Silly Human Notions

How the practical joke had taken a turn for the worst for him. He was now locked in the refrigeration unit with a dozen dead bodies and no one knew it, save for himself and the man he’d scared half-to-death.

“I never thought he’d run like that and lock me in here,” the would-be-prankster said as he groped for the heavy parka left on a nail behind the door for such an unfortunate event.

Slumping to the floor, he listened to the gentle hum of the power-plant as it fed chilled air into the dark chamber. He never realized, until now, how absolutely pitch-black the make-shift morgue was with the lights turned off outside and the door latched closed.

“What was that?” he said as he held his breath to listen, “Nothing…jus’ my mind playing tricks on me.”

A couple of minutes later, he heard that same odd sound. This time though, it seemed to be closer and he felt the small hairs on his neck and arms begin to stand on end.

“Hello?” he asked, trying to sound calm. Again, nothing and as expected, no answer.

For a few minutes all was quiet, even the hum of the refrigeration unit had ceased. He listened for any sound coming from outside and the possibility rescue.

He physically jumped at the sudden and unexpected restarting of the refrigeration unit as it kicked on, beginning another cooling cycle. His reaction caused as few seconds of nervous laughter as he realized the stupidity of his predicament.

But then, there was that noise again, as if something were inside the unit, moving. In his mind, he knew that nothing, save for himself, was alive in the former shipping container – but still he couldn’t help clinging to what he believed were ‘silly human notions’ and further, he couldn’t help letting them slip into and out of his mind.

Again, that sound came – and this time he was certain it was closer and more over, he felt whatever movement made through a vibration in the metallic flooring. He stood up, back pressed against the wall.

“Who the hell’s there?” he demanded.

Refusing to be played for a fool, he slid into the nearby corner to his left and stepped forward, certain that the pathway across the narrow room was clear. However he found it wasn’t as he bumped into a gurney holding a bagged and stiffened corpse.

Putting his hands out in surprise, the fingers of his right hand brushed against something slick, clammy and repulsive, like loose skin. He shrieked in uncontrolled terror and fell back, striking his head violently on the floor as he dropped from fright.

When next the temporary morgue was again opened, the would-be prankster was found dead where he’d fallen. In his hand was a single latex glove, slick and clammy to the touch of one groping in the dark, and loathsome like the touch of loose skin – and death.