Music Box Sonata: By Timothy Hobbs

 

When I find a book I love, I want to share it with everyone. I want everyone to love it as much as I do and I want to talk endlessly about it. Music Box Sonata is one of these books. I was drawn in from page one and held captive until the very end. Timothy Hobbs, the author, is a master story teller and he did what so many authors these days fail to do... he took me into the story and opened up a new world for me. While I was reading Music Box Sonata, everything else disappeared.

 

Recently I sat down with Timothy and asked him about the book.

 

ME: Tell us about Music Box Sonata.

 

Timothy: Music Box Sonata is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I did some research on the Fairy Tale to find out exactly why the Beast was cursed. I read where a King and Queen had this son who was cared for by a nanny. When the King went off to war, the nanny tried unsucessfully to seduce the son. Because of her rejection, the nanny put a curse on the son to be a Beast forever.
I modeled the physical appearance of the Beast after a 1980's Hallmark Hall of Fame TV movie based on the fairy tale. George C. Scott played the Beast and actually looked more like a boar with his snout and curling tusks.

 

ME: This is a very creepy story that goes back and forth in time. The ending… which I don’t want to give away… was very disturbing with a wonderful ick quality to it. I’m just wondering, are you planning a sequel?

 

Timothy: I did not write a sequal to Music Box Sonata . I did another fairy tale variation. This one was a retelling of Sleeping Beauty of the Woods entitled Maiden Fair. It is the third in a series entitled Once Upon a Time in Texas as all of the books - The Smell of Ginger, Music Box Sonata, and Maiden Fair - are set in Texas.
Maiden Fair was published by Netherworld books in January of this year.

 

ME: Sounds interesting. I haven't read it yet, but it is on my TBR list. You also have another book, the Pumpkin Seed. I've read it and loved it. Care to talk a little about Pumpkin Seed?

 

Timothy: I wrote the first draft for the Pumpkin Seed in 1995. I put it away until I started editing the book in 2006. The story line follows journals that tell the tale. It begins in India in the late 17th century then moves to England in the 18th century and reaches its end in Austin, Texas in 1995. The journals move back and forth in time just like Music Box Sonata. The plot involves vampire-like creatures whose condition stems from a viral infection that physically alters their body. They not only drink blood, they are flesh eaters as well.

 

I think that's one of the things I found most disturbing about the book, their appetites. Plus, there is a delicasy that these vampires really loved and it quite honestly turned my stomach... which is a good thing. Too many times horror doesn't seem horrifying. You certainly have an imagination that I think is rare.

 

Thank you, Timothy for stopping by.

 

If you would like to read Music Box Sonata, you can find it on Amazon, along with The Pumpkin Seed and The Smell of Ginger. Warning: This is real horror. Not for the faint of heart.
 

 

                          

Timothy C. Hobbs (1950 - ) was born in Temple, Texas. His older brother was a lover of horror movies and literature. Tim naturally followed his brother's lead and was seduced by all things that go bump in the night. Tim started writing horror stories in the sixth grade and has never stopped since. 

 

Tim is retired from the Veteran's Administration Hospital and currently resides in Robinson, Texas with his wife Donna Walker-Nixon, who is also a published author.

Timothy C. Hobbs (1950 - ) was born in Temple, Texas. His older brother was a lover of horror movies and literature. Tim naturally followed his brother's lead and was seduced by all things that go bump in the night. Tim started writing horror stories in the sixth grade and has never stopped since. Tim has published two novels - Veils, and The Pumpkin Seed; one novella - The Smell of Ginger; and a collection of short stories - Mothertrucker and Other Stories. Two more novels - Music Box Sonata, and Maiden Fair are currently being prepared for future publication.
Tim is retired from the Veteran's Administration Hospital and currently resides in Robinson, Texas with his wife Donna Walker-Nixon, who is also a published author.

Print this

55 Word Challenge: Week 54

 

Welcome back to #55WordChallenge!

