MicroHorror » Jeff Maslany

Velvet Elvis

Nathan — Sat, 27 May 2006 19:00:02 +0000

“It’s close, but not quite the same.”“It’ll have to do.”

“I’m pretty sure the color is off.”

“It’ll have to do.”

“Wasn’t it hanging lower?”

“It’ll have to do.”

“You shouldn’t have taken it down in the first place.”

“I SAID IT WILL HAVE TO DO! Jimmy will be home soon and he can’t see it missing.”

“All right, all right, no need to get snippy. Where did you find it anyway? The likeness is remarkable.”

“Down by the overpass. They’re all over the place there. Now hold it steady, I have to make sure it’s secure.”

A car door slammed outside and they could hear Jimmy laughing and calling to his friends.

“Crap. It’ll have to do.”

“I don’t think it will work. It’s been in the same place for years. He’ll notice the difference.”

“It’ll have to do.”

The door swung open and in ran little Jimmy.

“Hi Mom, hi Dad, hi Grandpa, I had a great day at school today.”

The boy got up on his tiptoes and kissed them each in turn and then ran off to play, never aware that the swinging corpse wasn’t actually his grandfather.

The Drunkard Awakens

Nathan — Tue, 16 May 2006 19:00:17 +0000

Thud Thud

What’s that? Ahh my head, it pounds so from the wine and Carnival.

Thud

No, ’tis something more. My wrists they ache. This insufferable dark. The walls too close. That smell.

“Nitre?”

Thud

What brings me here?

“Amontillado.”

Thud

‘Tis my heart- it shall explode from my chest.

“MONTRESSOR!”

Thud

Though my heart beats hard, this sound, it comes from without.

Thud, Thud

The sound, it quickens. Of course, these catacombs are not his alone.

A reveler heard my moans. Or perhaps days have past whilst I slept. Montressor is a weak man, and friends will have seen us together. He would crack and they would search me out.

Thud, Thud

Closer and faster, I hear it above me now. Encouragement, I must give it.

“I AM HERE! I AM ALIVE, HURRY!”

Thud

It slows, they are certain of my safety.

Thud

A voice, it comes distant through the wall.

“That is good, my friend, I was afraid we lost you the other night.”

“Montressor–”

Thud

It is naught but another brick set.

Thud