SLAUGHTERBOX
Compendium 2020 – Story 6
By Andrew Hawnt
Hello. You're awake?
Wonderful. We're so glad you're here. I'm Jenny, but I used to be
called Margaret when I was alive. That's Bonko, who was Dennis, and
Fluffypup, who was called Harry. What was your name?
Oh of course, silly me.
Clawing at your face like that won't do much good. It's made of wood
now. Your mouth is just painted on. No, you can't scream. Who would
come anyway? You're just a wooden toy soldier in a box now, but
that's ok. You're with friends.
I can speak because I have
a voice box and it says things when someone pulls the cord on my
back. Do you like my hair? It's very pretty, isn't it? My real hair
was burned off when they caught me. I can still feel it when all of
those parents tracked me down and beat me to death for killing all
those kids. I can't say I blame them.
I can hear you. In my head.
Yes, I know you can't make your new body work. It takes time, but
you'll get the hang of it soon, which is good as we have work to do.
Feel that? The Keeper is
taking us in his truck to a new town. Once he opens the Slaughterbox,
we can get out and carry on as we did in life, but nobody can catch
us now.
Why are you a toy now?
Because sometimes, unfinished business can make someone so crazy that
the evil inside them ferments and boils and becomes a living thing.
Then when the psycho dies, that darkness escapes and needs somewhere
to go. You're welcome here.
That's it, lift your hand.
It's just the right shape to hold the knife the Keeper gave you.
Look, that's it, you can stand now. Very smart. A wooden soldier with
the face of a crying clown painted on. Very smart with your knife and
the way your limbs dance on their joints when you move. We'll have so
much fun together.
Hear that? We've stopped.
Bonko, Fluffypup, this is Soldier. Everyone get ready. The Keeper is
lifting us out of the truck now. Let me see...
Yes, I can see through the
space in the Slaughterbox lid. It's getting dark. Soon it'll be
playtime.
What's that, soldier? You
know this street? That's the house of the judge who sent you down
before you were killed in prison? How wonderful. Let's visit there
first.
See, Soldier? Even though
your mouth is just painted on, I knew you would learn to laugh again.
And what a laugh it is.
Let's make it the last
thing he hears.
===
©
Andrew Hawnt 2020
About
Compendium 2020:
Compendium
2020 is a project from author Andrew Hawnt and consists of 52 weekly
stories encompassing science fiction, fantasy and horror. They are a
mix of short stories and flash fiction, 100% original and written
throughout 2020. Why is he doing this? To keep the words flowing. To
keep the ideas coming. To dance in worlds that are his and his alone.
To prove that he can.
About
Andrew Hawnt:
You
can find Andrew on Facebook at facebook.com/andrewhawntauthor and on
Twitter and Instagram as @andrewhawnt. Formerly a musician and DJ,
Andrew is known for his books, comic book writing, music journalism
and more, including fiction in Doctor Who Adventures, the Judge Dredd
Megazine and others. Look out for his film work soon.
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