Deadlands Stories
Good Night Thomas
The slow rhythmic sound started getting louder as Thomas slowly came to. His head throbbed and his body ached all over. He tried swallowing but his mouth was dry, a large lump made him feel like he did when he got those nasty colds as a kid, he felt a chill down his spine.
Thomas blinked a few times, trying to get the crust out of his eyes. How long had he slept? He could barely remember the night before, all that drinking and hollerin' in the saloon, and that pretty girl with the red lips. Thomas cursed his luck if he bedded her and couldn't remember it.
His eyes slowly focused as he tried to look around. Where was he? The room was unusually dark, though there were some slats of reddish sunlight beaming in. Was it sunset already? Did he sleep through the whole day? Thomas wondered how much he had to drink, then he realized the room was moving.
Suddenly it hit him, the noise, the slats, he was on a train. Thomas tried to get up but found himself restrained and unable to move. It was then that he realized the chill came from the metal table he was on.
His heart started to race as Thomas began to panic. He tried to call out for help, wanted desperately to ask what was happening but found he could make no noise but a faint gurgle.
A large hand settled on his chest as he heard a strangely soothing voice. "You're suffering vocal paralysis. Do not panic, if you panic your adrenaline will only make the creature grow faster."
Thomas' eye went wide as he tried to struggle even more.
The calming voice was quickly replaced by one that unnerved him to the core. "I SAiD cALM YouRSelF!! YoU'Re ruINING mY ExPERIMENT!!"
It was that voice that made Thomas suddenly remember what happened. The girl was pretty alright, pretty rotten. The strumpet had drugged him and he passed out. He didn't even get to see her naked. When he awoke he was out in a field somewhere, he was tied down. He could see the woman again, this time she was dressed like the rest of the gang around her. He asked what was happening, why were they doing this to him, and who were they?!
Some laughed, some ignored him, and a couple even looked away, as if they were afraid. He heard the voice behind him; it was right up to his ear, it was that deranged voice. "SHHhhHH! ThEY're coMiNG!"
Thomas tried to ask what was coming but the demented man held his mouth shut. Thomas looked around as the others quickly put heavy bandanas over their mouths. Were they going to rob someone? If they're bandits why did they kidnap him? Thomas tried to ask but the man kept his mouth shut. His strength was staggering; Thomas couldn't even move his head an inch. It was then that Thomas heard the rustling coming from the field. Something was moving through the field, and fast.
The demented man let out a child like cackle. "They'RE HErE! ThE doctor SaYS, 'SAy AHHH!'" With that Thomas felt a rush of pain enter his body as the man released his mouth. Thomas screamed out in pain as the rustling got louder and louder, until finally, something leapt out at him and Thomas passed out.
Thomas thought he was screaming again but realized the noise was not coming from his own mouth. The wailing was coming from a device in the train cart with him. Thomas suddenly recognized the noise, it was burning Ghost Rock!
Suddenly lights came on in the train cart and Thomas shuddered. There lay countless tools, blades, and what looks like the remains of others. Each of them looked like they had their throat ripped out by some prairie cat or coyote.
But it was the demented man's face which made Thomas want to scream again. His heart pumped, his body was drenched in sweat and urine, he smelled of fear.
The man looked at Thomas and grimaced. "The experiment is ruined." He said in his calm voice. "Oh well, at least I'll have more data on the emergence process, oh look, SeEMs hE'S aWAke."
Thomas felt unheard of pain and the world went black. As he died he tried to swallow, and noticed the lump in his throat was gone.
