Heartbroken

There was only one rule: don’t open the door. I struggled to resist. This opportunity was less than once in a lifetime.

Was it my imagination? Whispers among the rhythmic thumping. A siren song of discovery. Eventually, prudence overcame curiosity. The door however deigned otherwise.

The door swung open, savoring its dramatic flourish.

Chilling mist of neon cadence wafting out; framing the sole inhabitant within.

Before my eyes, it glistened and throbbed.

Divinity and obscenity manifest.

An amalgamation to beggar the wildest imaginations.

I weep at its beauty, tears burning cold.

It pulsed, blackened ichor; oil-rich as midnights shame pumping through twisted ventricles.

Draining belief and agency in equal measure; Speech became a lost art.

It thrummed with unnatural precision, a vexing vigor.

Tick-tock-thump Tick-tock-thump.

It paused and sputtered, cacophonous convulsions.

Metal moaned, chrome cried and flesh wept.

It restarted.

Freezer burn squats upon my tongue, diesel dancing within my veins.

Pressure but no pain. The thrumming ascending, my chest throbs in sympathy.

I clutch it with bloody trembling hands.

Where did this blood come from?

Vision shifting, misaligned tracking of an old tape.

Sacrosanct static surges from my core, amniotic anointment.

I’m falling without moving.

The pressure rising with each passing thump.

I cannot scream, an inert lump idles within my mouth.

Tongue or tungsten? I can no longer tell.

The pressure crescendos.

Pumping, punishment, purgatory.

Darkness.

—===—

Time of death 4:27 PM.

Subject: Carl Galdrek

Cause of death: Organ rejection, infection

Case notes: Prototype heart rejected by the host. Cavity seal failure suspected, possible infection. Heart remained functional hours after brain death. Further investigation required. Retrieve device post autopsy.

—===—

In the morgue, the carcass bolted upright.

Tick-tock-thump, emanating from its gaping chest.

Its head twisting 180 degrees, and with a rictus grin, it spoke two words.

Hello World

----—===—----

Authors Note: 300 Words is a challenge in itself and I had to prune this down but I hope it still comes across properly and brings some chills.

Also, I put a content disclaimer on it just in case. Never know what might be triggering when it comes to horror. Thanks for reading and Happy Spooky season!