Morgue of the living
A short story by Eduard Joseph
Published by Eduard Joseph
Copyright 2013 Eduard Joseph
Front cover design by Eduard Joseph
Website: https://eduardjoseph.webs.com/
This is a work of fiction. The events and characters described herein are imaginary and are
not intended to refer to specific places or living persons. Any resemblance to any person or
persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
All Rights Reserved
The right of Eduard Joseph to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him under the South African Copyright Act of 1978 (as amended).
OTHER WORKS BY EDUARD JOSEPH:
When there is blood on the moon (A short story)
When Edith finds an ominous old letter buried in her garden warning her that she will be murdered within a few days, she dismisses it as a prank.
With the date on the letter drawing closer, she cannot help but wonder whether it may be a warning of some sort.
When she tells her mother about the letter, Edith discovers a startling secret from her past that might shed some light on the menacing letter.
The man who refused to grow old (A short story)
Benjamin (or Benny as everyone called him) was growing weary about not growing old gracefully. His approaching 40th birthday is almost unbearable and to make matters worse, he runs into a girl from his past who doesn't seem to have aged a day. She tells him that she had help keeping her youthful looks... something that Benny finds extremely alluring.
The Town
Available from June 2013
Jimmy lives a secluded life with his two dads in a small town. As long as he can remember, Jimmy wanted to explore the world, but never risked it. He is set in his mundane life with nobody of his own age to talk to.
While cleaning out the attic, he discovers an old CB radio. Jimmy decides to broadcast a message, but did not expect anyone to respond. A boy called Orlando responds on his broadcast. The two are roughly the same age and start talking and immediately form a strong bond.
Jimmy decides the time had come for him to leave home and venture into the world. His thirst for adventure is not the only reason – he longs to meet Orlando.
It is while on his journey that he discovers that all he thought he knew about the world, his hometown and himself were all lies – lies meant to cover up a secret too big to comprehend.
Coming June 2013
Dedicated to Samantha Wood
Present day
Melissa woke up in complete darkness, not having a clue as to where she was. She tried moving, but was constraint by limited space around her body.
“Hello?” She called out, “Can anybody hear me?”
She started crying. She felt the walls that surrounded her. There seemed to be no way out. She started screaming and kicking. She heard some kind of sucking sound at her feet and continued kicking harder and harder until finally something gave way. Light swarmed into the confined space she found herself in and she wormed out towards the light. The light blinded her and she fell to the floor.
She shielded her eyes from the light and gasped for air. She looked at the confined space out of which she had crawled and saw that it was one of many freezer doors that lined a wall. She looked at her surroundings and realized she was in a morgue.
“What the hell?” She whimpered.
She stumbled to her feet and over to the telephone mounted up against the wall. She tried dialing, but the phone was dead. She saw the temperature dial for the freezer slabs next to the phone indicated the freezer was set at 20°C.
She reached for the door knob, but the door was locked. She walked over to the barred window and stared out at the parking lot. She could see a parked car and a bush; that was about it. She banged against the window.
“Hello?” She called out, “Is anybody out there? Please! I’m stuck! Help!”
She could not see anyone out there and it was obvious from the silence that nobody was coming to her aid. The TV mounted to the wall in the corner of the room caught her attention. It was on mute and broadcasting an emergency signal. She reached for the TV and flipped through the channels. Each one was broadcasting some kind of emergency signal.
A bang behind her made her jump. She turned around and realized the sound was coming from the freezer door next to the one she was in. There was another bump and a muffled call for help.
She cautiously made her way to the freezer and took a firm grip of the handle. She opened it and saw a guy inside. He gasped for air and crawled out. He stumbled out onto the floor.
“Nick?” Melissa asked shocked.
She crouched down next to him as he gasped and shielded his eyes from the light.
“Where are we?” Nick asked.
Melissa helped Nick to his feet. He glanced at their surroundings, confused at what he saw.
“Why are we in a morgue?” Nick asked confused.
“I have no idea.” Melissa said.
Nick instinctively rushed to the door and jangled the doorknob.
“I’ve tried.” Melissa said, “I already tried. The phone is dead as well.”
The two of them stared at each other, bowled over at the situation they found themselves in. How did they end up in a morgue? Why were they there and most importantly, who put them there?
36 Hours earlier
Melissa stood in front of the mirror applying her make up. She was twenty seven, single and loving it. She was a real estate agent for Wonder Properties. She had an open house later that morning for a three bedroom house at the end of a very quiet street in a very tranquil neighborhood, which would be the perfect home to raise a family. If she was able to close a sell on the place, her commission would be gigantic. She had to look her best.
She put on the finishing touches, smiled at her reflection and then left the apartment. Her car was parked in the street outside the building. She left the building and as she went down the front steps she passed the old beggar man that always sat on the pavement. His clothes were torn and he had a heavy tan. She handed him a fiver and walked over to her car.