 

For those that are uninitiated, the 55 Word Challenge is a contest to write a story in 55 words or less. Not an easy task, but fun and I have been blown away by some of the entries. See for yourself, past contests can be found here. The challenge begins at noon Eastern time every Wednesday and ends at noon Thursday. The story is based on one of three photo prompts. My only request is no porn. I don't want to hear graphic details. If it is erotic, make it titillating, not obscene. I know that can be done and done well.

The story is to be posted in the comment section below, along with your twitter handle or email address, so I can contact you if you are the winner. If you don't want to list your email address, send it to me at jezri@writing.com. I promise I won't distribute it, but if you are the winner I need a way to notify you and to send you your prize. I am also going to be bringing back the #55WordChallenge Bumper Sticker.

It will take a few weeks for them to be delivered to me, but this will again be a monthly prize. I expect to begin awarding them at the end of May.

And what does the winner get? This badge, for one. As mentioned above, I will be awarding the Jezri's Nightmares Bumper Sticker again, beginning the end of May. And of course there are bragging rights. :) I know, right?

If anyone is interested in contributing a prize, a book, cover art, whatever you want, let me know and we will work something out. If you are an artist that would like to have your work featured, let me know!

Photo Prompt:

Let the fun begin!

Some Things Are Meant To Be

This is written for Anna Meade and the Dark Fairy Queen Writerly Bridal Shower. Congratulations Anna! I wish you and your future husband all the best.

 

 

Some Things Are Meant To Be

By Lisa McCourt Hollar

Ruth stared into Norman’s eyes, her knees buckling at the love she saw there. It had been a long road for them. On more than one occasion she despaired they would never marry. But now here they stood, in front of friends and family, ready to commit their lives to each other. Her father had even walked her down the aisle. Ruth had never thought that would happen, not after the explosive reaction he’d had when Norman first asked for her hand in marriage.

“Over my dead body,”  Her father yelled, chasing Norman off their property, with the aid of his shotgun and a generous helping of rock salt.

“Daddy! He’ll never come back now.”

“That’s the idea.”

“Harold,” her mother interjected, “our daughter is in love. Remember how my father felt about you?”

“Yeah. He chased me off with buckshot, that rat’s lucky I only used rock salt.”

Ruth fell at her father’s knees.  “He wants to marry me, daddy. Please give your blessing. Otherwise, I’ll run away and we’ll get married without your say so.”

Harold brushed her off and Ruth ran to her room, tears filling her eyes. Huddling on her bed, she listened to her parent’s argue.

“She’s nearly twenty-one, what are you going to do, keep her locked up for the rest of her life?”

“If I have too.”

“Harold…”

“You seem to forget, Carol, Norman aint right in the head. Just because he’s the only one courting our daughter at the moment…”

“He wasn’t the only one, until you drove off all the others. Don’t do this, Harold. He can protect her. He’s good with that arrow and you know it.”

“Arrow,” Harold scoffed. “The damn Walkers surround them and Ruth is a gonner.”

“Harold…” Carol’s sounded frightened, “I saw something moving outside.”

“Stand back.”

There was a loud crash. Ruth went running to the door to go help her parents, but the door was locked. She pounded on it, screaming for someone to let her out, but the only answer she got was her mother’s screams and the sound of her father’s shotgun.

***

“They might not be dead,” Anna offered. Ruth smiled at her friend. She knew the girl was only trying to help, but the facts were, if the Walkers had taken her parents, they were dead. She was grateful for Anna though. She had shown up the next morning and let Ruth out of the room. She told Ruth that most of the survivor camps had been run over. An organized attack by the Walkers.

“There he is!” Ruth pointed towards Norman, relief washing through her. “Come on, Anna.” Ruth took off for the tree line, not understanding why Norman was screaming for her to run. She was running, wasn’t she?

***

“What are you waiting for?” Ruth looked at the pastor.

“Ruth, you don’t want to do this.”

“Now you sound like Anna.” Next to her, Anna, her Maid of Honor, sniffled.

“They’re dead. This isn’t a wedding, it’s a funeral. Yours too, if you go through with this.”

