Habitual Tongue
Deconstructing the lie.
There was only one rule: don't open the door.
If you had followed your own rule, your Oscar-winning performance would've gone undetected. As an indulgent, Type-A personality who specialized in fabricating, you rarely broke character.
But talent did not come without resistance...
Barely able to tie your own shoes, your parents forbade you to handle matches. A call to 911 finally spliced that rule into your head. All your possessions, including your prized Lego collection were lost to fire. The dog and your parents survived. You were happy about that, but the disrespect grew exponentially, prompting a long drive to a place for troubled kids. Resentment of that day quickly latched to your misconstrued sense of betrayal.
Fast-forward twenty years to see the results of a never-ending trail of verbal treachery. Most people would be ashamed of what you consider achievements. Each of those mental trophies were like your children…
Let’s not forget the time you botched an important sale to an important client. Your shameless, index finger pointed right to a colleague. He lost more than his job that day. He lost security, respect…his mind. Your employer was too stupid to see through the tainted truth.
You finally opened that door when your drunken tongue spilled incriminating words to the barkeep one night. I wasn’t a bit surprised it was you who poisoned your neighbor. His death was rather quick. Gangrene spread throughout his body like lava barreling through branching rifts. The lie you perfected was so airtight, it fooled the initial interrogation!
In return, you now find yourself behind a different kind of door. One made of steel that rarely opens. Don't expect any visits, though. Can't Imagine who would when all you ever cared about was crafting the next, great lie.
About the Creator
Lamar Wiggins
Creative writer in the Northeast US who loves the paranormal, mystery, true crime, horror, humor, fantasy and poetry.
"Life is Love Experienced" -LW
LDubs




Comments (11)
Wow Lamar! Ditto every word of Caitlin’s below. I have read a lot of entries for this Challenge and by far this is best one! Congratulations on writing an ‘on the edge of my seat, heat pounding’ psychological thriller! Pauline 😱👀
Oh my, this story reads like a single dark thought that is growing more and more strong and hungry. No matter what vices or distraction you throw at it, it just keeps coming. Taking different faces, my gosh, I was terrified but I also could not stop reading. Your description of when he poisoned that person was amazing, you even kept us hooked through this part of the story. Hanging on to every detail crafting and building sympathy within us. You deserve more than just a round of applause for their one.
Oh!! Lamar this was so so crafty!! I love the benevolence of it and the way we slowly come to realize just how evil this monster (of a human) is!! So great!!
2nd person point of view is not easy to pull off and you did a stellar job! I feel very guilty
Super creepy story, Lamar! Love your take on this challenge!
People like this are so scaryyyy! This was soooo awesomeeee!
This is an incredible, gripping story, Lamar! Definitely an outside of the box challenge entry! Good luck!
Even when everything works to plan some people can't control their ego. Great entry, Lamar!
Oh, wow this is very powerful! Good one.
That was a great entry. Well done, my friend.
Some people are beyond redeeming themselves. Rotten to the core as they say Nice one