Chapter 1
The exhibition was exactly what the old man expected from modern "art". The room was plain white as they always were, packed with a variety of people. He hated these events but the invitation he'd received from an old flame promised something new.
Art like you wouldn't believe, Roy! For old time's sake, get over here!
She was right, he could hardly believe this counted as art, these (admittedly enormous) sheets of paper with the vaguest hints of crowded rooms behind them and a metallic scent that lingered. He wasn't sure if they were painted or stencilled or if there was a diorama behind them. Either way he disliked them, disliked the venue and especially disliked all the people.
They had no respect for a man clearly in his waning years, pushing him aside at every "frame". At least there were some door-sized pieces that weren't as packed, some were totally vacant. He leant against the wall beside one and tried to peer at the scene behind the paper. All of a sudden the crowd caught sight of the smaller works and rushed to view them.
Instead of getting pushed away he ended being pushed into the thin sheet and right through it. He was right about the diorama but he couldn't possibly have imagined what the scene was. The room was far bigger than the small paper covering and stank of fresh blood. Bodies were stacked in five neat square piles, head-to-foot-to-head.
He began to scream and the crowd by the door backed off, startled and worried. Running out he cried MURDER, SOMEONE'S KILLED THEM ALL! HELP! POLICE! ANYONE!
A security guard came running forward, calming the crowd with raised hands and a smile. It's alright folks, just a part of the exhibition as the artist herself will explain. The guard gestured, to a nervous looking woman who glared at the terrified old man.
This show is all about mortality and how fragile we are in the face of death.
She droned on until the crowd was satisfied enough to applaud her "craftsmanship" with the bodies. The old man didn't buy it, they looked too real and some of them were even twitching!
As the final act of my show, the gentleman here will "finish off" the animatronic bodies inside!
The security guard handed his gun over with a dark look that promised bad things if he refused. Everyone else was thrilled, they didn't expect it to be performance art - how genius of her! Impatient they cheered him on as the artist gently pushed him towards the nearest dying person.
As he pulled the trigger their eyes shot open and their breath rattled out of their punctured lungs.
