Adelaide Literary Magazine - 9 years, 70 issues, and over 2800 published poems, short stories, and essays

DEPRESSION DID NOT KILL

ALM No.67, August 2024

SHORT STORIES

JAIMEE ALLEN

7/28/20243 min read

Kyam woke up to his feet being soaking wet. A Loud thumping noise sounds like its sneakers bumping up against the dryer, As he gains his conscience back realizing what the hell is going on it's like a game of jig saw being played. Just last night it was a team of his vcu employees at the movies watching the new saw movie.

That loud noise is getting louder and it was just one machine now its three going off. “ Get up, get up now “He hears a voice but nobody is in sight.”

As Kyam stood up and realized his feet were cuffed to the metal laundry table “ What the hell is going on?” Said Kyam, Blood is coming from the dryers. That loud thump is cut off heads, The recording starts to play again. “Who wants to play a game ?”

“Don't you realize what's happening?” The unidentified person starts to speak.

“How did we get here?” “How do we stop the flooding?”

All you can hear is whimpers and crying. It's so dark they can barely see anything afar. It's Four of them that are tied up with chains around their feet fighting for survival. The brain is the most powerful weapon that they have other than having a gun, a key and a saw.

That recording came back on but this time with a red beam pointing from the ceiling “ do you want to play a game?” “Do you want to play a game?” “Do you want to play a game?”

As the recording went off again, "It was all about the feeling of being in a dream, Kyam said”. But this here was far from a dream. The younger employee Makenzie starts to cry in fear they all will die. “Look it's a note attached to the washing machine.” Makenzie said as sweat started to drip from her face.

It's very hot and the smell from the dryer is stinking up the room with all that blood thats coming from the machine. The Note stated we all would die if we didn't pay attention and play the game.

I'm the smartest out of the group. I have brains and beauty. I literally know how to get out of any situation. Thinking quickly before that recording comes back on, I just want to get up and smash the recording but its so dark we cant see much of anything.

“All of you will die but you have a chance to save yourself” the recording said.

I don't have time for this sick shit my clothes are now wet. I'm Five foot two with pretty brown skin, long hair and dress like a barbie. “We Have to beat this. It's trying to play a trick on us.” Bonnie said to Kyam and Mekenzie.

“Look, I have my brain, I can brainstorm us out of this problem.” Bonnie said.

The only person left is the quiet one nobody really talks too. Bonnie’s thinking Jerome is all behind this with his weird antics.

“Jerome, why haven't you said anything? All you keep doing is pressing that stupid recording machine, Are you behind this? Are you the one who wants to play a game?” Bonnie said with anger.

Kyam throws the saw at his head but Jerom catches it with one hand. He instantly starts to laugh and cry at the same time.

“It wasn't funny when you were bullying me at work was it Kyam?” Jerome said. Mekenzie with this weird annoying loud cry. “Shut the hell up, Bonnie said.” Kyam looked in a daze like he was taken back in time. A flashback hit him with all the memories he had of treating Jerome badly. Tears start to fall from Kyam eyes to the flooded laundry room.

With the sweet voice I have, I convinced Jerome to free me. A hug is what he needed. A hug is what he got. As we both started to cry I had to put him down and I did but he would soon be fine.

Bonnie freed the rest and called the ambulance. Depression is One Hell of a drug.