MORE Short Scary Stories by Bruce Savage by Bruce Savage

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BRUCE SAVAGE

The Mask Maker Jared Evan sat outside the Pueblo Public Library on a park bench flipping through pages in a text book. On the cover of the text book read, “Essential Dermatopathology”. The book was required reading material for his classes. Jared was studying to be a doctor and this was his first year of college. He had chosen medicine as his career out of pressure from his parents and years of their coaxing him in that direction. “Our son is going to be a doctor someday!” His father and mother would brag to friends and relatives that would come over for dinner or visit. Jared would rather have chosen engineering as his career path but his parents were paying the bill. Either medical school or a full-time job. College was what Jared chose seeing how the only full-time jobs in town were fast food and flipping burgers wasn’t something he pictured himself doing for the rest of his life. He looked up from his text book briefly to see a man sitting across from him on the other side of the path looking at him. Strangely he was of the same height and build as Jared. The man wasn’t just looking at Jared he was studying him with some

MORE SHORT SCARY STORIES interest. Jared thought nothing of it and went back to reading his book. Moments later he heard foot steps approaching him and he looked up again to find the man standing in front of him with a smile on his face. “Hello, my name is Arthur Doyle. Dr. Arthur Doyle. This might seem a little strange but I couldn’t help notice what a handsome young man you are. Oh, please don’t get me wrong. I’m not some weirdo or anything or interested in young men. You see I’m a dermatologist. I do research about skin and I couldn’t help but notice what excellent skin you have. It’s quite remarkable.” Arthur said as he stood smiling a warm friendly smile at Jared. “Well...thanks, I guess.” Jared replied not knowing to be flattered or concerned by the strange man's compliment. “May I sit down?” Arthur asked as he sat down not waiting for a reply. “It’s a free country.” Jared replied as Arthur found his way to the park bench and sat down next to Jared. “I see you’re reading about dermatology. You must be a student? Yes?” Arthur asked. “Yes, first-year medical student. I study at Oklahoma State and commute back and forth.” Jared replied. “How interesting.” Arthur said as he gazed at Jared’s face almost as if he was admiring him.

BRUCE SAVAGE “Soooooo, is there something I can help you with? I have to return to my studies.” Jared said hesitantly and nervously. The way Arthur was looking at him began to creep him out. “I was just admiring your face. Your skin rather. It’s quite excellent. Do you do anything special to keep it so clean?” Arthur asked. “No. Just soap and water. Anything else I can answer for you?” Jared said as he started to get even more nervous about Arthur’s interest in him and his strange questions. “Yes, I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind letting me have a sample of your skin cells. I know this seems very odd being asked this out in public by a stranger but I assure you I am a doctor and a sample from you would help the research I’m working on. I’d be more than willing to pay you for the sample.” Arthur said. “Pay me? For samples of my skin? Look I don’t know Mr. I think I will have to decline. I’m sorry but I have a lot of studying to get to.” Jared said abruptly and then closed his book and began to pack it in his backpack to leave. “Very well, we will do this the hard way I guess.” Arthur said sadly as he produced a syringe from his coat pocket and jabbed it into Jared’s neck.

MORE SHORT SCARY STORIES “What the fuck!” Jared screamed in anger as he was surprised by what Arthur had done and began to stand up but felt dizzy and then finally everything went black and he collapses back down on the park bench unconscious. The next thing he knew there was this horrible smell in the air. Like rotting flesh. Jared began to open his eyes and could see a blinding light over him. He felt a burning sensation on his face as if there was something wrapped around his face and head. He slowly began to sit up and realized he was laying on a hospital operating table and there were various monitoring machines around him. He looked at his arm to see an IV tube had been inserted. What the hell was going on? He said to himself becoming terrified. Where was he? What did that guy do to him in the park? “Oh, wonderful, I see you’re finally awake.” A voice echoed over a speaker in the room Jared was in. It was the voice of the man from the park, Arthur Doyle. “I’m sure you have a lot of questions young man. If you will just remove the IV from your arm and follow my instructions everything will become clear to you soon enough.” Arthur’s voice echoed over the speaker. Jared looked around the room angry and

BRUCE SAVAGE afraid and reached for the IV tube and pulled it from his arm letting out a painful scream. “What the fuck did you do to me? Where am I?” Jared screamed. “That will all be cleared up in a moment. Just follow my instructions please.” Arthur replied. His voice echoed throughout the room. “Look Mr. I don’t know what you did or what you want with me but people are going to be looking for me!” Jared hollered back at Arthur. “Yes, Yes, of course, they will. Now please do as I say. Get off the bed and follow the red line on the floor please.” Arthur replied. Jared looked around and slowly got off the bed and placed his bare feet on the cold floor. He was still a little groggy from the anesthesia as he walked to the end of the bed and found the red line on the floor. “Very good. Now just follow the red line please to the set of doors on your right.” Arthur instructed. Jared slowly walked to the door. His face felt like it was burning and he reached up and gently touched it and could feel bandages wrapped around his entire head and face. What the hell did he do to him? He began to walk again and found a mirror on the wall and looked in it to discover some sort of surgical procedure was done to him. His head and face were wrapped in bandages and dotted with blood that had

