The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

The Boy 
by Kathleen McCluskey 

Samuel sat upon the work bench watching as Joshua labored with the mechanisms. Joshua was becoming more and more frantic; he knew that the ceremony was tonight. The elders were depending on him to complete the task. This was to be his greatest success yet he was dumbfounded why this project wasn’t finished already. He looked over at Samuel and shrugged his shoulders. Samuel’s dead eyes looked back at him.

Joshua worked in a frenzy as he adjusted the gears and the delicate components. This had to be an exact placement; the temple observance was tonight. Samuel only watched as the watchmaker began to become more and more disheartened as he worked. Joshua sighed loudly as his frustration was beginning to take over. He looked over at Samuel and wished he could assist him. Red faced and sweating he began again; this time he had the correct timing and the device began to whir and pulse. Joshua stepped back and watched the shining silver gears rotate faster and faster. He had done it! Joshua took Samuel in his arms and spun around.

The temple congregation stood on the sacred land that had been home to the temple for eons. They awaited Joshua and Samuel. They arrived and the entire sanctuary fell silent. Joshua approached the minister at the altar. He bowed his head as a show of respect. The clergy of the parish were extremely powerful and they loved their traditions. He placed Samuel upon the altar as he bent at the waist. Samuel’s lifeless eyes looked at Joshua as he sat on the front bench.

The minister began. He took the apparatus that Joshua had made and raised it into the air. He placed it beside Samuel. He lifted the boy, Samuel’s ceremonial, lavender robe billowed out around him in the soft autumn breeze. The congregation began to softly chant as he placed Joshua’s geared beacon into the boy. The all-powerful cleric began to chant along with the audience. A large gust of wind blasted the altar and the priest as he placed Samuel back onto the altar. He placed his hands onto the boy’s chest. A soft green glow began to surround Samuel. The cleric’s eyes rolled over white as he collapsed. Samuel lifted his head and looked at Joshua; his button eyes, yarn hair and burlap husk were foreign with the movement. Joshua knew that the damned soul of their savior had been released from hell. It now resided in his creation.

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Fiction © Copyright Kathleen McCluskey
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com 

More from Kathleen McCluskey:

The Long Fall: Book 1: The Inception of Horror

Lucifer always cunning and intelligent challenges father to a battle of wits. Being the angel of light he casts a judgemental eye upon mankind. He begins a war with his fellow archangels and God. Michael, along with his siblings defend their home and mankind from their deranged brother. Broad swords and hand to hand combat drench heaven in blood. The four apocalyptic steeds are released, each having their own destructive power. Betrayal and lust are at biblical levels. Understand the very creation of evil and the consequenses that transpire in the first of THE LONG FALL series.

Available on Amazon!