Chapter 1 - Doom In An Envelope.

I was so eager to rip open the envelope that I cut the tip of my middle finger, I let out a small yelp before drawing it to my lips and wrapped them tightly around it, my eyes still on the snow white paper that held whatever misfortune with a sweet smell. I could resist no longer, nor did I have the patience to not move forward with reading its content.

I withdrew my finger still forming a small puddle of blood at the end and removed the letter, it was a bit heavy in weight, I was unsure what could have caused this so I forced myself to continue forward. With a deep breath I unfolded this awfully pleasant scented partially crumpled parchment, a light hue of red starting to form on the side. There were so many scenarios running through my mind at this moment, I couldn't help but play with them as I brought myself to read the first line.

"To whom this may concern,
    I am full of regret to inform you that your mother Patti has passed away as of Monday. We will be holding services for her this weekend at Greater Plans Funeral Home at 1235 Colby St. Salem, Massachusetts 01971. Before your mother passed she asked that we attach this rose pendent in this letter and make sure it reached you in time before the services."

My blood shot eyes started to well up with tears, and I turned away from the letter for a moment to compose myself. I couldn't understand why I was becoming so filled with emotions, I was never close to my so called mother, she was a monster of a woman. Standing almost six foot in height with a hulking build she would make me feel so small and inadequate beside her, so unloved and damaged.

I returned my gaze to the letter to finish reading when the once light stain of red had become darker and if my vision wasn't slightly blurred from tears I would swear it took the form of a skull. I blinked a few times and lifted my right arms to clear the droplets from my eyes and face continuing with the rest of the letter.

"Your mother also asked that I include the phone number to your brother Jason 978-335-4578. If you have any other questions please feel free to give us a call at 978-578-2233 between the hours of 9 A.M. and 8 P.M. EST."

Signed,
    Malcolm Warner, Greater Plans Funeral Home.

Of all days, where everything seemed to be golden this news would reach me with no warning. I sat the letter down on the table in front of me and peered down at the pendent...This rose pendent...Why would she give it to me? The same pendent that caused her to slap my face so hard that it swelled up and became burning red when I was a small child...Why me? Why Now?

Taking another deep breath I turned away from the table and walked over to the sink turning on the cold water. I bent down and splashed a few handfuls onto my flushed face gathering my thoughts, something just didn't seem right. Turning quickly around forgetting the water was still running I went back to the table and looked at the envelope, no markings what so ever was on it but the letter itself had an address and phone number.

I was completely baffled by this, how could a letter reach me with no name, or address on it. How would they even know where I was since I had no contact with my family in years? So many questions, so many emotions. 

Zoetrope - A Prologue

It all began with a letter.

A half crumpled piece of paper tucked within a crisp white envelope. 

There was no stamp.  There was no postmark.  There was no return address. 

I had slipped open the flap, but I couldn’t bring myself to withdraw its contents, not after a whiff of thick, ominous perfume invaded my nostrils. 

Who knew what it meant, what secrets it held, but it gave me a heavy feeling.  Weighted down was an understatement.  I felt trapped beneath a bolder, an iceberg, a pack of lazy Saint Bernard’s who thought I had top sirloin in my pocket.

Instead I paced, wondering how long it would take to wear a trench in the cheap linoleum floor.  My tennis shoes gave a squeak with each about face.  All the while, the letter sat on the table, glaring at me with a condescending sneer each time I passed.  It mocked me, mocked my fear and beyond the steady white-noise hum of the fridge, I could almost swear I heard the shriek of twisted, maniacal laughter.

Why today? 

The day had started out so nice, so sweet.  It was the twitter of birds that I awoke to, not the shrill scream of my alarm.  I treated myself to a coffee, one of those tall-double-something-or-others that’s so popular.  It was good.  There wasn’t a line.  Traffic was in my favor, the mini-mart suddenly started carrying my favorite chocolate indulgence, and I even won ten dollars on a scratch-it card bought on a whim.

Why did it have to come today?

Eventually my steps slowed to a stop.  I couldn’t avoid it forever, though I couldn’t say my mind didn’t play out a dozen different scenarios where I gave it a heck of a try.  It was a steely resolve that I returned the letter’s glare, resenting the harmless way the flap hung open.  Its innocence was a lie.  I knew better.

By the time I finally yanked the letter from its temporary home on the table and greedily ripped the envelope open, I had only one remaining thought:

What’s the worst that could happen?