Ordinary Souls by J. S. Bailey

Author:J. S. Bailey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: short stories, short fiction, short story collections, collections, flash fiction, suspense, science fiction, sci-fi, thriller, humor, neil gaiman, dean koontz, stephen king
Publisher: BHC Press
Published: 2016-10-01T04:00:00+00:00

“ARE you enjoying your meal, my dear?” a voice asks.

I lift my head and see that I am seated at a long table with the master of the house, who lifts a napkin to his mouth and dabs at his lips. He is flanked by two women wearing low-cut red dresses very similar to mine. Their wavy hair is piled on top of their heads and pinned into place. They smile at me and then exchange glances with each other but say nothing. I feel that I have missed out on some important joke.

I glance down at the plate sitting in front of me. On it is a half-eaten turkey leg and a glob of mashed potatoes that I can tell has been picked through. Next to the plate sits a glass goblet of cold water; its sides glistening with condensation. It is nearly empty but I do not remember drinking any of it.

The gentleman is still waiting for me to reply. I swallow, all too aware of the stares that the trio is giving me. I notice that my throat is still parched as if I have drunk nothing.

“It’s delicious,” I lie.

The man smiles and says, “I’m so glad to hear it.”

The blonde woman on the man’s right giggles and takes a long draw from her own goblet. She sets it back on the table with a thunk, making a show of licking her lips.

I reach for my own glass, but when I pick it up I see that it has been emptied. Where could the rest of the water have gone in the past fifteen seconds? I have not touched it!

“What’s the matter, Vickie?” asks the brunette sitting on the gentleman’s left. (I do not bother to correct her.) “Don’t you remember drinking it?”

My face heats up. “I would like some more, please.”

“Very well,” the gentleman says. Then he calls, “Jenny!”

The servant who brought me the chocolates materializes from the darkness beyond the table. “Yes, master?” she says in a timid voice.

“Bring the lady more water.”

The servant dips her head and leaves. Ever conscious of the stares the trio gives me, I take a delicate bite of the turkey. My mouth is so dry that it takes me several tries to swallow.

My hosts resume a conversation they must have been having before I joined them at the table (which I cannot remember! Am I mad?). Though they sit only feet away, their voices seem distant and I am unable to make sense of their words. I start to sway in my chair but I catch myself before I fall to the floor. I continue to nibble at the food I have been given. I begin to feel sick.

“What could be taking her so long?” I ask weakly when minutes pass without the servant returning. “If I don’t get anything to drink soon…”

“What are you talking about?’ the gentleman asks in a sharp tone. “Your drink is right in front of you.”

And to my surprise, it is. The glass is full almost to the rim.

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