MicroHorror

Thoth turns slowly toward Anubis, his baboon features enhanced by his small obsidian eyes. The scent of olibanum and myrrh wafts slowly from an alabaster censer set next to walls carved with intricate hieroglyphs. In smoke-filled shadows on a thick Persian rug Amamet sits hungrily awaiting his next meal. Thoth softly, almost daintily, adjusts his golden scale, carefully placing the feather of Maat on one filigreee-covered dish. Something almost tangible appears causing Amamet’s nostrils to flare. Anubis gazes at the heart-like shape and shakes his jet fur-covered head. Thoth ignores the sounds of Amamet’s stomach and speaks in a clear baritone. “Why, Anubis, do you have other plans for this one?” Anubis, silent as ever, nods.

Thoth lifts the pulsing organ, speaking the canticle softly. The heart pulses and begins to change; it lengthens and glows, morphing into an arrow, golden and straight. Thoth holds the arrow high speaking one last incantation, now loud and articulate. From the shadows a figure appears, browned by Ra and lean. In his strong right fist is a longbow of ivory engraved with symbols. With his left hand he takes the golden arrow from Thoth and notches it in his ivory bow. Aiming high at the bear and the belt, the bow now convex, he lets fly the golden arrow.

Mary Rutherford sits rocking on her porch in Boise, Idaho; her cup of green tea soothes the heartburn of pregnancy as she looks up gazing at the night sky. The stars are so close she can almost touch them. Smiling at her newfound interest in stargazing, she softly rubs her belly, thinking, Not much longer, son, and we’ll sit together under the stars. At that moment a spark can be seen, a shooting star tracing a path across Orion’s Belt. Mary feels a sharp pain and warm liquid flow down her leg.

“Daniel, Daniel, it’s time!”

The door slams with her husband running, toting her paisley overnight bag in one hand and verbally recounting their next steps in a fast staccato. Helping Mary up, mumbling “Three: call Dr.Rudiger, four: mother-in-law, five…” “Daniel, stop, please, and hurry.” Together they rush to the Volvo and zip off towards the hospital. Mary holds her belly dreamily. Orion, that’s what I’ll call you, Orion.

Thoth and Anubis watch the Volvo from afar, thick lips revealing sharp animal teeth in a shining white smile. Amamet sits salivating, impatiently waiting for his next meal.

Orion is once again free.

I followed, wondering if she noticed me; she was a beauty and knew it. Her hair so black and legs long and thin, she had a perky walk and clutched her purse nervously like it contained something valuable. As she went down the escalator towards the ground floor I could see the perfect part in her hair.

I moved faster now, picking up speed; she slowed to look at some woolen scarves though winter was months away. The exit was in plain sight and I was still walking–not to raise any attention but picking up speed nonetheless.

Two meters away, I leaned forward and hit the needed tempo for the job. Shoulder and elbow an arrow I caught her hard and snatched with all my might, her wind gone and no sound as she fell. With blood humming in my ears I was passing through the exit, a blur to entering customers.

I moved it under my jacket, bringing the pace back to normal, safe zone within sight.

The alley was cramped and dark but I could still see the contents.

Pocketing the credits and feeling my pulse pick up I saw it, shiny and small. It was light to the touch. I slipped it in and the images came in a wash, children and men, her story, her soul.

My legs shake as I move out the other side of the alley, feeling saturated. A shake of the head and her life’s images drift away. I can’t help but grin.