“Mine too, if I go through with this,” Ruth mimicked, pointing her shotgun at the preacher. “I’ve lost everything, I’m not losing Norman too. Now get on with it.”

“Ruth, please…”

“Anna, shut up. He got bit saving you. Next time someone yells run, try running.”

She looked around, most of her friends were there except for Tanya. She’d struggled against the collar and decapitated herself. Ruth had never liked her much anyway. She’d dated Norman once.

Looking over the scenery, Ruth only saw the decorations she had painstakingly put up. Pictures she had collected over the year and stored in her hope chest were tacked to the trees. Her father moaned, pulling against the chain that kept him in place. Ruth smiled at him, tears in her eyes. She knew that he was in there somewhere, probably angry that she was defying him.

Repeating after the pastor, she said her vows, placing a ring on Norman’s finger and then again on her own.

“Until death do us part,” she said. Ruth knew later, after she unchained Norman, he would eat her, but for now they were together, as they should be.

 

Word Count: 700

Winner 55 Word Challenge: Week 53

There were only 5 entries, which made picking HM’s and winner all the more difficult. I am only choosing 2 HM’s because to do 3 would leave only one author out of the running, but I loved all of the stories.

Honorable Mentions:

@keithbwalters It wasn’t the work detail I’d have chosen either. Zombie Prison Warden. *shivers*

@PurpleQueenNL Loved this line:  They hadn’t worked out how to use boats yet, although we’d seen a few try; it was only a matter of time. *Double Shivers*

Winner:

@DavidALudwig

David nailed it with his entry, Zombie Prison.

ZOMBIE PRISON

 

I don’t know what the mayor thought I would do about it. You can’t lock zombies up on an island and think it’ll break their spirits. It only makes them hungry. The city balked at the cost of de-animating them properly.

As the doors swung open I considered whether to yell “Prison Break” or “Dinner”!

55 words

 

Okay, Keith, Miranda and David, DM your email addresses to me and I will be sending you coupons for the books you won. Also, let me know if you live outside the U.S. I will need to send you a Smashwords coupon since Amazon.com seems to have issues honoring the coupon outside the U.S.

Kayla and C.M. Stewart, I am giving you both a copy of No Zombies Allowed, so please DM your information to me as well. Thank you for entering!  I look forward to seeing you for the next challenge.

 

 Zombie's, Zombie's Everywhere

Book Review: I Left My Haunt In San Francisco

I Left My Haunt in San Francisco is the 3^rd in the Kal Hakela series and Mark Stone did not disappoint. I even learned a little history along the way, which is one of the things I love about Stone’s books. If you read the last book, What Happens In Vegas, Dies in Vegas, you know that Kal faked his death at the end of book one, so that he could avenge his sister’s death. In book 3 he is working again for the BSI, training new Green Peas, when he is called into B.B’s office. A former BSI agent and a mentor to Kal, Thomas Mace, jumped to his death in San Francisco. Suicide isn’t something the paranormal investigators would normally investigate, but there is evidence there is more there than a simple suicide. Using his own blood, Thomas wrote Kal’s name on his shirt. Kal picks his team and they leave for San Francisco.

That is when the real fun begins, from a disgruntled cop, who resents Kal to a ghost that protects San Francisco… and hates Kal. He can’t seem to catch a break in this book and his rage, which used to make him such an unbeatable force, is strangely absent. Kal needs to learn to rely on his friends to help him out, more so than usual, as they battle an enemy that seems to know what their next move will be, even before they do.

I loved this new angle. In the first two books, Kal was a force on his own. I sometimes wondered why he even needed a team. In San Francisco he has a new depth, new fears. He stands a real chance of dying and in fact comes close. There are also all the elements that I love from the first two books. His cop friend, Wilkes, is back, along with Canton and Winch, plus some new faces. I was sad that Ghost wasn’t included, but if they’d had him they may not have needed their ghostly new friend, Joshua Abraham Norton, the Emperor of San Francisco. Look him up, there is some real life history within these pages.

