The Hand That Feeds
Mood:  mischievious
It was just a phase. All kids have weird phases that they go through and I was no different. I know it was wrong and some would say evil but I can’t turn back the clock even though I truly want to. You have to understand though, it was just a phase. The only thing is most people’s childhood phases didn’t cost the lives of hundreds of puppies.
I’m truly not a monster, I just had a weird phase were I pretended to be some master of the universe. I thought I was a God or something that ruled all of the Earth and killed the first born of every family to make them stronger. Of course I didn’t try to kill people but I had neighborhood dogs play the part of the average taxpaying citizen and whenever they had a litter I would kill the runt. Depending on how much time I had on my hands I might kill two or three.
I know it is considered sick but I didn’t think much of it, I never attached any real value to their lives. It’s not that I was self-centered and didn’t think that my actions affected anyone else; I knew that these animals would lose their lives. I just had to decide which was more important; the animal’s lives or my entertainment. Sadly, the animals always lose.
When my parents found out about what I was doing I immediately underwent psychiatric therapy and my family moved into the city were there weren’t as many temptations for me to play with animals. My father was a wealthy stock broker so the move was convenient for him and he ended up spending a great deal of money to get me back to normal. Today, almost 25 years later, I feel great and love every second of life. If I were to travel back in time and go through that situation again I know it would be better if I found something else to do and left those animals alone.
I am now your average well adjusted citizen. I own four farms and have been making a great deal of money through those endeavors. The first farm I bought is the one I now live on. I have a full crew working it just like at my other three farms, but I still love to get out there and do some honest work now and then. I especially love doing things that gets me close to the animals. I love helping get the cows milked and feeding the pigs. I feel good when someone who knows about my past sees me working with the animals. I want everyone to realize that phase is far behind me.
Right now though I can’t help but think about those old days with the neighborhood dogs. I was only eight but the memories are still very vivid. They come back to me with every angry bark exploding from my faithful companion Muzzy. Muzzy has been with me since I bought my first farm and began my new life. She has always been there with me.
Now she stands in front of my blocking the door from my home office. I move forward from behind my desk to see how she reacts. She flinches then gently resumes her ready stance growling the whole time. I briefly scan my desk for something I could use as a weapon. I pause when I see the stapler but realize that is ridiculous and abandon my search. All my thoughts of my long and trusting relationship with Muzzy are gone. All I care about is getting through that door and away from her.
I inched forward watching too see if she noticed. She stared at me with her dark eyes with a face as steady as marble. This was a game we played many times; I never thought it would be a rehearsal for a real situation. We watched each other and waited, then with a suddenness that surprised even me, I leapt for the door swing it up with both hands. I felt a dull pain on my lower back and then a sudden coolness. My whole body filled with pain and my mind was filled with a sea of red.
I knew that Muzzy had bit deep but she let go. She could have ripped a large chunk of my back off but didn’t. Instead she walked in front of my and stood waiting. Her mouth was closed and her tail fell naturally behind her. Her presence soon took the place of my pain and I stood up somewhat fearful. My hand impulsively attached itself to my back but my mind was completely on Muzzy.
Muzzy watched me making sure I was ok to walk and turned and walked out the door and down the stairs. She waited t the bottom for me to catch up and then turned again and walked out the front door. The farm was a complete wreck; there had been a takeover. All my live stocked lined a nearby fence and created a tunnel which Muzzy and I were going down. I felt each pair of eyes burning into me as I walked.
Muzzy kept a slow steady pace but never turned around. She walked as if she didn’t know I was behind her and was just trying to get somewhere she had to be. Sometimes I felt as if she didn’t want me to follow her and I wondered if I should stop. I kept going though deciding that if I was committing a mistake I would commit to it.
I didn’t make a mistake though; Muzzy had wanted me to follow her. She walked into a large nearby barn. I opened the door and followed her in. It was dark inside and I couldn’t see where she went. I called out her name and,”SURPRISE!” came the reply. The lights blinked on and I saw a large cake with a crowd of my friends, family, and animals surrounding it.
Everyone cheered and the fear I felt in my heart soon melted into warmth and joy. I moved slowly toward the cake, to excited to think of what to do. I saw my smiling wife Megan and I decided to give her a hug and kiss and tell her about how afraid I was. I walked more quickly, more confidently, and watched as Muzzy sat at her side and licked her palm. All of the guest began to break up into little groups and I thought of how perfect the moment was.
Megan reached down with her long slender arms to pet the dog, the whole time watching me. The dog backed away and turned around. It looked at me for a moment and I locked eyes with it. Megan saw me turn and looked down at Muzzy just as Muzzy leaped into the air attaching herself to Megan’s throat.
All the animals in the barn started attacking guests but I was left alone. Dozens more poured in through the open back doors and I watched as everyone I loved died in front of me.
When their chore had been completed they one by one turned to me and began to form a small circle. I looked around, panicked, but saw no sign of comfort, not even Muzzy. “I guess I deserved this.” I said finally realizing everything.

