demon In The Jar

Thriller Stories | Feb 27, 2014 | 6 min read
16 Votes, average: 4 out of 5
Ever since Bobby could remember, he had been collecting insects and spiders. He would often trap them into his mother's mason jars, and read everything he could find about them. Some would say, he was destined to become a zoologist or even perhaps an entomologist. His teachers proposed that one day he might discover a new species of life, or even find a species thought long extinct, still thriving in some remote part of the world. But what they did not know, nor could possibly fathom, is that Bobby, at only eleven, was already surpassing their wildest aspirations.

Bobby sat perfectly still, by a two-foot hole in the ground, deep within the woods. He made soft clicking sounds with his tongue, while dangling a sliver of lunch meat; as if trying to lore something out of hiding. It wasn't long before he heard a faint clicking in response. A smile then broadened across Bobby's face. He clicked louder in excitement. It had been days since he had so much as a nibble (figuratively speaking) and now it seemed that hunger was overcoming yet another cautiously shy creature.

He saw its little ghastly head pop out from the darkness, but only for a moment. Bobby knew that he would just have to be patient. He had done this several times before, at this very spot. He reasoned that the hole must have served as ventilation for a mineshaft. He knew that abandoned coal mines riddled throughout these woods, and so one had to be particularly careful when wandering about.

Again the creature had popped its head out, only this time a little further and for a little longer duration. "This one is silver-looking!" He thought. Each one that Bobby had captured had its own unique shade of gray, some even had faint blotch-like patterns upon their smooth skin. He wondered what type of creatures they could be. He had never seen anything like them before, except maybe in fairy tales and mythology books; often regarding them as demons, goblins, and such. But Bobby was much too old for fairy tales. There was a scientific explanation for their existence, and he was determined to find that answer.

"He would be perfect for my collection!" He exclaimed.
With his free hand, Bobby reached into his backpack and retrieved a jar. He readied himself, for at any moment this little creature could leap out, and snatch the food from his hand.

It was important that it did not get away. The last one got away, and Bobby reckoned this to be the reason for not seeing another for so long. They talk to each other, Bobby was certain of that... in fact he learned to mimic their clicking sounds by observing them interacting with each other.

"Gotcha!" Bobby bellowed, scooping it up in the jar. He quickly fastened the lid and held it up triumphantly. He watched as the little creature scurry around, angry, and confused.

"You are a vicious one," he noted.
Its little claws seemed longer than the other ones. And its lizard-like tale had small, prickly spikes running down the center.

It paused only for second, to peer its little black eyes into Bobby's, before continuing to scurry around again, rabid with rage. Bobby felt as if that look was meant to be a threat... a grave warning if it were not released. But he only chuckled at it, before dropping it into his backpack and hurrying home.

Bobby used the outside door to the cellar. He stumbled in the dark searching for the light, and with one good tug on the chain the room lit up, revealing an elaborate home-laboratory equipped with charts and scales, microscopes and test tubes, and of course a heavy wooden bookshelf; where he kept his living specimens. All of whom seemed quite excited to see their newest member, placed on the very top shelf at the end of the row.

"Twenty four!" He counted, "Twenty four specimens of an unknown species!" Bobby wanted nothing more than to tell the world of his discovery. But for now it had to remain a secret. First off: he had to be for certain that nowhere else in the world, were creatures like these discovered. Secondly: he wanted to do as much research on his own, before turning them over to some glory-seeking zoologist; whom might take all the credit.

While feeding them, (stuffing slivers of meat through punctured holes at the top, Bobby noticed that one of them had died. A little bluish one. He always thought that this one was a bit sick, for it never seem in a hurry to eat.

"So it's decided then," Bobby announced. "You will be my volunteer for dissection!" Abruptly, all the other creatures squeaked and chattered as if in violent protest. "Did they understand what I just said?" Bobby wondered. "Quiet!" He roared back, "It's in the name of science. Be thankful it's not one of you!" All the critters then fell silent, aside from the newest one on the top self. He continued to make small Morse code like clicks to the others, as if telling them to be patient.

Bobby stared him down until he too fell silent. Although alien to him, Bobby liked the feeling of power that he exuded over them. He was always looked down upon from adults. And of course he was an easy target for the playground bullies at recess. But now Bobby had someone to wield his might over. And he could not deny that it made him feel big.

With a small hammer he tacked the dead specimen by its hands and feet, to the cutting board that his mother had been searching for weeks to find. He then grabbed his sketch book and a box of colored pencils from his backpack, as he was preparing to make detailed sketches of its organs and muscles. With a hobby knife he made a slow incision from the creature's throat down to its groin. "A perfect cut!" He proclaimed.

He took notes... made quick doodles, while carefully removing each slimy organ, and placing them inside plastic cylinders. He was about to look at some blood samples under his microscope, when he heard his mother calling him to dinner. Bobby let out a sigh, "We'll have to finish this tomorrow," he concluded. After turning out the light, he turned to them and said, "If you really are demons, then welcome to hell on earth! I am your Devil now." He then turned away and walked up the stairs.

On and on through the night, the critter stirred round and round inside the jar, mumbling chatter under his breath, growing more restless with each passing minute, till finally thrusting himself against the glass. The others tried to comfort him, but he was unresponsive. He felt the jar wobble, but didn't care. Harder and harder he threw himself, until the jar fell from the top shelf.

That night while tossing and turning in his sleep, Bobby fell under a terrible dream. He found himself stretched out on an operating table. He tried to move but felt terrible pain, as his arms and legs were pinned down by long nails. He struggled to open his eyes, and saw his shirt ripped open and little demons, (like the ones in the cellar) gathered all around him. They wore little white coats and cloth masks over their faces. He tried to scream, but only dry air would come out. Then two of the little creatures hopped onto his bare chest, with a scalpel slung over their shoulders. Grimly they aimed the blade at his throat, pressed down, and proceeded to drag the blade down his chest.

He felt his skin part, with cool air striking against his red insides. With silent agony, he twisted his face in ways, never before dreamed possible. While all the demons gathered around and applauded a "perfect cut".

Bobby sprung up from his bed to the sound of breaking glass in the cellar. He rushed downstairs and flipped on the lights. He saw the busted jars by the empty shelves, then a demon taunting him by an open window. "No! Come back!" He cried, but Specimen #24 only mocked him, before leaping out into the night.

Bobby thrust himself through the cellar doors and raced bare-foot after them. Like mice they scurried into the woods... leaping over rocks, and tunneling under fallen trees. Bobby, almost in tears, pleaded with them, "Come back! You are my discovery! You are supposed to make me a famous scientist!"

But the critters wouldn't listen, they knew they were free and would never let themselves be fooled twice. Deeper and deeper into the woods the little demons raced, with the Devil not far behind.

All too late did Bobby remember about the mine shafts in the woods. He felt the ground drop beneath him, and fell helplessly screaming into the dark abyss from which the demons spawn. They gathered around to savor the last faint whimpers of Bobby Hartmen, as he fell more than a thousand feet.

...and felt no remorse.

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