The ending of the book is absolutely explosive and another enemy appears, just as you think everything is all wrapped up. This is where Kal learns just how much his friends care about him. I am already looking forward to the next book. Go buy it. You won't regret it. 5 Stars!

Be sure to check out his first two in the series as well as The Judas Line, a stand alone book that is not a Kal Hakala book, but I still kept expecting him to pop up.

 

About the Author
 

Born in Helsinki, Finland (The Land of the Uncommonly Stubborn), Mark Everett Stone arrived in the U.S. at a young age and promptly dove into the world of the fantastic. Starting at age seven with theIliad and the Odyssey, he went on to consume every scrap of Norse Mythology he could get his grubby little paws on. At age thirteen he graduated to Tolkien and Heinlein, building up a book collection that soon rivaled the local public library’s.
In college Mark majored in Journalism and minored in English. The newspaper business wasn’t for him, so he did what every good writer does: find work in a wide variety of fields that included catering, bartending, and restaurant management. After getting married, he sold Hyundais (before they became popular) and, because he lives in Colorado, Subarus. Eventually he matured enough to be able to sit down and just write.

55 Word Challenge: Week 53

Welcome back to #55WordChallenge! I took a break last week and I am back and feeling refreshed. But wow... last week I felt like a zombie, unable to write, tackling things being thrown at me left and right... I felt caged. Which brings me to this weeks prompt.

ZOMBIE PRISON!

Yep, that's write, I have a zombie theme and some great pictures to go with it.

For those that are uninitiated, the 55 Word Challenge is a contest to write a story in 55 words or less. Not an easy task, but fun and I have been blown away by some of the entries. See for yourself, past contests can be found here. The challenge begins at noon Eastern time every Wednesday and ends at noon Thursday. The story is based on one of three photo prompts. My only request is no porn. I don't want to hear graphic details. If it is erotic, make it titillating, not obscene. I know that can be done and done well.

The story is to be posted in the comment section below, along with your twitter handle or email address, so I can contact you if you are the winner. If you don't want to list your email address, send it to me at jezri@writing.com. I promise I won't distribute it, but if you are the winner I need a way to notify you and to send you your prize. I am also going to be bringing back the #55WordChallenge Bumper Sticker.

It will take a few weeks for them to be delivered to me, but this will again be a monthly prize. I expect to begin awarding them at the end of May.

 

And what does the winner get? This badge for one... actually I may make a special badge for the challenge. If so, I will display it tomorrow. For 2 a copy of Undead Ahead Zombies. 3 Honorable Mentions will get a copy of The Second Wave: A Post Apocalyptic Tale.

If anyone is interested in contributing a prize, a book, cover art, whatever you want, let me know and we will work something out. If you are an artist that would like to have your work featured, let me know!

Photo Prompt:

Shameless Plug:

Zombie Reads: Available for Kindle, Nook, Kobo and Smashwords.

 Check it out. Jezri's Nightmares Bumper Sticker. Anyone donating $5.00 to my indiegogo campaign will get one.

 

Taking a Break

 

If you came here looking for 55 Word Challenge, you are going to be dissapointed. It has been a grueling week. Jeff's schedule has been turned upside down, which has turned my schedule upside down. I've gotten behind on the A to Z Challenge and I'm not sure if I am going to get caught back up. My muse has been... very unmotivated. I've been working on Marked, so perhaps she just can't change gears, I don't know. Then I broke my glasses...which had been super glued together after the last break, but now are broke but good. An eye appointment tomorrow will hopefully help In the meantime,  I am going to take today off and not do anything but enjoy my family.

 

Check back next week and enoy the lovely weather. (Lovely hear anyway, despite the rain.)

Living Room

Wrote this for Midweek Blues. The music prompt was Living Room, by Paris Combo.

 

Living Room

By Lisa McCourt Hollar

 

The woman on the stage was captivating. I found myself staring into her eyes while she sang. They were a pale blue. Everything about her was pale, except for her lips, which were ruby red and her dark hair, which framed her face, accentuating her eyes.