Mood:  flirty
A story by Nick Clair

Jim and Lizard Man


The warm, salty air exploded into his lungs as he sucked in a deep breathe trying to keep from passing out. Jim Sulivan had been running for nearly 6 miles which is more than twice the distance he has ever traveled on foot at any one time in his life. Jim was exhausted but he knew he would have to keep running no matter what unless he passed out. At least if he passed out maybe he wouldn’t feel himself start to eaten…
As he ran the streets had begun to get less and less familiar. Jim knew he was getting into an unfamiliar part of town, but where? He had lived in this city most of his life, how could he get lost only six miles from his house, the place where he first started being chased.
It had happened so fast that Jim never had to think about what was going on. Jim had been sitting on his back porch trying to figure out something to do better than sitting on his back porch when he saw the neighbor’s dog. The interesting thing about the neighbor’s dog was how the front half of the dog was in the mouth of a large lizard-like creature while the back legs kicked frantically trying in vain to run backward. Jim, being the heroic animal lover he is, ran away as fast as he could, but first making sure the back door was shut so that his cat wouldn’t be eaten too. The lizard thing took interest in the sudden movement and it’s been a stale mate ever since.
With every step Jim took he felt his legs grow heavier and h knew he wouldn’t be able to keep running much longer. The area had become sort of run down and forgotten. Then Jim noticed large warehouse buildings with the occasional fork lift sitting idly by waiting for the next morning of work to begin. Signs started to appear directing drivers to certain pier numbers and Jim new he was by the docks. His options were running out.
Jim made his way down another street but soon realized he was in two deep. He was surrounded by ocean on both sides and in front and a large dog eating monster behind him. As he heard the bests heavy breathing behind him he knew he would soon have to make a decision.
Two grey warehouses on either side of Jim gave way revealing a long pier with small fishing boats tied up on the sides. An old man carrying a six pack from his car to his boat stopped and stared when he saw the parade that was coming down the pier toward him. He dropped the cans and moved into his boat resting his hand on the controls while he watched Jim and the lizard go past his car.
Jim thought at an incredibly rapid pace, however most of his thoughts were worries about having his flesh ripped open so things weren’t very productive. Jim didn’t want to go into the water because he had a deep belief from the movies that lizard like creatures are good in the water. He realized his only logical choice would be to turn around and try to get past the lizard and start back the other way. Maybe he would try jumping in the fisherman’s boat back there.
Jim slowed down and peeked from the corner of his eye planning his next move. He saw the lizard who seemed to be smiling as he ran. As Jim turned his attention forward he felt the cool wet lick of the lizards tongue on the back of his neck. All thoughts of turning around were abandoned and Jim now concentrated on jumping into the water and making a go for it. He started reflecting on his life and he decided it went pretty well.
Jim reached the edge of the pier and went going in between two wooden poles used to tie up boats. He leaped gracefully into the air, arms stretched out in front, and legs together and straight, and his toes were even pointed though you couldn’t tell because he was wearing shoes. Jim felt that if he was going to die diving into the ocean it should at least be a nice dive. He sucked in his last earthly breath and closed his eyes as he shot into the water.
Jim felt the sudden coolness of the ocean water and waited a long second before taking his first stroke. Jim thought it would be over soon so there was no point in working too hard in your final seconds. But nothing happened. Jim turned to see if the lizard was still behind him but he couldn’t make anything out in the water. He waited as long as he could hold his breathe, giving the lizard some time to catch up.
Jim’s head broke through the surface of the water at he wiped his eyes so he could see. The lizard was sitting on the edge of the pier with his scaly head in his long green hands. The beast appeared to be crying. Jim’s first urge was to swim away but his compassion seeped through and he swam a little closer.
“Hey! Green guy! You ok?” Jim asked cautiously. The beast looked up and Jim once again felt the sudden urge to break away as fast as he could. But the beast looked toward the horizon and Jim felt reassured.
“My mom never taught me how to swim.” The lizard-man said speaking in a deep sad voice. He turned back to Jim and then looked down at his claw like hands folded in his lap. “You beat me, you can just go.”
Jim swam to the dock and climbed up. He stood by the sad being ready to jump back into the water at any sign of trouble. “Tell me about your mother.”The lizard looked up then looked back down.
“My old mom never loved us.” The monster-man spoke in a deep soothing voice. His voice could make anyone want to sit and listen to him even if he was reading the instruction manual for a gas grill. “She was never there and anytime she was she would be hitting us or…” the lizard saw Jim’s face soften as he moved closer. The lizard stopped mid-sentence using his long tale to snatch Jim up from behind and carry him to the lizard’s mouth.
The lizard chewed and swallowed poor compassionate Jim and then jumped into the ocean. He saw underneath the surface using his powerful gills to breathe. He moved rapidly toward the long horizon where the sun was setting, tipping over a small fish boat and eating both occupants on the way.