Tales of Terror

Death must Come

well this is the nightmare nermal had as well as the first story in this horror anthology

DEATH MUST COME

taken from

CRYPT OF TERROR #17

for nermal things were pretty good, for he was the world's cutest kitty cat, thus he had people adore him every time he did something, and the best part is that they were at his every beck and whim as long as he didn't do anything, yep nermal had the most amazing life.

but nothing cute lasts forever.

one day while he was brushing his fur nermal found something in his brush that shocked him. it was a grey piece of fur, more gray than the rest of his fur. This meant one thing.

he was getting old.

"this is bad" nermal thought "if i grow old i'll no longer be cute. what can i do?". he eventually found his answer.

one day he was reading through the newspaper checking today's headlines

PAW-TUCKET ANNOUNCES ADAPTATION OF SHAKESPEARE PLAY (Don't ask how it got there)

BISKIT FAMILY MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARS

MEG GRIFFIN LOOKS TERRIBLE IN PICTURES

none of these piqued nermal's interest. he was about to throw them away when in one of the newspapers an ad caught his eye

LOOKING TO REMAIN YOUNG? SIGN UP FOR EXPERIMENT

nermal's eyes gleamed with joy "this is perfect. with this experiment i can remain young and cute forever." he made a call the ad promoted and volunteered.

He eventually found his way to the professor's lab and knocked on the door and a cat opened it. "are you nermal"

"yes"

"pleased to meet you" the cat said "i am dr. bob T. loon" (get the joke) "i trust you're here for the experiment"

"um, yeah" nermal deadpanned "so, what does this experiment involve"

"it's very simple.'' Bob said "I've been doing some research, and I made this surprising discovery. apparently the spleen has a special gland that is able to arrest old age."

"have you tried this experiment on yourself"

"no" Bob answered, "I intend to grow old and wait until my time comes. now shall we." he led nermal to the operating room where there was a dead cat on one table and nothing on the other "what's with the dead body"

"Apparently the gland is still active even in death" Bob explained. and then they began the experiment. afterwards nermal looked at the mirror above him, confused "did it work?"

"of course , you have no more signs of old age." bob "if you need anything let me know"

Nermal left the building satisfied. knowing that the experiment will keep him young, and cute.

it wasn't until a few years later, that nermal returned to bob's lab, "nermal, what brings you here"

nermal held out his paw revealing some gray fur that had fallen out while he was brushing it "i thought you said it worked"

"it did." bob said "it must be dying since it came from a dead body"

"Well I want to try the experiment again," said Nermal. Bob refused, but Nermal kept begging until he finally agreed, went to a pet cemetary (not the Stephen king one), dug up another cat's body, brought it back to the lab, performed the experiment again, and went their separate ways.

and that was the routine. Every few years nermal would request the experiment again whenever he found gray hair, or other signs of old age. but one day things were different

"you know nermal something just occurred to me" bob said "it's been 3 years since you requested your last procedure, and this time it was one year, do you know what that means.'' Nermal was a little confused.

"it means the time between the operations are getting shorter, it's only a matter of time before you need one every month, then a week and eventually a day"

"don't worry," said Nermal, "I think I know how to keep this from happening. we'll just have to use a younger cat's gland"

"NO!" bob shouted "i'm not doing the operation again"

"but you have to, without it i'll no longer be cute"

"my answer is no"

In anger, Nermal pushed Bob as he was walking downstairs, he fell, hard, and broke his neck. this terrified nermal but then he had an idea. He called a pizza place and ordered a pizza. Eventually the delivery person or should I say, pony showed up and it was none other than vlad.

"delivery for-" his sentence was cut short as he was knocked out by nermal. who dragged him to the lab and put him on the table. but he had doubts. "i'm not sure this'll work." he thought "but i've got to try." he grabbed the scalpel and walked to the unconscious body.

but when he looked at the mirror he saw something that shocked him "no. no! NO!" he shouted "IT'S IMPOSSIBLE". he looked down and saw the gray hair turning more gray than ever. He walked backwards in horror. but as he was doing so he tripped over a chord and fell out a nearby window to his death.

Well on the bright side, nermal will be the afterlife's cutest kitten. and i suppose you're wondering, what did nermal see in the mirror? well, you'll find out soon enough. Now let's see who's nightmare is next.