slight chuckle.
“Oh?”, She said with a laugh, “That does sound pretty creepy.”
We shared a laugh over it and then everything went on as usual. But even though enjoyed spending the day with Julia I couldn’t help but feel uneasy with her. I just keep hearing.
I have to save them
I have to save them
I have to save them
Over and over again.
It was a few nights later when I found myself in the same predicament
Awaking once more in Julia’s apartment. To the faint sound of whispering….and crying
Quietly crying, almost imperceptible, while saying
I can’t
I have to save them
I have to
I have to save them
I can’t save them
I CAN’T SAVE THEM
I CAN’T SAVE THEM
Julia, screaming with sobs,
I CAN’T SAVE THEM I CAN’T SAVE THEM I CAN’T SAVE THEM.
I jump out of bed, frightened by what I could only assume was some sort of psychotic break. I approach my girlfriend’s screaming and crying body unsure of what to do. I tap her shoulder.
“Hey, are-” I start to say but as soon as I tap her shoulder she falls silent.
Hesitantly I put my hand on her shoulder
“A-Are you okay?”
Julia’s head slowly rose. Her eyes met mine.
And then she screamed
An ear-splitting, eye-watering scream of desperation and sadness. I couldn’t help it, I fell to my knees in tears, praying for the screaming to stop.
I reached for Julia and shook her shoulder.
“Julia please wake up, please. Julia please” I pleaded and then… silence.
Julia looked over the side of the bed where I was laying on the floor.
“Why are you on the floor?”
Julia had gone back to sleep, but I couldn’t.
I walked out of her apartment and went home.
In the following days, she tried to contact me but I ignored her. A few times she’s even knocked on my door but I pretended I wasn’t home. I know it’s terrible but I would do anything to avoid her awful screams. I would do anything to avoid those eyes. I went to bed uneasy, feeling guilty about abandoning Julia. But eventually, I was able to fall asleep. I dreamt I was outside in a meadow. Looking up at the stars. There was a woman next to me. It wasn’t Julia, but she somehow felt familiar. She looked up at the sky and then she looked down at me.
“It’s coming,” she said
I didn’t respond. I didn’t know what to say I just looked back to the sky and saw nothing
“I can’t save you, any of you. You will hurt and you will die. You can’t be saved”
Her words snapped me out of my stupor
“What did you say?”
I turned to look at her. Her brows were furrowed in frustration, her lips curled in rage. And she screamed. A scream of anger and fear and frustration. I fell backward into the grass in time to see a massive meteor crashing through our atmosphere.
Once again I woke up. Only this time it was so much worse. It was laughing. It was laughing and screaming and crying and though I couldn’t see the source it was unmistakably Julia.
THEY CAN’T BE SAVED
THEY CAN’T BE SAVED
THEY WILL HURT AND
THEY WILL DIE
THEY WILL HURT
AND THEY WILL DIE
I HAVE TO SAVE THEM
THEY WILL HURT AND
THEY WILL DIE
And suddenly it was silent again.
I waited. And then waited more.
It was still silent after a few minutes but I decided to check the window to be sure.
Being on the second floor I did not expect to come face to face with Julia. Our eyes met once more. And then she screamed A scream that could rouse the dead. And I ran. She didn’t follow me she just screamed. And I cried. I couldn’t help it. The despair overwhelmed all of my senses. I ran blindly through the streets but no matter how far I ran I could still hear the screaming.
I woke up in a hospital bed. Somebody was driving by and found me lying on the side of the road and took me to the hospital, where I was comatose for six months.
When they asked me what happened I told them. I told them everything and they laughed. They thought I was joking at first but once they realized I wasn’t kidding they decided to call in a psychiatrist. So now I’m telling you. I still hear her screaming every night. I can still hear her anger, her despair, and her frustration.
We will hurt
We will die
And we can’t be saved.
The Graveyard Guitarist
Graveyard guitarist
(The guitarist is sitting in a chair in front of a gravestone, idly picking at his guitar. An eerie sounding tune but not overly complicated. He looks comfortable like he’s been there for a couple minutes, but he only now chooses to speak. He speaks slowly and he speaks over the guitar)
“Hey it’s me again. I was here last weekend. You don’t remember me. You weren’t alive last week either. But I’m here to chat again.
(Only the sound of the guitar fills the air)
I envy you. You lived your life. You had ups and downs but it’s over now, you get to rest.
You no longer have to deal with the world or all it’s problems, of which there are many. Although it really won’t be that long until I return to stay here permanently. Life is short. I guess you know that already though” (He plays the guitar. The same notes over and over he sways slightly as he listens to the song carry over the breeze.)
A voice comes from behind him. A female voice
FV: Are you going to sing?
The guitarist doesn’t flinch nor does he turn around nor does he stop his guitar
GG: I wasn’t planning on it. Then again I wasn’t expecting company.
