I dreamed about rabbits again last night. I don’t know why I do, I just do. I am almost getting used to it. But in some ways they still freak me out. 1
You see these are no ordinary rabbits. They are bright white, with pink eyes. Sort of like the ones you see at the farm show, only BIGGER. These are some big motherfuckin' rabbits. 2
Luckily for me, most of them are in a cage. If they weren’t I fear I’d be eaten alive. Seriously, they remind me of the rabbit in Monty Python’s Quest for the Holy Grail. THAT is funny. My dream is not. 3
It started one night last summer. I’d had a pretty rowdy night out with the guys. Drank more than I probably should have. Toked up once, maybe twice. I hardly ever do. Anyways, that’s irrelevant. Weed isn’t like LSD or anything. 4
So that night when I finally went to bed… wait, make that early morning. But you knew what I meant anyways I bet. Well, once I climbed in bed… after peeing for the 50th time in like two hours (ok maybe I am exaggerating but you get the point right?) I climb in and tuck the sheets around me… like I’m a human burrito or something. It's a force of habit from college. My roommate was a real joker. Smart-ass. Hated the fucker more than anything but I still managed to live with him ok. Made it out of there in 5. Four would have been better but I got a little lazy now and then, had to repeat some things. 5
So back to my dream- that night I was all tucked in fine, and started to doze off and I swore I heard scurrying again, above my head. Goddamn squirrels in the attic again I figured. I momentarily considered going up there and whooping some ass, but then I realized my aim wouldn’t be all that great and decided to wait till morning. 6
Well you know how they say outside stimuli sometimes make their way into your dreams? 7
I’d been sitting in homeroom (you know, high school) and was giving a friend a Kleenex tissue when the bell rang… for some reason I knew I was already late. I started to walk quickly down the hall; soon I went from room to room. Nobody noticed me, not a student or a teacher. I started to panic. One door suddenly led into a hotel room. 8
In that hotel room, there were RABBITS IN CAGES. I didn’t really stop to think how my high school had turned into a hotel, but I did wonder aloud what bunnies were doing here. Must be some reason, and I headed for the door. A large TV blocked my way, and as I reached to move it… a large white rabbit lunged at my hand. What the HELL? I said and I jumped. One was out of its cage, and clearly didn’t like me. Was it because I tried to move the TV, or because I wanted to get away? 9
I looked up and saw a poster with a rooster’s head pictured below one of those silly slogans, like, “Don’t Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch” but now I think that may not have been the message after all. I looked from side to side and saw more of these big white rabbits, all of them gnashing their teeth and scratching to get out. 10
Was I going to be eaten alive by rabbits? I know they are in the rodent family but I didn’t think they were bloodthirsty… I awoke screaming my lungs out. I sat up and… 11
Well, I saw nothing when I opened my eyes. It was pitch black. The moon was covered by storm clouds that night. The squirrels must have been seeking shelter, nothing more, nothing less. So I got up to relieve myself again, and nearly jumped every time a floorboard creaked. 12
“You’re cracking up” I told myself as the yellow stream made its way into the bowl. 13
I flushed and washed up (I could never avoid spraying myself at night, no matter how sober I was) then shuffled back to bed. 14
I realized I didn’t feel much like sleeping, so I logged onto the Internet and searched for a way to get rid of squirrels. Might as well do something productive if I can’t sleep, right? I never knew there were so many ways to get rid of something. Or things to do with it to make it want to leave. 15
Scritchy scratch. Scritchy scratch. Scratch. Scratch. Scritchy Scratch. 16
“OK OK OK I’ve had enough! Stop it you stupid pest!” 17
I yelled at the attic as I poked the ceiling with my pool cue. 18
THUMP. Ok maybe something fell, I thought. 19
Scritchy scratch. Scritchy scratch. Scritchy scratch. Scratch. Scratch. 20
“I SAID STOP IT!” I screamed as I tapped some more with the cue. 21
THUMP. Scritchy scratch. 22
Silence. I scanned the web pages, looking desperately for something I could do tonight, with what limited resources I had. 23
Scritchy scratch. Scritchy scratch. Scratch. THUMP. 24
“What the fu-?” I mumbled as I shot out of my chair. 25
“That ain’t anything falling over cuz of my tapping. No way. I bet that fucking squirrel got into something!” 26
I flew downstairs to the kitchen to grab some cooking spray (hoping it would blind the critter so I could catch it) and a flashlight (so I wasn’t a bumbling idiot in the dark). 27
I set down the spray and flashlight and yanked on the hall closet’s handle. I didn’t use it for much so it sometimes stuck. It opened with a bang and I almost fell back down the stairs. 28
