Hello people of reddit.
I met my girlfriend on this gameshow called Doors. I saw a flyer that said:
Looking for a gameshow participant. Win big, up to $100,000. Call today!
Being someone down on their luck as a wage slave at Mcdonalds, I took it. In hidesight it was kind of shady but I was fresh out of high school and was trying to save for college.
I called the number and a woman answered the phone. Her voice was in that classic, smooth customer service voice.
“Hello! How can I help you?” she inquired.
“I want to participate in the gameshow? Isn’t that what this number is for?”
“Oh, yes of course. What is your name sir?”
“Marcus,” I say into the receiver. I can hear quick typing on the other end.
“Yes, ok, we’ll get back to you soon!” The call ended.
It was probably a scam. I walked home in the cold night and back to my shitty apartment. I threw myself on to the mattress of the floor, and knocked out.
The next day went as usual, I woke up, went to my 9-to-5, and went home. On my walk home I got a no caller ID. I ignored it. It called again insistent, ringing over and over again.
I picked up with frustration.
“Hello?” I scoff.
“Hello! We’re ready for you.” The smooth customer service voice cooed.
“Ok? Where can we me-” A bag was thrown over my head and I fell to the ground. The bag smelled sweet, like cut hay and the next thing I know I was in a chair, blindfolded.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to Doors! I’m your host, Anne!” It was the same voice as on the phone. “ Our contestant this evening is your one and only, Marcus!” The blindfold was ripped off my head and I was blinded by show lights. The sounds of cheering filled my ears.
“Now lovely contestant, choose a door!” Anne turned me away from the screaming audience to three identical doors. “Each of these doors have something behind them but only one has 100,000 Dollars!” she announced. The crowd roared. “Choose one to reveal!” she gestured towards the doors.
I pointed to the one on my left hand side. “This one.” I stated.
“Exelent choice! What is behind door number one?”
The door slowly opened by itself, slowly, revealing…. A.. mule?
“So close,” she said, almost taunting. “Now you have a 50/50 shot of winning 100,000 dollars!” The crowd cheered again. “So which door do you choose to win?”
A 50/50 shot. The middle would be too obvious. Or that's what they want me to think. So the middle then? Or maybe it’s simple and I should choose the right one?
I closed my eyes and pointed.
“Door number three!” The door slowly opened, revealing a beautiful girl. But not just any beautiful girl. She was otherworldly.
Her eyes were ocean blue, eyes I could drown in so easily. Her hair was so blond it was almost white. Her skin was fair and she was wearing a black shimmering cocktail dress.
“Unforunatlly you didn't win the money,” the crowd boos. “ But you won a date with Elaine!” The crowd screamed, perfectly on cue like it was a track. “Congratulations!” Anne boomed.
Elaine smiled at me, eyes sparkling.
After that it was a whirlwind of dates, late night calls, and sleep overs. We became official. We even moved in together. But recently some weird things have been happening that I haven't noticed before.
It started a few nights ago.
I woke up at 2am to get a glass of water and I glanced over at my girlfriend. She was beautiful like always, but something was off. Her ear was in the wrong spot. It was only the slightest detail, one I could have easily missed.
Must be the night getting the best of me.
I waltzed to the kitchen and opened the fridge. I rummaged through its contents, deciding a late night snack would be appropriate. I went to the back for the string cheese when I saw a glimmer of a jar I didn't recognize. Curious, I decided to look at it. I pull the jar from its hiding place. It had some sort of greyish shavings. I opened the jar.
It was filled with toenails. My toenails. It had slivers of dark short hairs. Beard clippings.
I dropped it on the floor with a crash. Glass and toenail clippings scatter the floor. I braced myself against the counter. I grab a glass from the cupboard and fill it with cold water. I drink it down greedily.
I gather my remaining thoughts, along with a broom to sweep up this anomaly before making haste back to our room. I tossed and turned for the rest of the night.
The next morning I awoke to the aroma of something cooking. I climb out of bed and navigate my way to the kitchen.
Elaine was stirring batter rapidly, humming a soft melody.
“Good morning Marcus,” she kissed me on the cheek.
“Hello darling, um,” I sputter.
“Yes, what is it?”
“Last night I found a jar in the back of the fridge and I wanted to know if you put it there and um.. What exactly was it?”
Her smile dropped. “What?”
“Well there was-”
“I’m sorry that I didn't tell you earlier” she hastily explained,” but I wanted to make Victorian hair jewelry but you didn't have enough hair so I collected our toenail clippings to make resin jewels. I’m sorry.”
“Why was it in the fridge?”
“Kills the bacteria,” she says swiftly.
“I’m sorry too, I thought… well.. I dropped the jar and swept it up.”
