As night falls, you happen upon your favorite little odd shop, its windows boarded up, sheets put up on the inside to further obscure view. A sign reading "closed for renovations" hung as a sense of humor, seemed a tad more purposeful. The revving swing of what sounds to be a chainsaw rings through, dulling in pitch as it struggles under load. Screams run toward the storefront, you backstep as multiple hands beat and claw just on the other side. Their cries of fear increasing only to be drowned out by a guttural rumbling, silenced abruptly with the whole storefront crashing. Muttered pained sobs followed, ending swiftly by a second forceful slam, knocking a board loose, perfect for your viewing pleasure. Rays of green light beam through all the cracks and sheets, you approach, peering through the little peep, it's either pure blackness or shades of smokey jade.



"What in the hell . . ." The words grumble off your tongue, light focusing into a circle, more of a portal, shadows of inhuman nature appear to be reaching up. Something moves, obscuring the light, you recognize it as the shop owner, his crimson hide glinting as he moves. Being a regular you think to call out to him, your vocal chords begin to squeeze out noise into words and his torso explodes. Chest and upper torso rising up toward the ceiling on a large spinal column, entrails spilling out freely of their own mind. You choke, now desperate to not utter a sound, every inch of your being is screaming "Run! Go, NOW!" but you can't look away. Loud hissing noises come from deep within, otherworldly cheers echo as smashed lifeless bodies drag themselves to the light pit and fall in. Two additional sets of wings grow in while his torso slowly reassembles itself, it's in this moment you realize you've been holding your breath, and gasp for air.



He jerks in your direction, eyes glowing bright with hell forge fire, your body locks, petrified in stance. Unable to move, he laughs, . . he laughs the most evil, guttural, low, growling laugh, happily savoring your terror. Slowly he leans back, letting his pose relax,



"Embrace, your inner monster." You hear him say, watching as he falls into the portal, jade fire singing every inch as it enters before swallowing him completely and closing. Stuck, pondering what you just witnessed, searching the now still empty dark shop for answers, you look left, you look right, nothing but normal late night street lights. You move to peer back in, yours meet the same empty shop view, THE SHOP FRONT CRASHES! The very same red hot glow imbedded in scorched scale and bone almost burns your face the brief moment you view it before stumbling back to the sidewalk.



His evil laugh cackles once more, you look up to see the molten lugs fade, dull heavy form of a leather bound book slaps your lap cover down. You turn it over and jump, it's face appears to be someones actual face, tanned, frozen in terror, looking just up from the book, the renovations sign is now adorned with "Be back soon." written in a fresh, dark red ink you swear moves on its own as you read it.