FRAMES  

by Michael Lizarraga

Synopses: Former metal musician-now front desk clerk Dave Clinger is a bitter man. An angry man who, like so many other talented artists, never quite made his “mark” in life. A 31-year-old ex-guitarist/lead singer now emptying his pocket of passion into the gutter of defeat, reluctantly joining the league of the working class. But Dave will soon discover something else amongst the rubble of self-pity and heap of regret. A sort of pathway - a hallway of reflections in the form of "infinity mirrors" leading someone (or something) straight to him; a little creature with no name, no words, and no warning to this man in need of a second chance, redemption and an alternative...  

The following is an excerpt from 'Frames,' a story by Michael Lizarraga published by Horrified Press in an anthology titled 'Tales of the Undead.'

 Dave stood before the dresser mirror, and with the square table mirror in hand, aimed it at the larger mirror. He maneuvered the table mirror, finding the infinite frames, the virtual hallway, his face peeking just behind the small mirror.

But he only saw the infinite frames - his own infinite reflections behind the square frames - nothing else. No sign of her.

 

He first saw her in the elevator when arriving home, the lift’s mirrored flanking walls reflecting each other, creating a virtual row or hallway of squared windows with repeated images of the room and Dave. And there, within the sixth frame, to the left of Dave’s back reflection, stood a small person. Short, about three and a half feet tall. Petite, light brown hair, fair skin. Head and eyes slightly bowed, staring directly at Dave. 

                      

He smirked, keeping the table mirror pointed at the dresser mirror, toying with the frames within frames within frames, playfully moving them side-to-side.

Suddenly, from the right side of the fourth frame, the little girl’s face appeared, as though stepping onto stage from behind a curtain. 

Stared at Dave with her trance-like gaze, her head and eyes slightly bowed. Dave was aghast, blood throbbing through his temples. He shouted hideously, throwing the small mirror into the dresser mirror, cracking them both. Stepping back, the back of his neck red hot with fear, he screamed, "WHO ARE YOU?!"

 

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For complete version of Frames, you may purchase "Tales of the Undead," an anthology from Horrified Press, available on Kindle and paperback. http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Undead-Suffer-Eternal-III-ebook/dp/B00JMCBFME.

Be sure to Like my website: www.MichaelLizarraga.com.

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