C S Jones is an award winning writer from Wrexham, North Wales, who holds a prestigious 10 meter swimming certificate. Often mistaken for an escaped mental patient, he has been writing for only a short time, his recent massively inflated sense of self finally winning out over the years of overwhelming laziness. A keen horror enthusiast, he has finally decided to give back to a community that has provided so much, whether that be in his writing or general appearance. Initially a timid child, he was scared of anything and everything, including Ghostbusters 2 - insisting his parents record over it immediately. So far, he has released one novelette - Colours and hopes to have more available before the year is out. If he can make you feel even a modicum of the terror experienced during Ghostbusters 2, then mission accomplished. I, I mean, he, hope's you enjoy.
THIRD DRAFT
by
C.S. Jones
“No one believed me, and then it happened again,” Kelly overheard someone say. She opened her eyes and winced at the bright room waiting to greet her.
“She's awake,” came another voice.
“Where am I?” said Kelly.
“Wait, don't you know?”
“How would she?” came the first voice. “She's the new protagonist.”
Kelly was in an empty room with two other women. “I'm sorry... I don't understand.”
“I'll handle this,” said the first woman. A tired expression was etched into her leathered face. “I’m the exposition, after all. Linda, pleased to meet you.”
Kelly’s forehead creased. Her eyes adjusted and she didn't like what she saw. The room was empty, its only fixtures a big screen TV and a long fluorescent light illuminating the sparse area a sickly yellow. In a corner was a door.
“It’s like an escape room, only the person who trapped us here is dangerous and totally mental. This is our third run through, the first you've been here for.”
“I’m sorry, third run through? How have you not gotten out yet?”
“Because he doesn't have an ending,” said the other girl, younger than Kelly, her smeared mascara giving her panda eyes.
“Who?”
Linda cut in. “The man keeping us here. He has the premise, we thought he had the characters, but then you showed up. And this all repeats because he hasn’t got an ending. I noticed right away, but no one believed me.”
“I really don't follow.”
“You’re in someone's story. You’re the heroine, the final girl. It was Andrew the last time, but it seems the writer’s gone the more inclusive route.”
Kelly shook her head. She was convinced she was dreaming, but she had no memory of anything before waking up. “Well if you're exposition, who's the other girl?”
Linda forced a smile completely devoid of mirth.
Before she could answer, the other girl spoke. “The first victim. I don't even have a damn name! I just want to go home.”
Kelly studied the room. “Well, there’s the door. I'll take it we've already tried that?”
“Booby trapped,” said Linda. “First time it was a shotgun to the face.”
No-name winced.
“Second, it was a damn honey badger. That was too problematic, so I dread to think what he's got in store this time.”
“I’m sorry, I'm still catching up. Who's he?”
Linda sighed. “The author, the moron who’s writing this.”
“How would you know this?”
“We’ve seen him.”
“Seen him? Surely he's not conceited enough to put himself in his own story?”
At that moment, the TV flashed to life to reveal a man with a big beard and a thick, luscious head of hair. He had so much hair. “Gentlemen...”
“Fucking idiot still hasn’t changed that bit then,” said Linda.
“This room is only the beginning. The rest of your life hangs in the balance of what you do next.”
No-name whimpered.
“Each of you has escaped from prison, avoiding your penance. Well, that cannot stand, not after what you've all done. I shall give you the opportunity for freedom, but first you must serve your punishment another way. This awaits you in the next room. Please proceed.”
Linda tutted. “Ooh, he’s getting sued by the Saw producers for this one.”
“To Hell with this!” No-name said, and for no real reason, ran for the door.
Linda shook her head. “Seriously? Why? There isn't even any rationale.”
Kelly was calling for No-name to stop, but she already had hold of the door handle.
Every inch of No-name knew it was an awful idea, but somehow, she was powerless to stop. She swung the door inward, choosing to stand right in the open, completely exposed. In front of her was a jet wash with a strange, green liquid bubbling within.
Before No-name could rethink her delirious act, the jet wash unleashed, spewing the green substance right into her face. The force drove her back and off her feet. She was squealing before she hit the ground.
Kelly heard the sizzling over the poor girls shrieks as acid melted her flesh and eroded her face into meaty pulp. Clumps of blonde hair dripped away, while No-name’s fingers melded to her cheeks as she tried to wipe away the acid.
In a panic, Kelly tried to wipe some off, but only succeeded in sliding No-name's sloughing forehead clean off her skull. She recoiled in terror and pain as No-name’s face folded into itself.
Gradually, her screams became gargles.
Linda looked on, swallowing to prevent herself from throwing up. “I actually think I preferred the honey badger.”
Kelly held her hand at the wrist. “My damn hand! Why would I do that? I knew it was pointless, that it’d be agony. Why?”
“You’re the heroine, the role bestowed on you by the great creator. Compassion. It’s how to get the audience on your side.”
“Just feels dumb, to me,” Kelly said through gritted teeth.
“I never said he was any good. Tell me, what's the first thing you remember?”
“Waking up, why?”
“Eesh, that's how he starts this? With cliché 101? Safe to say we're screwed. God, I hope this is a flash fiction story. I don't know how much more of this crap I can take.”
“Well, the door is wide open.”
Linda pursed her lips. “I suppose it’s not like we have a choice, but I don't want to be doing this forever.”
“He'll finish it soon, surely?”
“And when he does, how many times are we gonna relive this whenever someone reads it?” Linda looked towards No-name, whose skull resembled a bowl of mushy soup. “That bastard. I can't stay in here. You see what's next door?”
“No. It’s completely black in there. Less than that, like there's nothing.” Kelly looked at Linda, then back at the doorway, gulped, and took a step through.
***
“No one believed me, and then it happened again,” Kelly overheard someone say. She opened her eyes.
“...Shit.”