“It’s ok dear, I didn't know how it would react to the heat of the resin anyway.” she toyed with my hair. “I’ll be done with pancakes in just a moment.” She went back to the batter as I went back upstairs to get ready for work. I threw on the ugly yellow and red uniform and combed out my hair. I grabbed my keys scarfing my pancakes before kissing Elaine goodbye.
When I got to work I talked to my buddy Andy about the whole thing. He was older, about 38, so maybe he had some wisdom.
“Does your wife have any… um.. Odd hobbies?”
“Not really,” he drawled, squirting ketchup into the bun. “ She reads for the most part or listens to crime podcasts but that's about it.”
“Has your wife ever collected your hair or toenail clippings?” I ask timidly.
He paused mid ketchup drizzle. “Sorry what?”
“Yeah like-”
“No I heard you the first time, but what sparked this?”
“Well last night I got a snack and found a jar of toenail clippings and beard trimmings in the back of the fridge. She told me it was for Victorian hair jewelry or something.”
“Dude. That's not normal.” he assembled the last piece of the burger before wrapping it up.The thought of it reminisced for the remainder of the day, and I messed up a few orders in the process. My manager was worried but I insisted on working a full shift because college isn’t going to pay itself. Especially because my parents hated me now.
Eventually I go home and Elaine is already cooking again. She was boiling something on the stove. Even though I told her I could cook just fine, she insisted on making meals herself.
I hugged her from behind. “Whatcha making?”
“Spaggetti.”
“How wonderful,” I replied. I went upstairs to change. When I came back she had already placed our plates on the table.
“How was your day?” she asked, stabbing at her plate.
“It went ok,” I say numbly.
“Is something the matter?”
“No, No, just having a hard time sleeping,” I shoveled a bite of spaghetti into my mouth.
“Oh no. How come?”
“Just a lot on my mind,” I fidget with the remaining strands of spaghetti, willing them onto my fork.
“Is there anything I can do to remedy that?”
“I think I might go to bed early tonight,” I stood from the table.
“Okay then,” her blue eyes were pinned on me as I walked to the sink to wash my plate.
As I walked up the stairs I caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of my eye. She looked wrong for a split second until I looked directly at her. She almost looked like a monster. I must be super exhausted if that was the case. I pushed the thought from my mind as I navigated my way through the hall and to the hall bath.
I flicked on the light, bathing every surface in the small room with a warm light. I brushed my teeth and washed my face. But something had its eyes on me. It felt like someone was stalking me out like prey, it’s burning gaze on my back.
I looked at myself in the mirror. Have I lost weight? I look skinny. Like… oddly skinny. I was normally a pretty muscular guy. I eat a lot of carbs too. I mean I guess I haven’t worked out in a week because I was trying to find a cheaper gym, so I brushed it off. I guess I should-
That’s when I saw it. In the reflection of the mirror, Elaine was standing behind me. Except she wasn’t herself.
Her eyes were sunken in. Her blond hair was lopsided like a wig out of place. Her skin sagged as if it were falling off her body. It was like she was decaying or something.
I whip around to find her standing there in her nightgown. Not a monster. Not falling apart.
“Is something wrong?” she scanned the paralyzed look I had on my face.
“I’m fine, really” I said, trying to stop myself from stammering. “ I think this lack of sleep is getting to me.”
“Well you certainly don’t look fine,” she stated, brushing the hair from my face. “How about you lie down and I’ll fetch you some lavender tea.”
She led me to bed before exiting the room and I heard steps run down the stairs. She came back up with the tea and placed it on my bedside table before climbing into the covers next to me.
“Goodnight Marcus,” she snuggled up against my chest. I drank the tea she made me and I was out within seconds.
I dreamed that something was chasing me. I ran and ran before waking up in a cold sweat. My eyes scanned the dark room. My girlfriend wasn’t in bed. There was a dark figure at the end of the bed. I couldn't move. The figure climbed on me. It changed from human form to a creature. It had jagged pointed teeth and no eyes. In fact the only feature it had was a mouth. Its tongue shot out like a long proboscis and punctured my body. I tried to cry out but I didn't make any sound. I couldn't breath and the wait of the monster was crushing me.
It drank greedily downing big gulps.
It’s just a dream, it’s just a dream, it's just a dream…
I managed to squeeze my eyes shut.
When I opened them it was gone. Elaine was curled up with most of the comforter on her side, fast asleep.
Tears of relief fell from my eyes. I sobbed quietly.
The next morning, my throat was parched. My eyes crept open the morning air drying them out. I pulled myself from bed, my body still heavy from the wait of sleeplessness. I groggily get dressed in a shirt and a tanktop.
