Picture 2
Laura James’s Picture Choice: 1
Title: The Collector (Part 1)
Overlooked by his family, ignored by classmates, ridiculed by teachers he spent his whole life wondering why. Then when Hector was seventeen he witnessed the death of his twin brother and his life changed for ever. If the time before his brother's death had been in shadow, the time after was spent in complete darkness.
He wandered through the world with no purpose, his twin was gone but he felt no pain at the loss yet he was incomplete. The only thing that gave him any pleasure was to walk through the city's zoo. Seeing the animals trapped behind bars, pacing up and down repeating the pattern over and over, reminded Hector of his life. He too was in a holding pattern waiting for inspiration to show him his direction.
Walking into the bird sanctuary he stood and watched them fly around. This was the one part of the zoo that he had to force himself to enter. He hated the fact that they were allowed the illusion of freedom, not for them a repeating pattern. They could swoop and soar above the heads of the visitors in any direction they wanted.
If only he had a rope he would show them what life was truly like. Chain them down, force them to fly near the ground with no hope of soaring to the sky. The image of the birds trapped and floundering at ground level brought a smile to Hector's face and a punch to his gut. He had found his purpose.
He would start his own menagerie, one filled with truth, no lies or illusions. He left the zoo lighter of step and darker of soul. He had a lot work to do before he could start his collection.
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Based in Dunfermline, Scotland, Laura is obsessed with all things horror and spends her time writing flash fiction which she hopes, on occasion, really scares her readers. Feel free to stalk her on twitter, @lejamez
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I can be nderstand his pain and feeling trapped in the dark but I don't like him taking it out on the animals. Plenty of scope as he develops his collection. . .but where will it end? Deliciously evil! X
ReplyDeleteFrighteningly disturbing - and there's going to be another part to this? *trembles in the corner at the thought of the poor birds* But I do love the term 'illusion of freedom' aviraies offer - very true. Quick and succint. Like it.
ReplyDelete