“Thank you ma’am.” The beggar said.
“You are more than welcome.” Melissa said, “And if I sell this house today, I will take you out to dinner!”
Melissa was excited about the day ahead, though it wasn’t her first open house. But it could be the first time she actually sold a house. Most of the people only came for the free snacks, but she had a good feeling about this one.
She unlocked the car door and saw a man standing in the alley across the street. His face was masked by the shadows. He stood watching her for a moment and then disappeared down the alley.
She didn’t take much note of it and got into her car. She pulled into the street and put on some music to get her into the optimistic mood she needed to be in for the perfect open house. She decided on her Miley Cyrus CD. She sang along as she drove.
Present day
Nick stood on his toes to reach the TV and flipped through the channels. There were still only emergency broadcast signals on all the channels. Melissa was getting annoyed at the fact that he was trying everything she had already tried. It was like there was not an original idea in his head.
“I tried that as well.” Melissa said, “Not that a TV signal would help us.”
”I can’t believe this.” Nick said
Nick walked over to window and peered out. There was nothing much out there and he could see even less than what Melissa saw due to him being a bit shorter. He banged against the window.
“Hey!” he yelled, “Is anyone out there?”
“Why are
you being so daft?” Melissa asked annoyed, “Don’t you think I’ve tried everything there is to try? Or do you think I’ve just been sitting here waiting for someone to rescue us?”
”Look lady,” Nick said.
“Don’t you dare call me lady.” Melissa said, “I will sue you if you call me that one more time and believe you me it’s possible with the laws of today. My name is Melissa.”
“Whatever.” Nick said, “I will try everything I possibly can to get us out of here, because frankly I hardly know you and how am I to know you are not in on this.”
“I could say the very same about you.” Melissa said, “I mean it won’t be the first time you lied to me, Nick… if that really is your name.”
Melissa was growing suspicious about Nick and the situation. Nick rolled his eyes at her and turned away.
“Don’t you roll your eyes at me.” Melissa said.
Nick sarcastically mouthed the words she said and then saw a yellow Post-It stuck to the third freezer door to the left.
“Hey.” Nick said, “What’s that?”
Nick walked over to the Post-It. Melissa followed him. They both stood in front of the freezer door and stared at the Post-It; it had the word Open written on it. They both looked at each other and then Nick grasped the freezer door handle. He took a deep breath and pulled open the door.
35 Hours earlier
Melissa stood in the living room of the open house. The table of snacks were nicely decorated with flowers and lined with wine glasses and fruit juice. She decided on fruit juice as people seem to pay more attention to the house if they don’t receive complimentary wine. And she wouldn’t want another wine spill on the carpet like with her previous open house.
The prospective buyers had yet to arrive. She glanced down at her wrist watch. Just another 5 minutes and then the open house would officially be starting.
She looked up at the front door when she heard footsteps. It was the first of hopefully many prospective buyers. She straightened her jacket, cleared her throat and ran her fingers through her hair.
A man stepped around the corner and slowly entered through the front door. He was a Mexican guy of about twenty three years old. His semi long curly hair was combed back and really brought out his prominent facial features, especially his luscious lips and intense hazel eyes. He was wearing a suit that complimented the curves of his muscles perfectly. Melissa was totally taken aback by him.
His eyes searched the room and he smiled once he saw her standing at the table. He could see she was excited, and yet aroused by his presence.
He walked over to her and held out his hand.
“Hi.” he said, “I’m Nikulas Rodriquez. Nick for short.”
Melissa shook his hand and said, “Melissa Green.”
“Nice house you have here.” Nick said admiring the room.
“You’re the first person to arrive.” Melissa said, “I could give you a private tour?”
As soon as the words left her mouth, Melissa realized she was flirting a bit and felt foolish. She tried to keep her cool.
“Sure.” Nick said, “I’d love that.”
”Great.” Melissa said with a big smile.
She led him across the room towards the dining room.
“This is the dining room.” Melissa said, “As you can see it is very spacious and is connected to the kitchen via a counter top, which would look lovely with some high chairs.”
Nick admired the room and nodded with approval as she led him through to the kitchen.
“This is the kitchen.” Melissa said, “Big and spacious enough to bring in a kitchen table for family breakfasts – that is if you have a family.”
“No.” Nick said with a smile, “I’m not married.”
Melissa turned around and looked at him.
“If you are single,” She asked, “Then why do you need all this space?”
“I don’t want to be single for the rest of my life.” Nick said, “I’m planning on starting a family one day and women want a man who is grounded and can provide stability.”
Melissa was starting to like him more and more. She was snatched out of her puppy love gaze upon hearing voices entering the house.
“Will you excuse me?” Melissa asked, “I have to meet and greet. Feel free to help yourself to some snacks and wander.”
