"Unnatural Things" drabbles by E.L. Drayton
Inheritance and Servitude
Unnatural Things
Sitting in the park on a sunny afternoon, watching family picnics nearby, was the Artist. He spends the majority of his time observing the happiness of others, knowing he can never experience it himself. His job is one of inheritance and servitude. His duties, while simple, and to him, mundane, serve a higher purpose and must be done to the best of his abilities.
He comes from a long line of Artists whose job it is to capture emotions in every drawing in order to feed the ColdBlooded. They rely on each other. Life in exchange for other people’s feelings.
The Commercial
Unnatural Things
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Satisfaction Guaranteed or your life back.
Sydney House
Unnatural Things
Not too long ago, a man went down on one knee and proposed marriage. The woman said yes and both went on to live happily ever after…for a time...
They had two children, three dogs, and they all lived together in Sydney House. The couple bought the house as newlyweds at a bargain, which should’ve tipped them off that something wasn’t right. They survived in it for many years, until they had two children and two dogs. Not long after that they had two children, and one dog.
Now the house has no parents, no dogs, and one pernicious child.
Day Drones and Night Crawlers
Unnatural Things
Fear of daylight is normal when its rays have been known to set flesh on fire. Most people work at night to avoid the tumult of Day Drones who stampede through the streets before the sun sets.
The heat rises with the setting sun and Screamers can be heard for miles around. By the evening the streets are littered with the charred remains of those who did not make it. Walked upon by the Night Crawlers.
At daybreak the wind will spread their ashes, like dust, up to the clouds, where they’ll provide evening rain, and wash away all sin.
Snatchers
Unnatural Things
With less than one hundred miles to the next stop a conductor slows the train. All the passengers are fast asleep, he makes sure of it. The train is scheduled to stop there and stop it must, but it isn’t required to let anyone off.
There’s no announcement of its arrival or departure, it might wake the passengers, or worse, the Snatchers. They only ever appear at night, once a train pulls in and passengers exit.
The conductor witnessed what they do and now prays to whatever God is listening no one wakes up.
Then he hears someone speak.
“Damn.”
The Hag
Unnatural Things
The nuance way her hair fell across her face as she laughed was intoxicating. Everyone around her could tell she was happy, especially the Hag. Her role in society wasn’t to be happy but to take happiness away. She accepted this and never skirted her duties.
As night drew near the laughing woman parted ways with her friends. Street lights illuminate her path home. A bulb in a street lamp buzzes, then POPS! and goes out. It quickly flickers back to life on an empty street corner, with nothing but the sound of an old Hag cackling in the distance.
The Bodies
Unnatural Things
In case you should ever visit the prison here, in the basement is where they keep the bodies. The wardens felt it was better allocation of resources to convert half the boiler room into a makeshift morgue. Complete with builtin temperature controlled slabs, like a mausoleum, if you played your cards incorrectly, this could be your final resting place.
Just ask the man in slab number 3B08. There lies the body of Tom "Ice" Shelby. He's the only resident in the basement who has chosen to undermine the laws of death simply by breathing, so he can show you around.
Lady of the Night
Unnatural Things
She is what you'd call a Lady of the Night. If you're in need of a fix or freedom from what troubles you, she's where you'd go. I imagine, in a place like this, her evenings are filled with countless seeking her services.
Her natural acuity for knowing what you need instantly, male or female, is uncanny. I've gotten to know and talk with some who've suggested her services to me, boasting of her many abilities.
I can't help but wonder, where does a Lady of the Night go when she needs a fix or freedom from what troubles her?
Mama
Unnatural Things
In the corner booth of Ingram Bar sits Mama, a rather large woman. Some believe her weight comes from her diet; secrets. She devours them like people devour food, and it shows.
Nothing happens without Mama knowing. Everyone respects or fears her and that's how she likes it. She's judge, jury and executioner over all. If you need or want anything she can make it happen. For the right price she can give you all you desire. But payment is rather steep.
Even a woman of her size has needs, and not all of them can be paid with cash.
Wall of Lost Souls
Unnatural Things
Down a seemingly abandoned street lives a man unlike anyone has ever seen. He himself cannot see, choosing to only come out at night, due to his averse reaction to sunlight.
One night a group of frenetic kids, seven to be exact, decided to walk down this street to get a closer look at the Unseen Man. Little did they know he wasn’t the only person down there.
I learned their story as I watched seven more names carved into the Wall of Lost Souls, meant to serve as a warning to children but has now become a grave symbol.
The King is Dead
Unnatural Things
This party had a certain untenable quality about it as the room became more and more crowded. To hear it told, whispered in corners in case someone was listening, "the King is dead."
No one knew exactly who the self-proclaimed "King" was, just that they all owed their very existence to this person and now he was dead. Therefore, making merry with drink and laughter seemed perfectly innocent...
It was well into the next morning when a young woman, casually talking to her friends, innocently posed the question, "who's next?"
Then, the room fell silent. The party was over.
Mr. Whitfield
Unnatural Things
Mr. Whitfield died twice. The circumstances of both his deaths are of little concern. What makes him so fascinating is the fact he had two resurrections, while many only ever get one. To be resurrected once is lucky, twice, a miracle. People here are thirsty for a miracle, making Mr. Whitfield a Wanted Man.
Answers to why he was chosen, will others receive the same miracle and can he do it again, are all anyone care about. Since this all-out manhunt for him, he's gone into hiding, unwilling to risk another death with the hope of a third life.
The Flood
Unnatural Things
While the rain fell with great speed and alacrity, I decided to roam the streets. My hope was to make the unfamiliar familiar and all while maintaining my sanity.
In a town where nothing or no one seemed right I knew I had to be vigilant. The streets were always empty during the Flood. It happened once a week, almost as if a higher power knew this place needed to be cleansed.
Cleansed of the filth who walked these streets, the Flood was as much for their protection as it was for their salvation. Pity none of them deserved either.
The Swamp
Unnatural Things
The swamp is never visited, so when Hank chose it as the best location to hide the bodies of his family, no one was surprised. Some were even heard saying, "smart lad," in the dead of night at seedy bars where the women are cheap and the liquor is an endless stream.
What none of them knew, what the Sheriff decided was best kept to himself, was the maniacal look on Hanks face when he was finally arrested. His expression would be forever burned into the memory of a sheriff who has, and knows will, see much worse, and soon.
Rock-a-Bye
Unnatural Things
A ghoul refused to leave the only home she’s ever known. It made no difference to her when a young couple, the woman carrying a baby, pulled into her driveway. She wasn’t going to budge. Little did she know, they came prepared to deal with her should she become unreasonable.
On their first night, after putting the baby to bed, they prepared for the ghoul to strike. Knowing she snatches souls from sleeping children didn’t worry them. As the night wore on and not a peep was heard they grew concerned. Upon entering the nursery, the slumbering baby was gone.
