Drabble Wednesday: Frankie and Joni Continue

In a continuation of last week’s adventures Frankie and Joni return with more strange tales of virtual reality programming...

Aftermath of the Monkeys (Sea Ghouls and Zombies)

“Frankie, I can’t believe the company wants a simulation based on what happened last week.” I sighed, a headache forming. “Monster Combat. Sea ghoul vs. zombies vs. flying monkeys.”

“And don’t forget the puppets.”

Ignoring him, I continued. “At least these creatures won’t be real. I had nightmares until the last of those monkeys went home.”

“Um...”

I didn’t like the sound of that. “Frankie? Did you keep one?”

“A little one. I’m training him to run errands.”

I stared, my headache pounding. Frankie looked at me with sad eyes. I capitulated. “Fine. But I’m not cleaning the monkey poo.”

~*~

Monster Combat?

Stupid Frankie and his stupid monkey.

Grumbling under my breath I tossed a large bag of monkey poo into the incinerator. If the darn thing wasn’t so good at fetching our lunch orders I’d—

“Hey! You’ll miss it!” I turned at Frankie’s shout, and raced back to see the new game boot up on the monitor.

“Let’s get ready to Ruuumble!”

I rolled my eyes. “Stop clowning and watch for glitches.”

“Hmmm. That’s odd. They’re, um, dancing.”

“What?” I started at the screen. Ghouls, monkeys, zombies and puppets danced a jig.

“Maybe I shouldn’t have programmed Riverdance into the soundtrack?”

~*~

Virtual Therapy and Love

“I can still see it. The horror... you can’t imagine the sight of a zombie waltzing with a puppet.”

“Tell me, how did it make you feel? Did— zztzzttzzz”

I looked up at the grating noise. The holographic image of Freud jumped, and then frizzed out. Frankie stood waiting by the VR chamber door.

“Why did you stop my program?!”

“Um, we may have a problem. Zippy’s in love.”

“Zippy? Oh, yeah, your flying monkey. Wait, what? It’s in love?”

“With one of the puppets. I think they’re planning on eloping.”

Shit. I’m going need more therapy after this escapade.

© A. F. Stewart 2017 All Rights Reserved

Drabble Wednesday: Creepy Time

Today on Drabble Wednesday I serve up some creepy tales…

Puppet

The carved wooden face held a pitiful expression, its eyeless sockets staring, as it swung from its strings suspended from the ceiling of the puppeteer’s workroom. Its hand curled around the weathered head of another puppet, almost cradling the manmade cranium. The other puppet’s body lay smashed it pieces, twisted in the workshop vice.

On the window sill a music box played, the tinny notes drifting across the gloom and dust of the shop. Under the sound of the music, a tiny voice whispered. “I’m sorry Poppa. I couldn’t save you. But I will try my best to avenge you.”

The Ferryman

The teal water carried the stillness of death, and the turbid air draped itself through the dingy sky. It was always thus; his surroundings never changed. His gaunt hand brushed across the olive wood of his pole before it dipped into the water, breaking the surface. The echo of this act sounded like thunder.

A peace settled into his bones, as his boat moved gently towards the shore. He loved this time alone. He glimpsed a figure; there would be work tonight. His passenger boarded with a coin and he turned the boat back, sailing another soul to their fate.

The Circus on the Hill

On certain cimmerian nights, when the stars align, a circus comes to a long forgotten hill. Faint music heralds its arrival, the treble trill of the calliope, mixed with mellow fiddles. The tune is familiar, yet ancient, comforting, but daunting.

Radiance follows, a warm amber glow that bathes the hill. It pulls the gaze, and you see the tents, all crimson stripes and buff canvas, flags and banners, and silhouettes milling all around. Then you hear laughter, the soft chime of bells, and the voices. Oh, those voices.

Sweetly they beckon, call your name, but whatever you do, don’t listen.