I walk to the mirror in the bathroom. I look behind me. No one. I check my physique again. Skinner then yesterday. My ribs were starting to poke out.
I brushed out my hair before making my way to the kitchen. Elaine was making a 5 star breakfast, just like every morning.
“ Good morning,” she called. Her face was covered with flour as she kneaded the dough thoughtfully. She was wearing one of her longer pastel gowns. It was a soft pink with frilly white ribbons. It reminds me of our first date. A beautiful spring picnic. She couldn't wear them to her normal job. “ How did you sleep?”
“Horrible.” I leaned against the counter.
She stopped kneading. Her brows furrowed in concern. “My poor boyfriend.” she walks over to me. I wrap my arms around her waist and rest my forehead against her shoulder. “What was keeping you up so late?” she asked.
“I had this horrible nightmare and there was this creature, and-”
“Slow down,” she ran her hand up and down my back. “It was just a nightmare.”
“But it felt so real and you weren't in bed and-”
“I know, I know.” she interrupted, lacing her fingers around my neck. “If it happens again please wake me next time. This isn’t good. Also are you losing weight?”
“Yea I am actually,” I pulled up my black tank.
“Oh my god.”
“What?”
“You’ve been eating the food I’ve been giving you right?”
“Yes,”
“Marcus, your ribs are sticking out!” She rushed to the fridge and heated up the pancakes from yesterday, serving me a large stack. She doused it in syrup and topped it with fruit and powdered sugar. She urged me to sit at one of the barstools at our counter and I obliged. Elaine pushed the plate in front of me. “Eat. Please.”
I ate everything on that plate, down to the very last crumb. She continued to make bread which I could only assume was sourdough. That was her favorite to make.
The rest of the day went well, we went shopping and we went out for dinner. It was almost perfect. Until I had to sleep.
“Elaine, I'm scared,” I admitted.
“I’m right here. If it happens again just try to close your eyes and count to ten,” she rested her head in the crook of my neck. “That helped me when I was little. I had sleep paralysis all the time. After you wake up, wake me up okay?”
“Alright. I love you,” I kissed her forehead.
“I love you too.”
That night I dreamed of the mirror version of my girlfriend. She peeled her skin off revealing that creature.
I jumped awake. Elaine was standing facing the corner.
“Elaine?”
No answer. I look in the bed next to me. Elaine was sleeping. I look back to the creature, wearing the hide of my girlfriend. The skin slowly melted off like candle wax.
“Elaine?” I nudged her. She didn't move.
I slowly sit up, trying not to alert the creature. I turned her over.
Maggots. Her eyes, her mouth and her hair.
Her skin was rotting. Her pale skin was somehow paler and was covered in these masses of puss and peeling skin.
I jump from the bed and the creature’s humanoid neck snaps towards me, its grin contorting. I book it for the door. My feet hit each step with a heavy thack. I heard it behind me, panting and scratching up the wooden floors as it chased me down.
This can’t be happening.
I run outside, rain pelting my face in the nighttime air. My calves burned and my lungs threatened to stop as I ran, making me take larger breaths. My heart pounded against my sternum pumping blood rapidly.
I had to get out.
Just a little more.
I trip.
I close my eyes, ready to be skinned alive and-
Nothing. I look up to see Elaine. She knelt down to console me but I cringed away.
“Are you ok? Why are you out in the street?”
“Get away from me.” my voice tremored.
“Marcus what’s wrong? You’re going to get a cold. Come on lets-”
“Stay. Away.” I distance myself.
“Wha-”
“You’re not Elaine.”
Her warm smile dropped. Her eyes lost their radiant color. Her smile turned into that of the creature’s. “Don’t worry darling,” it cooed. “ This will be quick.”
I stood before it. “You’re not real. You told me yourself.” I let out a shattered laugh. “It was all too good to be true, wasn’t it? The gameshow, the girl, the cooking! All of it!”
It looked stunned like I hit it in the head or something.
I took my chance and ran for it. I whipped through the streets trying to lose it in alleys. Eventually I stumbled into a waffle house and saw Andy.
“What happened to you?” he looked up from his plate of delectable breakfast foods. “ You look like you saw a ghost.”
“Please it’s my girlfriend, she's…. She's…a creature.. Or something!” I begged in between shake breaths.
“How about I buy you a coffee and tell me what happened.”
I retold the events of the past few days, the gameshow, the jar, the mirror, losing weight, the monster, everything. Andy looked down at the empty plate that was once stacked high with breakfast food.
“How about you stay at my place for a while until you get back on your feet,” he stood, gathering the dirty plates. I stared blankly at the seat across from me as he wandered to a waiter.
I haven’t seen this entity since. I don’t know what that thing was, but all I know is that I will never dial a number on a flyer again.