Still Born

So, the twenty-third round out of the squirrel squasher is –

Write a story in the "DARK FICTION / PSYCHOLOGICAL" sub-genre - in the "VISCERAL" style - for the prompt "A woman is in child birth, as the child is born the nurse screams..." Prompt posted by Manda43079

DARK FICTION / PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR – Both of these are based on the disturbing side of the human psyche. This is the land of the slasher psycho on the rampage; though it doesn’t have to be so obvious it can be more obscure and deal with a more ambiguous reality and seems to point to supernatural origins.

VISCERAL – More reality based with supernatural overtones with a tendency to be “in your face” with descriptions of the horror – though not extreme as Splatterpunk.

666 word limit; include word count

CLOSING DATE: 17th October 2010 at 17:00 (5pm) (WdC-time)

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Still Born

By Indelibleink

"I just want this little bastard out so I can have my life back!" Lisa Williams, three days past her son's due date, had also long-since passed the stage of being reasonable.

Her husband, Brian, nodded. "Honey, have some more of the egg foo yung. Try not to think about it..."

"My God, Brian! Stop playing radio psychologist! The egg foo yung is crap. I feel like crap. Worst of all, I look like crap. You have any idea how long it's been since a guy has looked at me lustfully?"

"Lisa, I always look at you like..."

"Oh Jesus, Brian, of course you do...You have to. A girl needs to know others are interested, too. Just remember that you're the one who wanted the baby - not me! Twenty seconds after this little piece of crap drops, off to Bally's I go. And with any luck, I'll meet a real man."

"Oh, Lisa, you don't mean that..."

Lisa tried to imitate Brian's voice, in an exaggerated, highly animated fashion. "Oh, Brian, of course I do. Let's get out of this dump. But first, read me my fortune."

As always, the subservient spouse opened the cookie Lisa had thrown his way. He grimaced - hesitant to read the message aloud.

"What is it, Brian? Jeez, we should stop on the way home and buy you a skirt, since you obviously lack testicles. Read the damn fortune, will you?"

"Okay! It says, He who is consumed with oneself is doomed to be consumed by those who follow." 

"Same old Chinese bullshit: Blah-blah-blah. What does yours say? 'Grow some gonads?'" Lisa laughed loudly.

For the first time, Brian was becoming annoyed."Mine says, He who remains faithful in spite of great challenge shall be rewarded with great lavish." Under his breath, Brian mumbled, "I can only pray that that is true." He flipped over the fortune to see the words, For inner peace, repeat three times: Sin chow mei ling lou lan. Thrice, he looked to the sky and quickly repeated, "Sin chow mei ling lou lan."

"What the hell was that shit, Brian? The Asian version of Beetlejuice? Now, don't you..." Suddenly, Lisa reached down beneath the table. "My water broke! Get me to the hospital - now! The last thing I want is for a bunch of Chinese to see my naked body."

"They're probably among the select few that haven't..."

"Oh God! I'm ready to have your kid and you're now doing stand-up? God, I really hit the lottery with you, didn't I?...Brian, GET ME TO THE DAMNED HOSPITAL!!!"

**********************One Hour Later*************************

"Nurse, she still seems to be in a lot of pain. Please help her," Brian implored.

"Brian! Oh Christ! He's ripping my guts out! Stop him! Stop him!" With that, Lisa, now spitting blood, began pounding on her own rapidly contorting stomach with an incredible fervor. Seemingly oblivious to the attack, the birth process continued. The doctor and two more nurses with a crash cart dashed into the room. At that instant, one of the nurses screamed and fainted. The crimson head of the newborn was now emerging from the birth canal. The doctor - everyone - froze in their tracks.  As the demonish head came farther through, Lisa sat up, gave one more loud scream, and her eyes rolled to the back of her head. Now lifeless, she fell back. The head and shoulders of the little creature - no longer confused with that of a human baby - emerged along with chewed bits of the placenta and umbilical cord. It became apparent that the "thing" had currently been feasting for some time on Lisa's intestines and anything else that appeared appetizing. The horrified doctor and nursing staff ran from the birthing room and took off in various directions.

Brian Williams walked slowly from the room and stopped. He looked downward to the new beginning that resided beneath him. In perfectly translated Chinese, his newer, much deeper voice said, "Thank you, Master."

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Word count: 665