Board Thread:Writer's Workshop/@comment-25907694-20150127211744

This is part 1, of part 3

The video was on the TV. It played throughout the day, the night, and the next day. There was no one there to turn off the TV. It was a black, sleek, plasma screen TV. The TV was in the middle of a large, empty, living room. Thick, red, draperies blocked the sunlight from bathing the room. There was no sound coming from the TV, it was just endlessly playing a video, of people, talking, walking, and other everyday activities. There had been no one in that house for years, until yesterday.



Yesterday



The man mysteriously looked at the door, he was never one to be curious, after all, his mother was very protective and some of that carefulness rubbed off on him, even years later. The man decided against entering the door, not wanting to get into unnecessary mishap. After more hesitation, he stood his ground and left the neighborhood, only to come back hours later.

---

All right, it’s not a huge deal, it’s just a door, where there are probably, hopefully, normal things inside. What else could there be? Ghosts? Monsters? Other things from my imagination? Why does this house still taunt me?

Ever since I was younger, this house has been around here, and nobody talks about it. But no one makes rumors about, not even a word. It’s obviously strange. Especially for some of the older folks around here who have been longer than Mr. Arthur’s terrible accident. That accident was ages ago. I vaguely remember the day. We are a strange town, no one ever marries here, now that I think about it.

The point is, I feel something unique about this house. It’s not fear. It’s…something.

I’m not one to be scurrying around, investigating. But this house is long overdue. After I eat dinner.

*

The apartment is medium sized, judging by the complex. I open the knob, and inside, I find a TV.

I look at the TV, there were people projected in the screen. However, there was nothing perverse, or profane, it was just… people. I look over at the house and it’s pretty damn old. No furniture, just a TV in the middle. I almost laugh at the situation before me. I expected something mysterious, or at least, more than this old, no, new, TV. I go to turn the TV off, when I see a familiar video on the screen. It was me. In fact, I only recognized myself, because I saw my friends.

It was a video of me getting married.

I frown, and think that this must be some ‘realistic’ joke. Someone must’ve made this in their spare time to scare someone. Well, mission accomplished mysterious prankster, because the footage looked very real. I look at myself, and over at my wife.

<p class="MsoNormal">They were so happy.

<p class="MsoNormal">The video fades into another, this time it’s my wife having a baby. I almost smile. Strangely, somehow, I find this… calming. Oddly, a recurring name popped in my head.

<p class="MsoNormal">Daniel.

<p class="MsoNormal">The video zooms in, documenting the birth of my son. It felt somewhat nice. Following the footage was even more moments of happiness. My promotion to a better job (I like money), success at my favorite hobbies, my son secretly uncovering his genius talent for Piano. It was perfect.

<p class="MsoNormal">The TV shuts off, and starts humming a very low hum, almost from a sci-fi movie.

<p class="MsoNormal">The video came back, however, this time, it did not show the birth of my son, rather, his death.

<p class="MsoNormal">It must’ve been a birth defect, he was deformed. The TV started showing me images of death, around my family, around me. My wife, gone. I saw my life go to chaos. I try to look away, but the images are so alluring. After hours of watching, I stumble back.

<p class="MsoNormal">The TV shows plain words, reading:

<p class="MsoNormal">You can choose your fate. Decide which version you would like to have. Would you like the first option, or the second option? There is a remote by the floor, pick it up, and choose.

<p class="MsoNormal">What?

<p class="MsoNormal">Was this not an obvious choice? Were they trying to trick me? <ac_metadata title="Video on the TV"> </ac_metadata>