Never a dancer, I was surprised to find my toes tapping to the music. Before long my legs joined in. I felt her eyes on me and everyone else faded. It was as though she and I were alone in the room. I was performing for her and she for me.

After the show she invited me back stage. It was on the leather couch that she whispered her name to me, Lilith, and then a sharp pain in my neck followed by darkness.

“Wake up.”

I opened my eyes, confused. My wife stood over me, her hair in curlers, wearing that ratty pink robe she insisted on wearing all day, every day.

“What…” I covered my eyes and squinted through the cracks in my fingers. Why was it so bright?

“Your boss called. He said if he doesn’t see you walking through the door in fifteen minutes not to bother coming in. Ever.”

“Shit. I overslept?” I sat up, knocking a pile of beer cans to the floor. “Why didn’t you wake me?”

Joan snorted. I knew the answer to that. I don’t think she’d been up before one in, well, over a year. When our son died. That was also when I started sleeping on the couch.

I was wearing my clothes from the day before. I smoothed out the wrinkles. If I made all the lights, I could make it to work within the fifteen minute time frame.

I got stopped by every single one. Twenty minutes after leaving the house I was walking through the office doors. Maybe I could smooth things with my boss.

The elevator doors opened and she was inside. Lilith. She stared at me, her blue eyes searching my soul. The pain of losing Alex came back, Joan distancing herself from me, the drinking to forget… my heart screamed for release. I closed my eyes and begged for death.

When I opened my eyes I saw Joan staring at me, her gaze cold, uncaring. I was in my living room again, on my couch. My clothes were stained and I smelled like death.

“I’m leaving.”

I sat there while she packed her bag. I didn’t do anything to stop her. I popped open a can and drank my sorrows away.

I was in the club again, dancing for her.

“Who are you?” I asked.

She answered, “Death and Life.”

We danced. A dark man played a cello… or was it a double bass? I wasn’t sure. I only wanted to dance and feel her in my arms. I could feel my heart beating with the music.

I looked into her eyes and saw myself as I had been the last year. I was alive, but I wasn’t living.

She whispered into my ears, “I can show you how to live.” She kissed me and my heart slowed. The music faded and I only heard the rush of my blood as she drank.

When I woke, she was still with me. I’d accepted the gift she had to offer. I looked around my living room one last time, then took her hand and went out into the night. It was strange… I was now dead, but had been reborn. It was time to start living again.

 

Word Count: 593

D is for...

My D word is a bit of a stretch but does fit in with the Creepy Crawly theme. Bearded Dragon

 

Failed Invasion

 

"People call them dragons."

"What? Those tiny things?" Bending, I looked at the tiny creature that was standing on it's hind legs and leaning against the laundrey detergent. It was no longer than two inches. Nothing like the glorious creatures I remembered from my youth.
"You must be joking."

"I told you, they would be easy to take."

"Shhh, someone is coming." Shimmering, I morphed into a puddle and slid under the door. Once outside, I transformed again, blending into the tiger lily's that were blooming. I could hear a woman speaking.

"Franklin is coming for dinner tonight, I thought I would spruce the place up a bit."

Then I heard her shrieking. "Ewww, get it, get it...don't let it into the rest of the house!"

"Lois, it is just a lizard."

"It is a wretched, ugly beast," Lois said. The door opened and the creature was swept out of the house. The lizard sat there a moment, dazed, and then crept into the flowers to escape the crazed human.

"Not a very polite species," Glek said. "This planet will fare better, once we have removed them."

Before I could respond, the human took hold of me, wrapping her fingers around the stem my body was emulating.

"These tiger lilies will be perfect. Franklin loves them."

Realizing the mistake I had made in choosing this form, I attempted to transform before it was too late, perhaps into a fierce dragon, so this woman would know what a true fire beast was. My body shimmered for a moment, but her closeness prevented my being able to change. The scissors slipped in and cut.

"Glek, I can not change back!" My thoughts were frantic as I sent them to him. "You need to shift now, if you are to survive."

"I am afraid it is too late," Glek said, joining me in the woman's hand.

