This short story was originally written to Peter Gabriel's haunting track "Passion" from his soundtrack to "Passion: the Last Temptation of Christ," which you can find below:
"That Twisted Sickness" - By K. LeCrone
Short Story Written on August 24, 2007
The sickness came.
Like a rolling wave in the shadows, it crept. Churning, turning, thick and heavy. The darkness concealed it, certainly, but all the same it moved, as if reaching out to slip its tendrilous fingers along soft, warm skin.
It moved in silent waves, stroking man, woman, and child with its sweet allure. Calming, calming beast.
Childlike, it played. Songs of old, merriment and splendor did it entrust and glorify.
Maidenlike, it whispered in the night. Sweet comforts, lingering promises that flickered and faded only to spark and tease once again. Colorful dancer, entrancing temptress.
It played in its game, pleasant rhythm of the unseen. It danced and lept, rose and fell, tide of memory and snare entwined, it moved. Beautiful, beautiful beast.
Oh, black fire in the night, the sickness came, and when the light crept in again to check on his children, he found them as they once were: safe and cradled where they slept.
Safe, for the twisted sickness had already whispered its way into them. And there it rested with bright, concealed eyes.
There, it danced. Oh, how it danced.
Like a rolling wave in the shadows, it crept. Churning, turning, thick and heavy. The darkness concealed it, certainly, but all the same it moved, as if reaching out to slip its tendrilous fingers along soft, warm skin.
It moved in silent waves, stroking man, woman, and child with its sweet allure. Calming, calming beast.
Childlike, it played. Songs of old, merriment and splendor did it entrust and glorify.
Maidenlike, it whispered in the night. Sweet comforts, lingering promises that flickered and faded only to spark and tease once again. Colorful dancer, entrancing temptress.
It played in its game, pleasant rhythm of the unseen. It danced and lept, rose and fell, tide of memory and snare entwined, it moved. Beautiful, beautiful beast.
Oh, black fire in the night, the sickness came, and when the light crept in again to check on his children, he found them as they once were: safe and cradled where they slept.
Safe, for the twisted sickness had already whispered its way into them. And there it rested with bright, concealed eyes.
There, it danced. Oh, how it danced.
Love the story! And it works perfectly while listening to Passion! I have that album and especially enjoy the first song, "The Feeling Begins". I get totally lost in those drums in the last minute of the piece. It works well with this story as well- in a different way... Write on!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the compliment! I had a hell of a time trying to track down that track! I'd recalled writing to a Peter Gabriel song that was an instrumental, but it took some digging to finally locate the particular track and go "Oh man, THIS one, this is it!" It really called up a certain mood to me. :) "The Feeling Begins" is a fantastic track as well! I totally agree that you really can get lost in those drums. There's a sort of primal power to the way he composed those tracks that just resonates right through you.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the encouraging words, and for taking the time to leave me a comment! I really appreciate it.