Strange Happenings
Midnight. They always came at midnight. The chimes from the old grandfather clock in the den jolted Daniel out of his restless dreams. It wasn't the chimes that woke him so much as the knowledge that They were coming. It was the same horrifying ritual, every single night.
The room was illuminated by an eerie pale green glow. Three figures in haz-mat suits stood around his bed. One of them held a large briefcase, another held a gun, and the third--the apparent leader, from the way he acted--was making entries into a large handheld computer. Daniel tried to escape, to run, to even move, but some unseen force held him in place, as immobile as the bed itself. The leader looked up from his computer and signaled to the one holding the briefcase, who set the case down and began to open it. Daniel strained to see its contents, but couldn't from his position. If only he could move...
The leader reached forward, grabbed the bedcovers and--
The shrill blast of Daniel's alarm clock filled the room. He'd had that dream again, the same one he'd been having every night for nearly a month. Except that it didn't feel like a normal dream. It felt more like a memory, but one that had been partially forgotten. Anyway, Dan had more important things to worry about, so he pushed whatever it was aside for the moment. Today was the last day of school, finally. All he had to do was survive his last few final exams, and he'd be home free. He wasn't about to let a creepy dream get him down.
***
Dr. DiCaoz glanced over his biology classroom. "Is anybody still working on the final?" he asked tiredly. He paused for a moment, then said, "If everybody is finished, you may talk quietly amongst yourselves for the remainder of the period." As the class erupted in chatter, he went back to nursing his hangover.
Daniel loved his biology class. It wasn't just that he was good at it, or that it was the last class of the day. By some bit of luck or fate, he happened to be in the same class as his four closest friends, Gassan, David, Pammy, and Jake. Gassan, David, and Pammy had become absurdly popular since coming to high school. Gassan was Lebanese and therefore "exotic," David was a star swimmer, and Pammy was a cheerleader. In retrospect, popularity was an inevitability. To the other popular kids, Jake an avid follower of the Furry subculture (he called it a craze, but nobody else did) and Daniel, the introspective writer, were social liabilities. Still, Gassan, David, and Pam never let their newfound "friends" keep them away from Jake and Dan. Privately, Daniel was grateful that he had managed to befriend the four people who appeared to be immune to high school drama.
"So, what'd you guys think?" Pammy whispered.
"I'm pretty sure Dr. Di is a nutcase," Gassan answered quickly. He was met with a chorus of approval from his companions.
"Anyway," Pam continued, "are we having our annual Thank-God-The-Schoolyear's-Over party tonight?"
"I can't go," Jake said, "I've got a convention."
"I can't go either," said David, "My dad's taking me camping. He's on a back-to-nature kick."
"I'm visiting my grandma," Gassan said. Pammy rolled her eyes.
"Alright," she sighed, "when do you guys get back?"
"Sunday"
"Sunday evening"
"Sunday, but it'll be late."
"So," Pammy continued, "is Monday night alright with everyone?"
***
The days passed quickly. By the time Monday arrived, he had gone an entire weekend without his mysterious dreams. He was mostly relieved, but part of him wished the visitors would come back so he could find out what they were up to.
The streets were charged with an eerie calm. A summer storm was coming. As Daniel reached Pam's door, he couldn't help but feel a strange foreboding. Something was decidedly wrong. He rang the bell.
"Come in," called Pammy. Dan opened the door and found friend sitting on the floor in a tidy circle. They were all staring at him, an unsettling hunger in their eyes. "We are playing Truth or Dare," Pammy intoned mechanically. "Please, join us. Truth or Dare?"
"Please choose Dare," Gassan said, in the same unearthly voice.
"The Truth is never any fun," agreed David, still in the same tone. Throughout the exchange, none of the four took their eyes off of Daniel.
"Is everything alright?" he asked. "You all seem...different."
Pammy answered in the same monotone as before: "We are collectively unnerved at a series of recurring dreams we have been having. Perhaps you too are experiencing these visions?"
"Yeah," Dan said, "but I'm not acting that weird about it."
"Perhaps," Pammy said, "All will be made more clear if you answer this simple question: Truth...or Dare?"
Written by Zodiac on 31 May 2008
Before school ends
“It´s been just a dream, just a dream…” Daniel muttered to himself, pacing around his small bedroom. His short hair was damp with sweat, his breathing coming out in small gasps.
“Just a dream…”
The problem was that Daniel didn´t even remember his dream. Only the unsettling presence of them, and that they wanted something from him. During the last few weeks, he had this dream again and again and he never remembered who they were or what they wanted from him.
Only that they wanted it badly.
Running his fingers through his hair, Daniel tried to calm down. It was just a dream, whatever it was about. It probably meant something in dreams theory too, something silly like internalized guilt for not studying hard enough for his tests. It was no big deal.
But he would be really glad if the dreams stopped finally.
Eventually, Daniel went back to bed. No point in loosing whole night worth of sleep over some stupid dream, he thought. He had chemistry test tomorrow, he should sleep a bit before it.
Written by lulu-illussions on 01 January 2018
Costume Party
In the morning at school their is a big flyer saying 'Costume Party Friday.'
After some debate the five friends agree to try the mall for their costumes.
After school they arrive at the mall and split up.
Written by catprog on 16 January 2020
Costume Shop
“What is taking them so long?” Daniel tapped his foot outside the entrance to the shop. He was sure the store keeper inside was staring out the window wondering you the weirdo out front was. Daniel could picture the cops coming, his parents picking him up from the slammer. His mother would cry, his father's disappointed face. His friends, his four close friends would laugh their asses off.
