From the Vault : Works in Progress III

Genre : Flash Fiction Horror

Title : Words

I looked at my tiles and back at the mute. The tavern was mostly empty and the clacks of the wood letters on the board were crisp in the air. Smoke hovered above. I shouldn’t be here, I thought. 

I played my word anyway. STAR. Across. I didn’t have much on my tray. I replaced my letters. The mute rocked back and forth in his chair. His dirty hands were surprisingly nimble. He laid down U and N under the R. I recorded his points and he replaced his two letters from the bag.

Some of the patrons made a cluster around the exit. Their hands were moving in conversation. I resumed my attention to the board.

I moved some tiles around on my tray and found a surprise. I placed D-R-A over the T in STAR. That put me ahead. His hands were placing two more letters on before I had finished tallying. O and W next to the N. 

The barhop eyed us from his place at the slab, drying a cup with a damp rag in the dim light. His lips were shut in a grimace. I frowned at my tiles. 

It appeared we both were dealing in short words in this chance meeting. But I found a break. I used the W from NOW. WHITER. I tallied up. The mute glowered, then looked down at the board. I refilled my tray and he laid down U and N next to the R.

I faltered. I wrote the points down slowly. I felt like I was sinking in thick water.

We sat there for a moment. I couldn’t think of another word. It was my turn but I had forgotten we were playing a game.

The mute smiled. He placed more letters down next to the N. 

O.

W.

I looked at the board.

I looked at the mute. 

I read the words again. 

My eyes grew wide.

RUN. NOW. RUN. NOW.

I rose from my seat. 

The table hit my thighs and the pieces scattered. The mute rose as well. He held a small, pinched blade in his left hand. I turned to the entry where the three figures, the ones in conversation, now stood. I saw their mouths. They were scarred and one had lips sewn together. They blocked the way out. The bartender approached me with the mute beside him. 

I was surrounded. 

In this tavern.

In the dark.

I screamed. 

But not for long.