Snow On The Tombstones: A Collection of Flash Fiction and Vignettes

ATTIC CLOWN

AUDIO BEGINS AT 10:07 PM ON OCTOBER 31, 2009

[A VOICE SPEAKS IN A HOARSE WHISPER.]

Jeez. Okay. So, I just heard something upstairs. I think it came from the attic. I was--

[SHUFFLING NOISES ARE HEARD FROM ABOVE.]

Shoot!

I don't know what it is. I was by myself, watching Scream-- again-- when it happened. I don't know what it is but I'm going to check it out.

I would film, but my camera's busted. Audio'll have to do, I guess. Jesus!

[FOOTSTEPS CAN BE HEARD, THEN A LADDER HITTING THE FLOOR. THE SOUND IS MUFFLED AFTER THE PHONE IS DROPPED INTO A POCKET.]

Hey, what the heck? Is that a f-ing clown?

[SOMEONE LAUGHS. IT IS MANIACAL AND ACCOMPANIED BY CARNIVAL MUSIC, PLAYING SOFTLY IN THE BACKGROUND.]

No, don't-- don't! I'm not--

[THE SPEAKER'S VOICE IS CUT OFF BY A SCREAM. SHE HITS THE FLOOR AND IS SILENCED. ALL THAT IS LEFT IS THE STATICKY SOUND OF CARNIVAL MUSIC AND LAUGHTER.]

[END OF RECORDING.]

*****

I played the recording back again. It was saved to my phone as an audio file, hidden within files of pirated music. I didn't want Mom to know I was still thinking about what happened to my sister back in 2009.

Mom nudged my door open with the toe of one black boot.

I wasn't sure what she was dressed up as. Halloween was a weird time for all of us. You would think that she would want to stay home, but no. Maybe it was easier to drown her sorrows with themed food and booze at someone's house down the street.

I paused the audio.

She started to say my deadname, winced, then corrected herself. "Sorry. Mason, are you going out tonight?"

I shook my head.

She nodded. "Would you mind watching the door, then?"

"Yeah, sure. I don't mind."

"Thank you, honey. Your father and I will be leaving in a few minutes. Don't open the door after ten. Do you promise you'll be safe?"

"Yeah, I promise."

*****

VIDEO BEGINS AT 10:07 PM ON OCTOBER 31, 2019

[PART OF MASON'S HAND IS ONSCREEN, AS IS HIS BEDROOM WALL. SHUFFLING NOISES CAN BE HEARD UPSTAIRS.]

There's something up there. Jesus Christ, this is just like what happened to Viola. Jeez.

[THERE IS A BEAT OF SILENCE. THE SHUFFLING SOUNDS AND FAINT CARNIVAL MUSIC CAN STILL BE HEARD.]

There's something in the attic and I have to go see it. If I can figure out what happened to Viola... I need to know. This house is haunted by something. I need to know about it.

[THE CAMERA FOCUSES ON MASON'S FEET AS HE WALKS OUT INTO THE HALL, PULLS DOWN THE LADDER TO THE ATTIC, AND BEGINS TO CLIMB. ONCE HIS SHOULDERS ARE THROUGH THE HOLE, THE CAMERA SWIVELS TO FOCUS ON THE DEEP ORANGE LIGHT OF THE ATTIC.]

Jeez. What is th--

[A CLOWN DANCES UNNATURALLY, EMERGING FROM THE SHADOWS. THE SCREEN BEGINS TO FILL WITH STATIC.]

[END OF RECORDING.]