“Will do.” Nick said.
Melissa smiled at him as she left and nearly walked into the wall. Nick smiled and shook his head. It was obvious to him she had a major crush on him.
Present day
Nick pulled open the freezer door. He and Melissa stared into the freezer. Something was left inside for them to find, but it was too dark inside to see what. Nick reached in and retrieved two machetes. He stared at the machetes and Melissa took one from him.
The machetes looked old and had a bit of rust on them. Melissa turned her machete as she examined it. It was kind of heavy.
“What the hell?” Melissa asked.
She stared at Nick whom seemed just as stunned as she was.
“What’s this for?” Melissa asked baffled
“I have no idea.” Nick said.
Melissa lowered her machete, but kept a tight grip on it.
“This is starting to feel like that movie Saw.” Melissa said.
“But why?” Nick asked, “Why would anyone want to recreate a movie?”
“We live in a sick world.” Melissa said, “People re-enact murders they saw in movies every day.”
“But if this is really a reenactment,” Nick asked, “Where are the rules of the game? Where is the cassette? Where is the voice telling us what to do?”
Melissa glanced into the open freezer and saw something else lying deeper inside. She reached in for it. It was a VHS video. She stared at Nick with fear in her eyes.
34 Hours earlier
The last of the prospective buyers had left the open house. Melissa closed the front door. She was confident that at least one of them would return for the sale. She made her way back to the (now empty) snack table to tidy up. She took a couple of wine glasses in each hand and walked to the kitchen. She placed them in the sink and filled the sink with some water.
She turned to go get the rest of the glasses and bumped into Nick. She let out a scream of terror, making them both jump.
“I’m sorry!” Nick said with a smile, “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Scare me?” Melissa gasped, “You nearly gave me a heart attack!”
”I’m sorry.” Nick said.
“What are you still doing here?” Melissa asked baffled.
“I stuck around because I wanted to get to know you.” Nick said.
“Oh.” Melissa said, “It’s kind of creepy.”
“No it isn’t.” Nick laughed.
Nick’s smile faded as he stared out the kitchen window. A man stood underneath one of the trees that lined the street. He just stood there staring at the house
“That guy outside the window on the other hand is creepy.” Nick said.
Melissa looked up just as the man rushed away.
“I think it’s the same guy I saw this morning outside my apartment.” Melissa gasped.
“Stay here.” Nick said.
Nick rushed out of the kitchen and ran to the front door.
“Wait!” Melissa called out, “He could be dangerous.”
Melissa ran out after Nick and found him standing in the garden. There was no sign of the man.
“Which way did he go?” Melissa asked.
“I didn’t see.” Nick said.
He turned to Melissa.
“If this guy is following you,” Nick said, “You should go to the police.”
“He’s not following me.” Melissa said, “It’s only the second time I saw him.”
“He’s lurking outside in the bushes.” Nick said, “That’s stalking.”
“At least you were here to keep me safe.” Melissa flirted, “I’d like to repay you for your bravery.”
Nick turned to Melissa.
“How about dinner?” Melissa asked, “Tonight?”
Present day
Nick took the VHS tape from Melissa and inspected it. It was labeled with the words Play me. VHS player is in the cupboard.
“What do you think it is?” Melissa asked.
“A VHS tape.” Nick said.
“I know what it is.” Melissa said annoyed, “But what’s on it?”
“I don’t know.” Nick said, “You’re the one who mentioned the Saw movies. Maybe this VHS tape contains the rules of whichever torture game this sicko is playing.”
Nick walked over to the cupboard and opened it. Inside they found an old VHS player. Nick crouched down to insert the tape. Melissa crouched down and touched him on the arm protectively.
“Wait.” Melissa said.
“What?” Nick asked.
“I’m afraid of what we’re going to see once you pop that in.” Melissa said.
“I for one would like to know what’s on this tape.” Nick said, “Some freak locked us in freezers in a damned morgue and I want answers. Now I get that you are afraid that it’s some sick kind of torture situation which might call for us to use the machetes on each other. The only way we are going to get answers is by watching this tape.”
Melissa let go of Nick’s arm and he inserted the tape into the VHS player. The tape automatically started playing. Nick and Melissa stood up and took a few steps back to get a better view of the TV. A man came onto the TV screen.
“Hello Melissa.” The man said, “Hello Nick.”
30 Hours earlier
Melissa sat at a table in the corner of Louigi’s Restaurant, one of the most romantic restaurants in town. She had been waiting nearly ten minutes for Nick to show up. She was dressed up for the occasion, though she was more of a jeans and t-shirt girl.
The waiter came around a second time and offered her something to drink when Nick entered the restaurant. He searched for Melissa and then rushed over to her table. She was less than impressed with his timing.
“I am so sorry I am late.” Nick said.
He sat down as Melissa took a sip of her water.