Lord of the Dome

Published: "New York Twist Magazine," October/November 2008.

Won: "WeMakeYourMovie Contest," March 2009.

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“Little rats, all my little rats.” The Lord of the Dome inhaled the damp rotten air with an impish grin, staring down upon the sniffing masses of his devoted followers. “Yes, yes. Drip goes the water to the tune, no gloom, of my glorious realm.”

He sat down, leaned against the damp stone wall, and took his night's meal from a torn, gray duffel bag. He chewed on the empty juice box till his jaw went numb and spit the remnants aside. He didn’t like the taste anyway. Too savory. After eating a few more objects discovered earlier in the day, he rubbed his long fingers together in defense against the shallow chill of his cavernous home.

A screech, followed by the racket of heavy metal being crushed, erupted somewhere above, sending jolting vibrations into his back.