Background Notes:
In 2023 author/poet Jeff Oliver and myself co-created a book entitled Infinite Black: Tales from the Abyss based on my art. I obviously illustrated it and was art director/publisher on book and I even wrote a few stories and the introduction. IB is a near and dear thing, close to my heart, and I’ve slowly developed the world since 2012’ish. To view the art series see the Infinite Black art page, and to purchase a copy of the book, check out the link at the bottom of this page, and where to get a copy from Lulu.com.
At the time I wrote quite a few tales, many of which were published in the book, however today, while searching through documents and sorting images onto backup drives, I discovered a short story that I wrote for the book that must have slipped through the cracks and never made it in. So I thought I’d share it here so that those who are interested can still read it. So read on, and I hope you enjoy The Taking of Luis Fournier.
3am, Sunday 20 February:
5 Rue Benoist, Nemours Commune, Seine-et-Marne Department, France.
(86km south of Paris)
Awakened by the sound of echoed voices, paralysis fills the body of Luis Fournier, a single, 35-year-old baker, as he lays motionless on his back, his bed, dimly lit by the streetlight outside his window, is the trap in which he has become ensnared. Luis’ chest feels heavy, as though there is an invisible weight sitting on him. His arms are lifeless lumps of meat at his sides, while his useless legs lay immovable under the blankets on his bed. He hears the voices again, echoing from the dark hallway outside his room. His paralysed throat is unable to call out, he is unable to do anything except dart his wide fear filled eyes from side to side as he stares into the darkness of his room, awaiting his intruders.
Slowly, the face of a feminine-like creature with dead black glossy eyes, and long black hair, gently rises from the darkness at the foot of his bed. Staring at him, the creature rises to its feet, he can see that its dull grey skin is completely covered in carved intricate symbols. Sensing the danger and his own vulnerability, an involuntary tear rolls from Luis’s eye, which invokes an immediate grin from the creature, who quickly stoops down, and slides silently to the side of his bed with serpent like grace.
The creature hisses, whispering into his right ear, using a language unlike anything he has ever heard before. He can feel its icy breath on his neck with every word. Suddenly the creature tears the front of his shirt away, exposing his pale skinned body to the cool night air. Looking down, with his breathing now jagged with fear, he can see the creatures long bony finger pointing at his chest above his rapidly beating heart, and with a sudden swift movement, its razor-like fingernail slices his skin from sternum to stomach. Unable to react, and internally writhing silently in pain, Luis can feel his warm blood running down his ribs. Without breaking eye contact, the creature glides its face slowly down to his stomach, and following an unsettling grin, it extends an unnaturally long black tongue, before licking the full distance of the wound just inflicted. The deep cut smokes, burning with an acidic heat, sending searing pain coursing through his body, once finished, the creature slides back up and once again whispers in his ear.
Now beside himself with pain and fear, Luis can feel the warmth of his bladder as it releases uncontrollably, his breathing is heavy, tears are flowing, he glances down at the burning wound to see that it has been completely resealed. The creature raises itself to its feet and hissing towards the foot of the bed “C’est l’heure”, before motioning with an elegant wave of its hand over his body, as if presenting him to something unseen in the darkness. Luis’s eyes widen as the dim white light from his window partially illuminates an enormous, tusked beast as it emerges from the darkness. The beasts immense hand clasps both of his ankles locking them together in its iron-like grip. The massive beast then effortlessly drags him like a ragdoll from the foot of his bed onto the hard wooden floor.
As Luis’s paralysed body is dragged silently from his bedroom, the hallway outside bursts with a sudden white light, the air crackling with electricity. Luis’s last view of the life and world he knew, was the small hallway chandelier left rocking on the ceiling, immediately after, everything turned black.
Dan Verkys 