The Link

The film's depiction of what happen to the reincarnation of Eve caught the attention of the Vatican.

I stare at this sentence for a while. The empty sounds of this cool Wednesday night perfectly capture my feelings of this sentence. Soon, minutes pass as I watch the words on the computer screen, not feeling anything behind them. I hold the delete key, erasing the lifeless words from existence. I need something with more of a punch. My hands flinch before typing a new sentence.

The Vatican caught wind of the blasphemous movie and began the coordinated protest to stop the film from screening.

My hands run through my hair, digging up any grains of creativity. This is the bane of my night. I am struggling to finish the last article of my online magazine, Shed Fright. It's a horror zine that I run with my best friend Ben and this article, The 7 Lost Horror Movies, was the star of this issue. My hands push against the desk. I spin away from the stressful situation at my computer. The sight of my messy room rotates around me. The clothes near my bed balled in small mounds, the movies stacked on the drawer next to my couch, my movie shelf sloppily put together since it's messing said movies next to my couch. Tilting my head up brings my to a cluster of movie posters above my bed. I put my feet down to slow my desperate spin until I stop in front of 2 posters.

I stare at the movie posters along my wall. Letting my brain reboot at the sight of beautiful artwork of some of my favorite horror movies. A horrified woman whose silhouette forms a dog's mouth, styled in a haunting oil painting to form the poster for The Howls of a Daughter by Gigori Monti. The poster next to it looked more contemporary in comparison. A view of the Earth from space loomed behind the warping of blue, green, and red that came together to form a nude woman. This made up Cosmic Blood by Aiden Perry, my favorite horror movie of all time.

Staring at both posters, I notice how soothing my heartbeat became. I spin around in my chair before heading back to my computer to finish the article. Suddenly a Sunii notification pops up on my screen. Ben had sent me a message which couldn't have happened at a better time. Running some ideas with him could make the article better.

Ben

Hey, did you finish the article yet?

I'm still struggling on the 7 Lost movies article.

I'm on the Last Rites of Eve, and it's not clicking.

Ben

Max relax!

No need to stress on it.

I read the draft of it, and it was great!

Thanks man but I want it to be perfect.

We're starting to lose the massive downloads boost we got a few months back.

Ben

It'll be perfect!

I got a secret weapon anyway.

If it's legit, this issue is going to be the biggest one we have ever done.

Sounds too good to be true.

We require something safer that could get more downloads!

Ben

You could get Hannah to draw some art of Monster Rats roaming in North Anthame!

That was as safe as it could get with us. Hannah is our best friend with killer art skills. Some comments on the Shed Fright website say the only download to see if we got a new monster art from Hannah. I quickly pull out my wallet to check my funds for the rest of the week. More than enough to get Hannah to draw a piece for us by Friday.

Of course, the safe chose you love.

I'll see if she could get it done by Friday, and I'll upload it then.

Ben

You just have to be cheeky about that.

Friday's release sounds good!

But can you finish the article in time?

The seconds pass by as I wondered the very same thought. Soon the seconds become minutes as I let out a heavy sigh before reply.

I preform well under pressure.

Ben

No you don't!

Ignoring Ben's reply, I save and transfer the files to my laptop. A good night's sleep will probably get me pass this mental hurdle. Turning off my monitor, I leap into my bed to let the land of sleep take me away. I lay there drifting away with only one thought left in my head. Not a thought, but more like a wish.

I really hope Ben's secret weapon comes through.

The next morning, I slosh through the heavy downpour on my way to school. Sliding along the concrete, I stop at the halfway point on my journey, The Universal Café.

I stroll into the place to see only an old man in a suit reading the newspaper. The café has light blue walls, paint looks spatter on. I make my way around the small tables to reach the cashier, a guy in his early 20s wearing a hoodie with chains etch into it.

"Can I get a large order of honey roasted nuts in a bag with a bottle of cranberry juice?"

"That'll be $6.50. Sick Pumpkin Patch shirt, by the way!"

The cashier broken into a smile as he admires the artwork of the shirt. Standing with a bloody knife was the main killer, Jack-o'lantern, dressed in a beat up farmer's jacket with his signature pumpkin head carved out in a ghoulish smile. Surrounding Jack were an assortment of different size pumpkins. In each pumpkin was a crudely craved signs of black magic. It is a masterful shirt design.

"Thanks. This was pretty hard to get."

"I could imagine!"

The cashier turns around to grab my order from his coworker, a teenager wearing a green shirt and pants.

"Did you heard that the next Pumpkin Patch movie is going to be in space?"

My phone vibrates, showing a new Sunii message from Ben. I take my order and make my way to a table near the café entrance.

"The Pumpkin Patch in space movie has been in development hell. It's never going to get made."

"Never say never, Bro!"

Ben:

Okay my secret weapon was legit!

I got a link to the one and only.

Curse of the Skull Servant!

I nearly choke on my cranberry juice. There's no way he was able to get that!

Who conned you with that?

Ben:

No con.

It's legit.

I watched it last night.

No way! Now I get why it's the secret weapon. A review of that would be huge for the next issue. Especially with the last article for the issue.

Where did you steal it from?

Ben:

Not stolen.

It was a reward!

Is this how you view me?

I helped out some kids dealing with a monster slime last week and the older brother gave me the link.

How are there still monster slime running around?

Thought Hannah killed the queen last year.

Ben:

Still mad about that!

This one was different.

A slime/ant hybrid.

You should have seen the amount of green ooze there!

Ruined my Night of the Living Arcade shirt.

Anyway, bet you want to do the review for it?

Of course! Send the link.

Crunching on the food, I look out the window to enjoy the scenery. The heavy rain grays the surrounding shops, turning them into a scene golden age horror movie set. Bright lights from the shop accent the businessmen and teens rushing to get to their destinations like the mob trying to catch Frankenstein's Monster. A picture perfect gloomy day for South Anthame.

Suddenly a girl walks into frame. Her pale skin pops out against the gray backdrop. She had on a black and white shirt with a black skirt and leggings. She is holding on to a bright pink umbrella that matched her hair.

"Wow, She out pretty early."

I finish my juice while rolling up the bag as I hurry before the girl gets too far. Before I exit the café, I open Sunii to send a message to Ben.

Make sure you send the description of the Monster Rat too, along with the link!