MORE SHORT SCARY STORIES soaked through here and there. Terrified at what he was seeing in the mirror he grabbed at the bandages and began to remove them. “I wouldn’t do that if I was you, young man. Stop what you are doing and go through the door please.” Arthur commanded over the speaker in the room. “What the hell did you do to me, you fucking psycho!” Jared screamed in terror as he ignored Arthur’s instructions and removed the bandages to reveal a face he did not know. A face without skin. His face had been removed. His face was gone and what was left behind was this monster that he didn’t recognize. He dropped to his knees screaming and crying. “Why did you do this to me?” Jared screamed in agony and anger. “That will all be clear in a moment as I said. Follow my instructions and go through the door, Jared. Do as you are told and everything will be clear.” Arthur replied. “Fuck you!” Jared replied as he knelt crying. “Look, young man, I can understand that at the moment you’re a bit shocked and overwhelmed by what you saw in the mirror. But I give you my word it will all be clear in a moment. Go through the doors, please. I won’t ask again.” Arthur said. Jared angrily got to his feet and stood up and began walking

BRUCE SAVAGE towards the door again. As he reached them they automatically opened up into another room. He entered and looked around. “Very good. Do you see all that is before you, Jared? I’m sure you must be terrified at what you are seeing? But I can assure you it is all for a good reason.” Arthur said over the speaker. “What the fuck is this?” Jared said as he looked around at glass cases each containing a different face. “Let me explain. When I was born I contracted a rare skin disease. Ichthyosis Vulgaris. And you should know it is quite a hideous disease. It left my face horribly disfigured and mutated. I spent most of my childhood at a Catholic orphanage because my parents were so repulsed by my appearance. I was forced to wear a ski mask most of my life to cover my face and the repulsive appearance that so many were let’s just say less comfortable to gaze upon. When I turned 18 I was cast out of the orphanage and forced to live in the streets begging for money and food. And that’s how my life was for most of it. There was this deep seated hatred for beautiful people burning inside me as I made my home in the alleys and sewers. That’s how it was. Until one day a section from a newspaper blew into my life. I looked at it and there was this story about the first human face transplant and what a success it was and how it gave

MORE SHORT SCARY STORIES hope to people that had rare skin conditions like me. But unfortunately, I couldn’t afford such a procedure. But then an idea entered my mind, what if I learned to do the procedure myself? I became consumed with the idea and went to the public library and began to read and study medicine and dermatology and all about the procedure until I was ready to begin changing my life and receive a new face.” Arthur explained as Jared stared at all the cases in the room. Each containing a different face taken from one of his victims. All male. All held the same facial characteristics. Dozens of cases. And in the last one was the face of Arthur Doyle. The face of the man from the library that had approached him. “You sick bastard!” Jared screamed. “Come now, young man. Don’t take this personally. We all need an identity in this world. We all need to be someone. Don’t we? How am I any different than anyone else.?” Arthur replied. “You’re a monster! You stole my identity!” Jared replied. “Monster? Monster is what I was. Now please continue following the red line on the floor and go through the doors.” Arthur said in an offended voice. Jared continued onward to the doors determined and hopeful to find the monster that did this to him at the end of the path. The doors opened and Jared stepped

BRUCE SAVAGE through, his anger building inside him. He was in another room now. A dimly lit room with posters plastered all over the wall. Missing persons poster of all of Arthur’s victims from all over the country. All men Jared’s age or a little older but all the same build and facial structure. Jared stopped in the middle of the room and stared at the posters. Dozens of them. “You see, young man, I told you this would all be cleared up shortly. I’m a man of my word.” Arthur said as he stepped through the doors on the other side of the room. Jared’s face was filled with horror as he looked at the man entering the room. He knew this man. This face rather. It was his face. “I just wanted to thank you in person before I say goodbye young man. I truly appreciate what you have done for me and the sacrifice you have made.” Arthur said as he pushed a button on the wall. The floor beneath Jared opened up and Jared fell through the trap door into a deep pit. The wind was knocked from him as he hit the ground and he looked around to discover skeletons all around him. The remains of all the other victims. He screamed in anger and terror as he looked up to see the trap doors closing and the room fall to complete darkness.