GG: Are you looking for someone?
FV:(She walks into view now) No, I just was going for a walk and decided to walk through the cemetery.
GG: I see. Are you mourning?
FV: No. Why do you think that?
GG: You’re in your pajamas.
FV: So I am, what does that have to do with mourning.
(He stops playing the guitar)
GG: Well the fact that you couldn’t sleep suggests that your mind is occupied. You’re in distress. Like maybe you’re college student with a big exam coming up.
FV: Do you think I’m a college student with a big test coming up?
GG: You could be, but I don’t think that’s why you’re here.
FV:Why not?
GG: The pajamas. Even a college student would remember to change before going out. Which leads me to believe your brain is so occupied that the idea of changing completely slipped your mind. Also you walked into a cemetery. Which is where dead people go.
FV:That’s pretty good. But honestly I just like wearing pajamas. They’re comfortable. And I really just decided to walk here impulsively
GG: I don’t believe you.But I’m not a detective. (He lifts the guitar slightly) I just play guitar.
(He starts playing but just finger picking a simple tune. Almost absentmindedly)
FV: I see that. Which brings me to my question. Why?
GG: Why what?
FV: Why are you playing your guitar in a cemetery.
GG: It’s actually quite simple. I play and they dance.
FV laughs but then when GG doesn’t react she stops and remains silent.
GG(continues): I talk to them but they can’t hear me. But they feel it. Don’t you feel it?
FV:I don’t feel anything. What am I supposed to feel?
GG slams his hand down over the strings, muting them.
FV jumps a little
FV: Did I-
GG(holds a finger to his lips) listen. Do you hear that?
The night is quiet. The town is quiet.There is nothing to be heard
FV: I don’t hear anything.
GG: Exactly. What you’re hearing is the void. What you’re hearing is death but
(He plays his guitar again)
With a few notes I can bring them back to life. Don’t you feel the energy rising. The swirling of spirits as they dance.
FV: Metaphorically I think I understand what you’re saying. By the way are you allowed to be here.
GG: Not technically but he funny thing about music in a graveyard is most people walk the other way when they hear it.
FV laughs.
GG(continues): Do you have a name?
FV: I do. My name is Amanda.
GG: Nice to meet you Amanda. I’m James.
He perks up and points at her
J: Divorced.
A: What?
J: You’re divorced.
A: You should really work on your people skills, James. How do you figure?Me being divorced I mean.
J: Well everything I said before except with an added emotion. Loneliness. That’s why you walked towards the music and not away. You were looking for companionship.
A: Is it possible that I just like pjs, couldn’t sleep, went for a walk, and ended up here by random chance?
J: It is entirely possible That you got up and walked to the graveyard alone in your pink fuzzy pajamas for absolutely no reason.
( He is quiet. playing guitar once more.)
Note: he is not super great at guitar so pauses and false notes are to be expected. But he is adequate enough that he’s comfortable playing in front of people. Or in this case spirits)
They sit in silence except for the guitar.
James: I wasn’t speaking metaphorically.
Amanda: What?
James: You said you understood what I was saying metaphorically. I wasn’t speaking metaphorically.
A: Oh?
J: I play and they dance. I believe that spirits are energy. I believe music is energy to. They can’t hear me but they respond to the energy. I can feel them swaying. I can feel leaping. I can feel them spinning. Not metaphorically. I feel connected to them. Like this is the closest I can get to the other side without dying.
A: I can believe that you believe that.
J: And I do..But I know that belief doesn’t shape reality, and no matter how hard I believe something, it doesn’t make it true.
A: Hm. You’re a very strange man.
J: Should I remind you that this is my thing that you walked in on uninvited?
Amanda laughs a little
A: No. I think I can remember. What song are you playing anyway.
He doesn’t respond. He just plays his guitar.
J:Is someone you know sick?
A: No. I’m here by random chance and that’s it.
J:hm
A: Are you going to answer my question?
He doesn’t respond.
A: No?
He doesn’t respond. then finally
J:Memento mori
Amanda looks confused.
A: Is that like Latin or something.
J: It is. Memento Mori. Remember death. The song doesn’t have a name but I gave it one. Remember death. Because death is what makes things beautiful
A: See, you were starting to make sense but you completely lost me at the end.
J: This song has never been played before and will never be played again. Nobody wrote it down. It never existed before this moment and it will never exist again. Nobody else will ever hear this song, Nobody else will ever know this song existed. Except you and me. The beauty isn’t in hearing it, but knowing you are one of the few people who heard it before it was gone forever. It really makes you appreciate the things around you. And the people around you. You experienced they’re presence before they were gone. Forever And that is beautiful. Memento mori. Because just like this song all living things come to an end.
A: Is that why you’re in the cemetery?
J: It is. As it turns out my end is a little closer than you realize.
