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Literature Text
Jeremy didn't like what was happening. He spent ten years working in a toy factory, but now, being there gave him the creeps.
It all started so innocently, as all bad things do. His factory made a toy: a plush tentacle faced thing – Tulu, or something. Jeremy thought it was a stupid idea, but who he was, to argue with the higher-ups? And the squid-faced thing sold better than anything the company produced before. Then came the others: flasks, lunch boxes, even a toy model of some sunken city. Now they were making action figures: horrible little things, each with too many mouths, eyes, or tentacles, stared at him from the shelves of the warehouse.
He tried to calm himself down: “it's a change in business model. We're reaching new demographics. It's a gold mine” - but it wasn't working, at least no longer. He was both scared of, and felt intense hatred, towards the little monstrosities. However, one doll looked especially unnerving to him: it was almost human-like, dressed in yellow flowing robes and wearing a pallid featureless mask. Jeremy felt it, mocking him, mocking his very existence, just by sitting in cardboard packaging. Jeremy could take no more.
He took the packaging, tore it off and then held the doll in front of himself. He whispered: “let's see what's beneath, you little disgusting piece of...” and tore off the mask.
His coworkers found him in the morning, lying in his own filth and babbling uncontrollably. Then they took him to hospital, where medics diagnosed psychotic episode. Jeremy died next day – his heart stopped.
Several days later warehouse janitor found the yellow-robed doll lying on the floor. He took it with him: he heard kids were going crazy for these things, and his nephew's birthday would be next month. The mask was on.
It all started so innocently, as all bad things do. His factory made a toy: a plush tentacle faced thing – Tulu, or something. Jeremy thought it was a stupid idea, but who he was, to argue with the higher-ups? And the squid-faced thing sold better than anything the company produced before. Then came the others: flasks, lunch boxes, even a toy model of some sunken city. Now they were making action figures: horrible little things, each with too many mouths, eyes, or tentacles, stared at him from the shelves of the warehouse.
He tried to calm himself down: “it's a change in business model. We're reaching new demographics. It's a gold mine” - but it wasn't working, at least no longer. He was both scared of, and felt intense hatred, towards the little monstrosities. However, one doll looked especially unnerving to him: it was almost human-like, dressed in yellow flowing robes and wearing a pallid featureless mask. Jeremy felt it, mocking him, mocking his very existence, just by sitting in cardboard packaging. Jeremy could take no more.
He took the packaging, tore it off and then held the doll in front of himself. He whispered: “let's see what's beneath, you little disgusting piece of...” and tore off the mask.
His coworkers found him in the morning, lying in his own filth and babbling uncontrollably. Then they took him to hospital, where medics diagnosed psychotic episode. Jeremy died next day – his heart stopped.
Several days later warehouse janitor found the yellow-robed doll lying on the floor. He took it with him: he heard kids were going crazy for these things, and his nephew's birthday would be next month. The mask was on.
My other entry into Cthulhucon microfiction contest.
© 2015 - 2024 Irkhal
Comments1
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Very nice! I love the way the horror works. Though, I do think Hastur's trick is that he and his do NOT wear masks. Rather, what we mistake for a mask (whether it be a hidden face or a hidden intention) is actually the truth. We think there's something deeper, under the talk of entropy, domination, and chaotic restructuring for the sake of "beauty"; there isn't, with the King in Yellow. What you see is what you get.
However, another being takes on a mask and yellow robes just as often. If you were going for a suggestion of that one, you've done a brilliant job. From the seemingly friendly toy factory setting to the psychotic episode, it's the usual work of the Crawling Chaos.
However, another being takes on a mask and yellow robes just as often. If you were going for a suggestion of that one, you've done a brilliant job. From the seemingly friendly toy factory setting to the psychotic episode, it's the usual work of the Crawling Chaos.