“Calm down, you won’t get anywhere in a panic” I told myself as I reached for the cord. 29
The attic stairs had been used even less often then the hall closet but I didn’t expect any resistance. I didn’t get any either. Both should have stuck with the humidity but right then I wasn’t thinking straight. I wanted to extinguish the critter and get back to bed. 30
I grabbed the spray, turned on the flashlight, and started to climb the ladder. Creaky but sturdy, as all old things are. 31
Dusty cobwebs stuck to my hair and face and I willed myself not to freak out. Anything with more than four legs really creep me out. I brushed off my face and thrust myself through the hole and sat at the edge while I shone the flashlight around. 32
Piles of dust bunnies (not bunnies again! At least these were made of dust)… more cobwebs in every corner… cardboard boxes full of who knows what, left from the last owners or the ones before them, likely broken toys or worn out clothes… and old wooden trunk? How did I miss that when I peeked up here last time? Of course I’d been happy to find my own house, I may have missed a few things. 33
I tried to stand up but his my head on the rafters. Peachy, I’d have to look for the noisemaker while hunched over. Might be a better perspective, close to his level… 34
I crept over to the boxes, and peered inside. I bet the squirrels would love to nest in old clothes and stuffed toys. I flipped them open; nothing in box number one. Nothing in box two or three. Box four- naw that’s Christmas ornaments. I’ll have to remember that they’re up here. 35
So I stood there, gazing at the old wooden chest. I started to notice an odor drifting from it. Not the tangy pleasant smell of cedar, which would have been welcome up here, but something rotten. 36
I thought squirrels ate nuts and stuff. Maybe they turned cannibalistic? It was a pretty harsh winter. Maybe I should go back and get a garbage bag. Alive or dead, that would come in handy. Eh, either way I can just toss the thing out the window there. That is, if I can get it open. 37
I started forward, wielding my can of Pam and shining my flashlight right on the trunk. 38
Scritchy scratch. 39
I stopped and listened. I know the squirrel had to have heard me. Maybe he’s trying to hide. 40
I take another step forward. 41
Scritchy scratch. Scritchy scratch. 42
That little fucker won’t give up, will he? I snuck ahead a couple more steps. 43
Scritchy scratch. Scritchy scratch. Scritchy scratch. 44
I was, at most, two strides from the chest now. The odor was becoming more rank than I’d imagined. I coughed. 45
Scritchy scratch. Scritchy scratch. Scritchy scratch. Scritchy scratch. 46
All right, you stupid critter, out you go! I said as I approached the trunk and knelt down. 47
I set the Pam down to my right, and the flashlight, up on its end, to might left. 48
I could barely see the lock on the trunk; it was rusted badly but left open. As I unhooked it, I saw a flash of something red coming from a hole in the front panel. I thought it looked too small for a squirrel to climb in. Maybe it was a chipmunk then? They eat bugs and such. Must not like spiders though. 49
I set the lock aside and reached for my cooking spray. 50
Scritchy scratch. 51
I got you now, you little fucker! I laughed as I lifted the lid, poised to spray whatever I found square in the eyes. 52
Scritchy- WHOOSH! 53
Something large came at me, much larger than a squirrel. Or the huge rabbits in my dream. In my shock, I stumbled backwards and knocked over the flashlight. It now shone in a corner I hadn’t checked. There was an old gilt-edged full-length mirror, with decades of dust and grime lending a grayish brown tint to all it reflected. 54
CLUNK. 55
I dropped the can when I saw what was standing right behind me. 56
OH GOD NO! OH MY---- 57
THUMP 58
Scritchy scratch. Scritchy scratch. 59
Sluuuuuuuuurp. 60
‘num num num num num…..” 61
Scritchy scratch. Scritchy scratch. Scritchy scratch. 62
THUMP. THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP 63
Scritchy scratch. Scritchy scratch. 64
Scritchy scratch. 65
Author notes
The last short story I wrote before going through a long period of depression.
What did you think? Please comment!
Comments
1 - 23 of 23
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a very unique story .. I really enjoyed reading it .. thankyou so much for entering and I wish you the best of luck in the contest ...... keep the ink flowing hun
~Aimee
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really interesting story. i liked it alot. its more scary that you didnt show the monster or give any details at the end. very well written. good luck in the contest.
-sarah -
I always enjoyed reading stories that put odd sounds into words, so I tried to capture that here.
I also like breaking the norm and trying odd combinations to get a unique effect. it doesn't always work, but when it does I think it helps set me apart from cliched writes.
I think to grow and improve as a writer, you have to take some risks. Staying in a comfort zone only makes you become stale and boring.