As we were carried back into the house, I saw the small 'dragon', leave his hiding place and crawl onto a rock, sunning himself.

Winner 55 Word Challenge: Week Fifty-Two

 

I’ve let the week get away from me. I’ve even gotten behind on the A to Z Challenge, so today I will be playing catch up. But first the winners of my C is for 55 Word A to z Challenge...

 

Honorable Mentions:

@klingorengi: Loved the combination of comedy and horror.

 

@bookwormattack: The thought of cockroaches eating someone just sent a chill through my body. *shudder* And what a great way to dispose of a body.

@JMwandering: I love how the serial killer was a human that killed bugs. Was the museum ran by the creepy crawlies? That would be fun.

Winner:

@PurpleQueenNL: This story made me chuckle. I could picture a big, burly man dancing around and then, in my mind, it cut to Dr. Cockroach in Monsters Vs. Alien, looking very confused.

Jack thought it was just a stone in his boot until it crawled out onto the bootstrap, then he screamed; toppling backwards in an attempt to shake it off. The whole work crew turned to laugh until they saw it too, and then within seconds the yard was cleared, leaving the lone cockroach bemused.

 

Miranda, I will send you a Smashwords coupon for the book!

Thank you, everyone, for entering. see you again on Wednesday.

 

A to Z 55 Word Challenge: C is For

 Week 52

 

 Welcome back to #55WordChallenge! This is a special week becaue this is day 3 of The A to Z Blog Challenge. Like last year, I have a theme. Creepy Crawlies! So pay attention, there is a word prompt as well as a photo prompt.

For those that are uninitiated, the 55 Word Challenge is a contest to write a story in 55 words or less. Not an easy task, but fun and I have been blown away by some of the entries. See for yourself, all the past contests can be found here. The challenge begins at noon Eastern time every Wednesday and ends at noon Thursday. The story is based on one of three photo prompts and for the A to Z Challenge, a creepy crawly that begins with the letter C. Your story can be written in any genre you choose. My only request is no porn. I don't want to hear graphic details. If it is erotic, make it titillating, not obscene. I know that can be done and done well.

The story is to be posted in the comment section below, along with your twitter handle or email address, so I can contact you if you are the winner. If you don't want to list your email address, send it to me at jezri@writing.com. I promise I won't distribute it, but if you are the winner I need a way to notify you and to send you your prize.

And what does the winner get? This badge for one... actually I may make a special badge for the challenge. If so, I will display it tomorrow. For 2 a copy of Monsters, which was inspired by my A to Z challenge last year.

 

If anyone is interested in contributing a prize, a book, cover art, whatever you want, let me know and we will work something out. If you are an artist that would like to have your work featured, let me know!

Photo Prompt:



Photo courtesy of Petr Kratochvil



 



Photo courtesy of Petr Kratochvil



 



Photo courtesy of  Kecia O'Sullivan



Word Suggestions:

You can use your own as long as it begins with a letter C and is an creepy crawly.

Crab, cockroach, carpet beetle, cricket, cobra, centipede, chigger. Coccoon would even work, since it could contain a creepy crawly.

 

Shameless Plug:

Monsters!

 

Buy Now

B is for Bed Bugs.

Day 2 of the A to Z Blog Challenge.

 

B is for Bed Bugs

 

Exterminating Circumstances

by Lisa McCourt Hollar

 

“What the hell… owe!” Thomas rubbed the back of his head, being careful this time not to hit it on the heating pipe hanging over his head. Molly glared at him, unfazed by the sound of the prison alarms shrieking around them and then kicked him in his happy spot. Thomas reacted by punching her in the face, adding another bruise to her already swelling face.

“You better watch yourself, bitch. I’ll be back to finish this.”

“Hey wait, you can’t leave me here.” Molly struggled against the zip ties he’d fastened around her wrist and the metal bed frame. “They’ll wonder where I am.”