“I could go in?” Daniel muttered staring at his wrist. Time didn't bring his late friends any closer to appearing before him, but he could hope, right? “Screw 'em.” Daniel said a flash of bravery. They were supposed to be looking for a costumes together for a party. The school was hosting it, and for once it didn't sound lame.
“I'll go in and get the best costume for myself.” Daniel nodded, that would show them. Turning from his pacing steps. Daniel opened the door, setting off a charming little bell. Daniel looked up and shape at a dangling fairy. The berries in her hands were the little bells that chime. “Cute.” Daniel smiled, charmed by the little figure.
“Isn't see?” A voice came from Daniel's side. “Many costumers don't even notice her.” Daniel turned and saw a young woman. Dressed in frilly clothes that would make his geeky friend droll. Her blonde hair curled, and tumbled around her shoulders. “Can I help you find what you seek?”
“Please,” Daniel ignored the funny why she spoke. It must be a gimmick for the shop, so he should go with it.
“You liked our fairy, would you like to be one?” She asked speaking in a soft and steady tone. That Daniel found to be soothing.
“No,” Daniel couldn't even begin to image the torment he would suffer. Dressing like a fairy to a school party. Shivering Daniel forced the image to the back of his mind. The mere passing thought would fuel his nightmare later.
“Something a little cooler, but different?” Daniel didn't have a real idea in mind. Crossing his arm, Daniel tilted himself left to right in thought.
“Cooler, and prettier.” She tapped her lips with her ring finger. The cuffs of her dress, swinging in front of her as she spoke. “Perhaps even mysterious?” “Mysterious.” Daniel snapped his fingers at her.
“Yeah, I want to be completely different from myself!” Daniel always daydreamed about whisking away to a new place, where he was the hero, the star. No offence to his friends, but they were so colourful and popular. That Daniel wasn't sure they understood him at times.
“Completely different I can do.” Her eyes narrowed at him, and she brought her hand up, with the palm out. Laughing, “But the price can be high.”
“Oh,” Daniel's shoulder slumped. He didn't have much money on him. Not enough to cover something the shop keep thought was pricey.
“It won't cost you any money.” She smiled with a nod, clapping her hands together. “You noticed my fairy after all.”
“Great!” Who knew there would be such a great perk for noticing a cute fairy chime? Daniel did a little dance on the spot to celebrate. Blushing red when the shop keeper joined him.
“What fun, but now we can not dance, you must try on the piece I'm thinking of!” She took Daniel hand into her smaller one, dragging him past the rows of costumes and accessories. Past a beaded curtain covering a doorway. To a back, and in Daniel's mind, secret room.
“What costume is it?” Daniel's palm sweated with excitement, and nerves. Mostly it was nerves. “A dragon? A skunk? A warrior? Or even a hydra?” Daniel rattled off a couple of things that came to the top of his head. They didn't make much sense once said out loud, but who cares! This was a free costume, and even his friends couldn't find a better deal than that?
Written by psto1464 on 17 January 2020
Mystery
"That would be telling" the storekeeper says "Just go into the change room and I will get it ready."
Daniel nods and heads into the room.
"I have invested in a body scanner, so if you would take your clothes off , I can adjust the costume so that it fits you perfectly" the store keeper says.
Daniel gulps "You are going to see me naked?"
The storekeeper reassures him "No I only get the key measurements. I have done this plenty of times so I am aware of what people are worried about"
Daniel nods striping down to his underwear. "Ready" he calls out.
The room goes dark and a beam of light moves up from the floor to the roof. The room lights back up to reveal that his clothes are gone.
"Hey" he calls out "Where are my clothes?"
The storekeeper responds with "They are out here, people are so shy about showing themselves in my costumes, this makes them come out at least once. Their the adjustments have been made." as a box slides into the room.
"Put it on and we will see how you look"
Written by catprog on 28 January 2020
Unicorn
Daniel opens the package.
Inside is a unicorn kigu. "I was thinking it would be great. This does not look that great"
"Well if you put it on and come out I can see what I can do." the storekeeper says "beside unless you want to walk around naked I still have your clothes."
Spluttering out a protest he puts the kigu on. "Yep I look ridiculous."
"Let me be the judge of that. If you come out I will make the necessary adjustment"
He opens the door and as he walks out, their is a static shock.
"I see what adjustments we need to make" the storekeeper says clicking their fingers.
The costume shrinks onto him. He reaches down to try and get it off but it is so tight that it doesn't move.
"What are you doing?" he asks the storekeeper.
"Well I am making you fit the costume."
"Don't you mean the other way around?"
"I meant what I said"
He looks down to his legs to see they look like real horse legs. "Your turning me into a unicorn?"
"I am making you fit the costume."
The change moves up to the hips, stretching them out by taking mass from his waist. "A female unicorn?" he says.
"A mare to be precise" the storekeeper corrects him
The sensation between his legs and the growing chest tells him indeed is now the mare in question.
"Not long now " the storekeeper says
The costume stretches out over the face and solidifies into her new muzzle. The horn also becomes real.
If you are not happy with the costume you just need to find me and I will give you a new costume the storekeeper says as the store fades to be replaced by a grocery store.
Written by catprog on 01 February 2020
Magic
As the new unicorn walks down the aisle her horn glows and the sense of decay from the produce fades.
The cashier greets her at the door "Thank you again. Here is your bonus" he says handing her a bag of apples.
Jake is waiting out front, "Another day done?"
Daniel nods as the memories of the new world filter in "It is good money for not too much work."
Written by catprog on 19 February 2020
The end (for now)