Orpheus - Haunting the Dead.pdf - Dice

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all, and in the corner of their vision, the trees took on
the form of dancing madmen, madmen who were
banished when they turned to look directly into the
darkened woods. “All right,” said Tom, in a measured
voice. “But he’s going with you.” He lifted the gun up
and shot the technician. Anders watched the gun
recoil back.
The technician gasped and fell, crying out. Tom
shot him again.
“What the fuck?” Anders said. “You murdered him!!”
Tom looked tired. “I’ve worked at Orpheus so long,
I’ve started to forget what death really is. And Ben
needs his help.”
Gravel and rocks dusted up all around them.
Whether Ben’s work, or the thing attacking Ben, it was
hard to say.
Tom leveled the gun at Anders. “Are you ready?”
Anders swallowed and nodded, trying to banish
that last instinct for self-preservation. “Do it,” he
choked.
Tom stared at Anders, stepped forward, pointing
the gun at Anders’ forehead. They locked eyes. Anders
could see uncertainty in Tom’s eyes. “Do it!” he said
again.
Tom looked back at the dead technician, and
seemed to crumble. “Father forgive me,” he mumbled.
His hands shook.
Anders reached forward, putting his hand on the
gun. With every ounce of his will, he pushed his
forehead to the barrel of the gun, then squeezed Tom’s
trigger finger.
The shock of the blast sent him hurtling backwards,
tumbling limply away. The pain was insane and quick
to spread from his head to the rest of his body. Just for
a moment, he thought to himself, Hey, so that’s what it’s
like to be shot in the face. Then he started floating
upwards, and slowly, he righted himself.
Anders looked around. Everything had turned to
chaos.
HAUNTING THE DEAD
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