The guard looked back at the prisoner and chuckled, “Aint no one going to miss you.” He then shut off the lights and left. He hurried because he was in section C of the Women’s Penitentiary. He was supposed to be in Section A. Frank had better cover for him, since he’d paid for him to look the other way while he took Molly to the boiler room for her training. His ankle screamed as he climbed the steps, already swelling from where Molly had kicked him when he’d first climbed on top of her. Damn uppity whore needed to know her place.

“Where have you been?” Frank asked, when he rounded the corner. “Cain is looking for you.”

“Never mind where I’ve been, what’s going on?”

“Prison break,” Frank said, and then turned his gun on Thomas and shot him in the shoulder.

When he woke up, he was tied to the bed in the boiler room. Molly stood over him, a pipe in her hand.

“What the hell…”

Molly swung the pipe forward, hitting him in the face. Blood filled his mouth from broken teeth.

“Don’t speak,” Molly said.

“Are you ready?”

It was Frank standing behind Molly. Thomas opened his mouth to speak, but shut it when Molly lifted the pipe.

Frank shook his head. “You raped the wrong woman… Meghan.”

Thomas’s eyes widened. He remembered the cunt. A year before, she’d reported him to the warden. He’d almost been fired over it, but then Meghan had hung herself and the problem went away.

“Meghan wrote me,” Molly said. “She told me she was afraid you would kill her. When she died, I knew. I also knew no one would do anything about it. No one cared about Meghan except for us.”

“She was our sister,” Frank said. “Different father’s, so no one knew. I was at a different prison at the time, but finding a transfer wasn’t hard. You’re a dick, Tom. No one wants to work with you. And faking paperwork for a new prisoner wasn’t that difficult.”

The two turned to leave.

“Where are you going?”

“We’re leaving,” Molly said.

“You can’t just leave me here.”

“I think we can. No one’s going to miss you. Oh… we left you a little gift in the bed.” Then she shut off the lights.

Thomas lay there, waiting. He knew eventually someone would be down. Maintenance checked the boiler room on a schedule. He planned his time there around the schedule. He did worry about what Molly meant by a little gift. He was thinking about that when he felt something crawling on his arm. Then he felt more creepies on his leg, under his pants and then crawling under the waist band.

He struggled to loosen himself from the ties, but they were strong… his own personal stash, he didn’t want anyone managing to get loose. Whatever had crawled under his waistband was now swarming over his dick, tiny points digging into the skin.

His face was also crawling with whatever was swarming him. His imagination went wild, imagining rats chewing his eyes out. These weren’t rats though, they were smaller… some kind of a bug. Did cockroaches eat your skin?

“We left a gift for you on the bed.”

Bed Bugs. The word came to him and he shook his head, trying to knock them off. How could there be so many? He opened his mouth to scream and bugs poured in, biting him on his tongue and sliding down his throat.

Eventually he passed out.

***

“He was dead when we found him.”

“Why didn’t anyone report him missing?” The warden looked angry.

“We didn’t know,” Sgt. Cain said. “We had a drill earlier and when he didn’t show up I checked… he’d clocked out early.”

“What do you mean he clocked out early?”

Cain shrugged. Frank spoke up, “It’s my fault sir. He told me he wasn’t feeling well. I told him he should go home. I thought he would report first.”

“Bed bugs… and this room. There were complaints about him.”

“I know, sir,” Frank said.

“Are any of the prisoners unaccounted for?”

Cain started to speak and then changed his mind. He’d gone through the roll call. He could have told the warden that the new prisoner, Molly was missing, but there was no record she’d ever been there.

“No,” he said instead, “all prisoners are accounted for.”

“It could be an accident,” Frank said. “He was a bit… odd. He could have used his teeth to tie himself to the bed and then not been able to get loose when he needed.

“You’re saying this could have been an unfortunate… accident?”

“I’ve heard of stranger things. Some actor a while back killed himself by asphyxiation when he accidently hung himself.”

The warden shuddered. “And the bed bugs?”

“Were hungry.”

The warden closed his eyes. “Okay, we don’t want this getting out. Clean the room up and for Pete’s sake, call an exterminator.