Bogleech.com"s 2015 Horror Write-off:
"Helo Nice Man"
Submitted by Hannah Cobb
It happened again.
Daniel scans his kitchen and the mess that was left behind from last night. Broken glass, the refrigerator door left ajar, jugs and cartons emptied onto the floor, at least a dozen toothbrushes in the sink. Every month or so he’ll find the kitchen like this, presumably from a bizarre episode of sleepwalking. At first he assumed burglars, but noticed that nothing of value was stolen. Actually, nothing was stolen at all. And according to the authorities, there was no evidence of anyone entering or leaving Daniel’s apartment.
Maybe you’ve been sleepwalking? The officer suggested, with an apologetic look on her face. It happens sometimes. You could see a doctor, you know.
Daniel had toyed with the idea for a while, but in the end the episodes were so infrequent that he had decided not to bother. He lived alone, and although there was a good amount of clean up involved, he saw no evidence that he had put himself in danger.
And anyway, it’s not like he could afford any sort of specialist.
I don’t even own this many toothbrushes, he thinks, sighing as he pulls the last one out of the garbage disposal. Tidying up after himself would take about an hour, give or take. He starts picking up various items strewn about the counter, pen caps, spoons, the note-
Wait. Note?
Do people usually write letters in their sleep? The writing is messy, as if written in clumsy, jerky movements. Despite a stain of what appears to be orange juice, he can barely make out:
HELO NICE MAN. NICE MEE?ATY MAN
THA NK YU FOR THE WARM,. SQUISH HOUSE! NESSLES.
SOFT WETTISH FREMB/A FOUTY YEAR
HUG HUG HNG HUG HUG - SK
SP: NO MORE COW JUISE :(
Daniel only realizes he’s been biting his lower lip after it starts bleeding. Maybe he should see a doctor.
Daniel scans his kitchen and the mess that was left behind from last night. Broken glass, the refrigerator door left ajar, jugs and cartons emptied onto the floor, at least a dozen toothbrushes in the sink. Every month or so he’ll find the kitchen like this, presumably from a bizarre episode of sleepwalking. At first he assumed burglars, but noticed that nothing of value was stolen. Actually, nothing was stolen at all. And according to the authorities, there was no evidence of anyone entering or leaving Daniel’s apartment.
Maybe you’ve been sleepwalking? The officer suggested, with an apologetic look on her face. It happens sometimes. You could see a doctor, you know.
Daniel had toyed with the idea for a while, but in the end the episodes were so infrequent that he had decided not to bother. He lived alone, and although there was a good amount of clean up involved, he saw no evidence that he had put himself in danger.
And anyway, it’s not like he could afford any sort of specialist.
I don’t even own this many toothbrushes, he thinks, sighing as he pulls the last one out of the garbage disposal. Tidying up after himself would take about an hour, give or take. He starts picking up various items strewn about the counter, pen caps, spoons, the note-
Wait. Note?
Do people usually write letters in their sleep? The writing is messy, as if written in clumsy, jerky movements. Despite a stain of what appears to be orange juice, he can barely make out:
HELO NICE MAN. NICE MEE?ATY MAN
THA NK YU FOR THE WARM,. SQUISH HOUSE! NESSLES.
SOFT WETTISH FREMB/A FOUTY YEAR
HUG HUG HNG HUG HUG - SK
SP: NO MORE COW JUISE :(
Daniel only realizes he’s been biting his lower lip after it starts bleeding. Maybe he should see a doctor.