A:(hesitantly) Oh..? Are you sick or something?
J: I’m definitely not healthy. They don’t know what it is, all they know is that it’s killing me.
A: I’m sorry
J: Don’t be. I’m ok with it. It scared me at first. The possibility of death. But I’ve come to terms with it.
A:How long do you have?
J: I’ll be lucky to make it to next week. All living things must die. I am no exception. But my spirit will be here. Playing the guitar and when that happens they’ll finally hear me.
A:If I’m being honest I don’t know what to say right now I’m glad I met you though.
J: It was nice to meet you as well. I’m going with divorced by the way.
A: I’m not divorced. I was never married. You’re not a detective.
J: You’re right. I just play guitar.
James plays while Amanda continues her walk into the cemetery.
The camera zooms out like a drone shot so we can see Amanda walking away while stil seeing James playing the guitar.
And then the camera shuts off and it’s over.
******************
Amanda is sitting on the edge of her bed. She’s just staring at the wall restlessly. She jumps up puts on her shoes and walks out the door.
We see Amanda walking down the street towards the cemetery
We see her walk up to the gravestone.
The chair is there but it’s empty
Amanda doesn’t cry.
She sits down next to the chair and she sways to the unheard music on the wind
The End
Rules to follow at Jack’s Magic Shop.
Rule #1: Read the rules. I made this rule #1 because it is the most important. Too many times Ive had to go to court to hear “How was my client supposed to know that the six year old girl following him home was actually a 9ft tall demon that was going to chop off his hand.”
Maybe you should have read the rules, and you’re lucky she wasn’t hungrier that day or she would have cut off a lot more. Just read the rules. They’re at the front of the shop for a reason
Rule #2: Never tell anyone your name. Even if they insist. I will never ask you your name. I will never tell you my name. Yes, I realize my store is called Jack’s magic shop. Jack is not my name, But if you must refer to me you can call me Jack or Mr. Jack.
Rule #3: Less of a rule. More of a disclaimer. Yes, We do have a “Genie”
Yes She will grant you anything you wish for, and yes it will 100% backfire
“Genies” aren’t real. She’s a demonic creature. An old one. No matter how witty and clever and creative you think you are, anything you thought of, she thought of a thousand years before you were even born. So fair warning, If you wished the girl you’ve had a crush on for ten years fell in love with you, don’t be surprised when you find yourself tied up and locked in her basement.
Rule #4: If a man with a briefcase walks in while you’re shopping, ignore him. He’s not important to the story. You don’t know what that means. You shouldn’t know what that means. If you do know what that means then I regret to inform you that the man with the briefcase doesn’t exist but you are in grave danger. I wish I could help more. I’m sorry.
Rule #5: If you get home and notice you accidentally took a doll you didn’t buy. Ask it a yes or no question. “Are you hungry” , “Are you evil”, “Are you secretly a demon in disguise” etc. If the doll doesn’t answer, return it to the store immediately. If the doll answers yes or no, stab it. Stab it until you’re sure it’s dead. Meaning if you ask yourself ” Is this dead” and your answer is “maybe”, it’s not dead enough. You may feel silly or stupid stabbing a doll repeatedly, but the thing that comes out of it if you don’t is much harder to kill.
Rule #6: If you enter the store and everyone’s head snaps to look at you with a creepy smile. Obviously you should walk back out. Obviously something bad will happen if you walk in. Walk out and walk back in. If the same thing happens again, just go home. It’s not worth it
Rule #7: No Singing. I will shoot you. That goes for sirens ,as well as human. Inversely, if you notice someone singing, slap them, or get them to stop anyway you can. Even if it’s your friend, boyfriend,or heck even your mom. Because I will shoot them. It wont be a fatal shot but it will hurt.
Rule #8: For people who walk home from this shop, if you see a six year old girl following you home, confront her and ask “Are you lost?” If she says yes, escort her to the police station. The police station is right around the corner in case you didn’t know. From the shop go to the right and take the first right and just keep going you’ll see it eventually. When you get there ask for Officer O’Brien
Then leave. The girl will be fine.
If when you ask her and she says no ,run to the police station. When you get close yell for Officer O’Brien. Hopefully he will save you in time.
Rule #9: Be kind to employees. Nothing bad will happen if you don’t but you will be kicked out. I guess that is bad but not as bad as some of the other things.
Rule #10: We have a potions testing range in the back. We have a lot of things, from flying to invisibility.However, potions are not to leave the store. Security will find you. Put bluntly, They don’t need potions to fly, and they don’t need to see you to know where you are
Rule#11: If I ever try to kill you, don’t hesitate to kill me first. It’s not really me. It’s a shapeshifter. I would never try to kill you. Emphasis on try
Thank you for reading these rules, and thank you for shopping at Jack’s magic shop. I hope you have a wonderful day.
- Jack
Tyrek's Writing 