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BRUCE SAVAGE

Donations Welcome The Israeli Air jet touched down in Tel Aviv and began unloading passengers at gate 23. A young Jewish man, orthodox looking stood in front of a crowd waiting for passengers to disembark holding a sign that read, “Michael Winters” on it. He was dressed in a limousine drivers uniform and waiting for his passenger. One by one the passengers found their way off of the plane into the hot Israeli air. The air conditioning at the airport was under repairs. The man attentively looked at each of the male passengers holding his sign up until an American man stepped off the plane and approached him. “I believe that’s me. I’m Michael Winters.” The man said to the man holding the sign. “May I see your passport?” The man asked Michael. “Of course.” Michael said and reached into his back pocket and pulled it out. The man looked at it and handed it back to him. “I’m your driver Joseph. I’ll be taking you to the mission.” Joseph said and guided Michael to the exit of the airport where the limousine was waiting. They

MORE SHORT SCARY STORIES exited the airport and Joseph held open the door to the limo to let Michael in the back. “How far is the mission?” Michael asked as Joseph got in and buckled up. “Not far. Just a few kilometers. It’s in occupied territory I should warn you. There have been some troubles from time to time.” Joseph said as he started the limo and began to drive off. “Troubles? What kind of troubles?” Michael asked. “Nothing to worry about. There is twenty-fourhour security at the mission. Nothing to worry about.” “OK. Have the others arrived?” Michael asked. “Yes, four others are already at the mission. The rest should arrive in the next few days.” Joseph replied as they reached the mission. A large steel gate opened up and Joseph drove the limousine into the compound and stopped at a security checkpoint. Two guards walked alongside the limo with mirrors to check for bombs that may have been placed underneath the car. “Security is pretty tight here. Is it that serious.” Michael asked. “Just routine. For safety reasons.” Joseph replied as he passed the checkpoint and headed to the main building. He pulled the limo up to the front and

BRUCE SAVAGE security guards approached the vehicle. Joseph got out and waved to them as he headed for Michael's door and opened it up. “Here we are. Mr. Abraham is waiting for you in his office. He wants to discuss a few things before things begin.” Joseph said as Michael got out of the limousine. “Very good. Thanks, Joseph. Pleasure meeting you.” Michael said as he walked away and into the main building. A guard approached him and escorted him to a security kiosk. “Your passport please.” A woman in a security uniform asked Michael at the kiosk. Michael reached into his pocket and took it out and handed it to her. “Please place your eye up against the panel to be scanned.” The woman said. Michael stepped closer to the counter and placed his face up against a panel that scanned his eye. “Identity confirmed. Welcome to Israel, Mr. Winters.” The woman said. “Thank you.” Michael replied as he took his passport from the woman and placed it back in his pocket. “The guard will escort you to Mr. Abraham's office.” The woman said. A large security guard carrying an Israeli assault rifle stepped up to Michael

MORE SHORT SCARY STORIES and waved his arm in the direction of Mr. Abraham’s office. “Security sure is tight around here.” Michael said trying to get a little conversation out of the guard. None was to be given. After a few minutes walking through several hallways, they finally arrived at Mr. Abraham's office. The guard opened the door and escorted Michael in. “Mr. Winters. Good to see you. I take it your journey here was uneventful?” Mr. Abraham said getting up from his desk to greet Michael. “It was fine. Could have used another pillow in first class but overall not bad.” Michael replied. “Please sit. I wanted to talk to you about the procedure.” Mr. Abraham said waving to a chair in front of his desk. Michael found his way and sat down. “Is there going to be any problems with the procedure?” Michael asked. “No. But you should know some things have changed.” Mr. Abraham replied letting out a fiendish grin. “What has changed exactly? Can't you find a match for me? My heart is getting weaker. I don’t have much time left.” Michael asked. “You see Mr. Winters. We here at the mission aren’t what we seem to be. You are not here for a

BRUCE SAVAGE heart transplant. You're here for a donation.” Mr. Abraham said. “Donation? That wasn’t what we discussed. That wasn’t the deal. I need a new heart. If I don’t get a new heart I’m as good as dead. I already paid you the money you wanted. I demand you keep your end of the deal.” Michael said getting up angry and filled with fury. The guard stepped up to him and placed his hand on his shoulder and pushed him back into his chair. “Mr. Winters there is no need to get upset. I understand your concern but your heart is too far gone and a donor is impossible to find for your blood type. Think of things this way. You will be saving someone else’s life. The research we do here at the mission is groundbreaking. We or should I say I have perfected a method that will lead to immortality. Trust me, Michael. What we will be discovering will change medical science for ever.” Mr. Abraham said as he looked at the guard. Michael felt a prick on his neck and then fell off the chair onto the floor. “Take him to get ready for the procedure.” Mr. Abraham said. “Yes, sir.” The guard replied and picked up Michael and carried him out of the room. Several hours later Michael awoke in an operating room with lights shining in his eyes.

MORE SHORT SCARY STORIES “Mr. Winters. Good, you're awake. We can begin now.” Mr. Abraham's voice echoed from behind a surgeons mask. Around the table were several nurses and another surgeon assisting in the procedure. Michael turned his head to the left to see another operating table and a body on it and tubes pumping blood and fluids into it. A body with no head. “What are you doing. Stop!” Michael said. He felt another prick on his neck as a nurse gave him another shot. This time he remained awake but unable to move. He was paralyzed. “Don’t worry Mr. Winters. In a few hours, you will have a new body.” Mr. Abraham said as he picked up a scalpel and began to severe Michael's head from his body.