I believe Stephen King (one of my favorite writers) did say something about not letting the audience actually SEE the monster- because sometimes it's less scary that way. Seeing the monster reduces fear because it's no longer the unknown. I think he made this comment in regards to the director's choice to actually show the "monster" in Dreamcatcher. It could have been laughable and cheesy but I don't think it was... It is an excellent book, and the movie adaptation does it justice.
Thanks for the comment! -
great
Great short story. I agree the sound effects made the story. In combining elements of humor and horror, you took quite some risks. You pulled it off though. I like the fact that the narrator gets a chance to see what was in the box, but we the reader never do. Sometimes horror stories don't allow the reader to participate in the creation process. Since all of us have our own fears some hidden some not, allowing the readers to finish the story is a great touch. Of course we are treated to some more excellent sound effects. The only sound effect I didn't like was the slurp. Overall a great story. Thanks for sharing. -
Bloody Hell
Iloved the feel of this 
it had humour, it had fear, it had a stoner (LOL! love those!) it had a scary, scary box in the attic (I've written about those before except mine held a dead body and it's baby, but I digress) Excellent entry to the contest, Thank you for entering. Luv Niky
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I still like them, but my body disagrees. I like any animal with four legs or fewer... but I've got allergies to anything with fur, pretty much. Oh well!
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Nah maybe its just a sign that rabbits are evil to you
lol
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I used to have pet rabbits when I was younger... now I am severaly allergic. Weird, huh?
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Monty Python is cool lol. And this tells me why I don't like rabbits. Kinda like Donnie Darko when things scare the fuck out of you and you don't ever wanna go near em again. Now I'll never want a rabbit! lol
Shari
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interesting... never thought of rabbits as scary before lol. I haven't ever seen monty python, maybe i should now. This was very unique, i liked the way you did the sound effects without actually showing us anything. good luck!
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Thanks
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nice story... it made me giggle...
I love your imagery and i loved the monty python touch!
kept me reading to the end. This was...different...(that's a good thing)
~Cordelia~ -
ok, very strange story, but pretty damn unique...interesting story, byez!
~Karinn -random person-
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hehe the bunnies sound so cute lol love the monty python touch on that lol wonderful job lol it held My intrest till the end and as above My curosity got the best of Me "wot was in the chest" as a quote from MAryangel lol but very well done
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EXCELLENT WORK
QUESTION what was in the chest ? you left me with the curiosity , hehe I loved this great imagery and gret flow of words and thoughts all well organized , you did a great job keeping me interested reading it , cause I also have a lot of weird dreams at times , and the freak the hell out of me , great work , I applaud you !
lOVE mARY , TAKE CARE
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HEHE, you made me giggle big time. I love Monty as well! A very imaginitive write
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Well it is a short story, most expect a poem... anyways the narrator is male
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I didn't think it was that long. I really dislike when poets on this site get so bent out of shape just because they have to read a few extra lines than normal. If they clicked on the piece, and are interested in reading it, then just shut up about how long it is, maybe it's meant to be that way, you know...
Anyway, I thought this piece was really cool. I mean- giant, red-eyed bunnies, and the real-life scenario you use. It was very well done. I've never seen any Monty Python movies (and I guess that's more than likely my loss), but I'm guessing these bunnies looked fake, like big, faux round things that are made to look like bunnies. I thought it was good how you ended it with you dying- very cool. And also, I thought it was just right how you left it up to the reader to imagine just what might have been in that trunk. All along I kept thinking- what is this girl naive, it's the giant bunnies up in the attic, but then you say that it's not the bunnies, and it's not the squirrls, I'm like what is it??? Good write here. Thanks for entering my contest and good luck
-Abby Eyeball- -
I love Monty Python, and yes I know many people will think of that scene when reading this. I couldn't avoid laughing when I found this earlier this year.
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Funny! And yes it is very............. long! But short storys are really hard to write! Monty pythons Holly grail one of my favorites ( comes after the life of brian!) "but its a very feirce bunny" lol All the best in contest. BON
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It's very interesting, and i enjoyed it immensely. What was in that chest? no one will ever know... and i liked that, because it's the reader's imagination from there, and that makes it fun. Very good, although the fear of bunnies kinda gets me thinking Anya from Buffy, it was still a very good story. My best friend is afraid of bunnies. lol! Good Write!
~candice~ -
Ah, well it's actually a short story, but when I clicked on the enter button it made it a poem... I was shooting for Tell Tale Heart kind of horror. Some of it's based on a real dream.
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this is very long and ... rather funny i liked it have a lot of fun keep up the good writes ... ilike the dark and bloody poems better but hey this was good
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